Young people are the architects for a change against COVID-19
COVID Diaries with Assamaou Mayaki, Adolescent & Youth Development Officer at UNICEF Niger
-What is your name?
Assoumaou I Mayaki
-What is your job at UNICEF in Niger? Since When? In a few words, what does your job consist of?
I am an Adolescent & Youth Development Officer at the Niamey office since 2017. In general terms my role consists in empowering adolescents and youth across Niger, so they are ready to seize opportunities to bring change in their communities.
-Can you tell us about your experience with UNICEF during COVID-19? How was it?
Since Niger registered its first case in March 2020, we have been working relentlessly with various youth movements to bring along answers that other youth may want and need, and also finding solutions to engage them in the fight against Covid. Lots of initiatives with the youth have been set up in the communities as the cases increase in Niamey, Zinder and Agadez.
In Niger, the dynamism of young people, who represent the majority of the population, is a precious asset. Young people in our country are increasingly engaged and ready to take the initiative to design and implement creative and innovative solutions. For example, young people in Niger are carrying out a vast awareness campaign on coronavirus and promoting the muryarmatassa.org platform.
The youth is a key part of the solution. They are the architects of change. My role is to ensure that they have the capacity to do so, and the government must encourage and support them.
-Why do you think the youth plays a crucial role against COVID-19?
Youth’s commitment is essential also for the prevention of COVID-19 in our country. Therefore, we work with the government to support youth networks on the ground. For example, in order to fight against the spread of fake news, the correct messages must be spread out simultaneously at different levels, through the involvement of children, young people and influencers.
2/3 of the Nigerien are young, and we cannot and should not initiate anything meaningful without them. Most importantly these youth realize the great role that they should play in this pandemic. Its was important to ensure youth-to-youth language to contribute to stopping the spread of the disease.
-Has your work been affected by COVID-19? if yes, how? And the Youth?
Yes. Living in a pandemic testes our capacity of rapidly adjusting to change- change in the way we work and make resources available to partners, and most importantly changes in the way we interact with young people. Everything is online and often the internet doesn’t collaborate. For the youth, things are running slowly or closing.
- Could you describe your motivations and the reasons which push you to continue to work / multiply the efforts in favor of children - and this despite the difficult context? Why is it important to maintain our operations for the well-being of children and families?
We owe it to youth that are already out there with and without us in the aim to bringing changes and good health to children, and the population at large. Together we can do so much, so it’s very important that we are there to cheer the ones that are making a difference without us and empower the ones that need a little push to get engaged and that regardless of the context.
-Do you want to share another element about your work these days on the front line in Niamey? your daily experience, your motivations, your interactions with affected people, your worries if you have any?
Youth are the real MVPs ( Most Valuable Players). From sleepless nights in designing and deploying digital solutions to engage their peers to spending the day under 45+C to sensitize the population.
