By Kondwani Kandiado, Contributor

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Youths at Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Dowa have hailed Plan Malawi for the strides in ensuring that protection of children’s rights in the refugee camp.

The camp’s Youth for Education in emergencies , Baraka Damien speaking on Friday during the commemoration of International Youth Day at the camp said the move has potential to help youths realise their dreams.

He said: ” The organisation in collaboration with other implementing partners like UNHCR gives us the platform and space to express ourselves to realise our full potential and achieve what we want to.”

Damien then appealed to various stakeholders to join hands in advocating for the adoption of Comprehensive Refugee framework.

“This would allow for the refugee community to mingle with the host community and be able to do everything together as one,” he said.

But Damien bemoaned limited space in school at the camp as refugee laws restrict the youth, access to education in public institution.

” The camp has one nursery school, primary and a secondary school which are all accessible to both refugees and host community. This negatively affects quality of education in the camp” he said.

Plan Malawi’s Child Protection Officer for Dzaleka Refugee camp Aaron Nsona said as a child rights organisation they are geared to ensure protection of children’s rights in the camp.

“We feel the time for the youths to shine is now. The tomorrow starts today. As such we are committed to exposing the youths enough by giving them a platform to voice out their concern and take duty bearers to task when their rights are infringed,” he said.

Speaking in a separate interview, Dowa district council Administrator, Catherine Mdala said the council was working hand in hand with stakeholders and other implementing partners to support children in camp.

“Our focus is to make sure that when the children in camp complete their secondary education they should have something to do,” she said.

The day was commemorated under the theme, “Intergenerational Solidarity: creating a world for all ages was also spiced by traditional dances, drama, music and poetry”.