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MY VOTE : RAISING AWARENESS AMONG THE YOUTH REGARDING THE VOTING SYSTEM
July 20222.
Objectif Jeunesse 20 association
Since its creation in 2020, under the coordination of its President Allison
LEMBOUMBA, its aim has been to raise funds to finance vocational and skills
training for young people in precarious situations. In addition to this, it has also
set itself the mission of serving as an advocacy framework to answer many questions ignored by many young Congolese, notably on the functioning of the country's institutional instruments.
MY VOTE
This last aspect led to the observation that young people lacked motivation to
vote, especially since they represented the majority of the Congolese
population. Aware that the lack of information among young people was a
major factor in their abstention in the elections, the Association Objectif
Jeunesse 20 set up the "MY VOTE MOVEMENT " a section dedicated to raising awareness among Congolese youth as part of their civic engagement. In order to reverse this trend, Objectif Jeunesse 20 has taken concrete actions and
organized several awareness-raising activities for Congolese youth.
Specifically, Objectif Jeunesse 20 has launched an awareness-raising campaign on the streets of Brazzaville, meeting with young people to inform them and ask for their massive participation.
Registration on electoral rolls
Aware that a lack of information is one of the reasons why young people abstain from voting, OJ20 decided to launch an awareness-raising campaign on the streets of Brazzaville, to meet a number of young people,
to show them the merits of registering to vote, and of voting as a civic right and duty.
To this end, OJ20 has decided to accompany several young Congolese in certain
districts of Brazzaville to encourage them to register so that they can
conscientiously exercise their right to vote. It is with this perspective of
encouraging young people to participate massively in the votes that Mrs.
Allison LEMBOUMBA, President of the said association, declares: "It is only by
exercising the right to vote that our young citizens will be able to effect real change. And it's only through teaching, sharing, faith, communication and love that we will be able to create an environment conducive to development".
DELIBERATE ON MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW.
ISSUE OPINIONS ON DEPARTMENTAL AND NATIONAL MATTERS.
Investment plans and programs.
Development master plans.
The creation and delimitation of new conurbations under the economic and
social development plan, and changes to district boundaries).
To this end, the first stage of the movement was to raise awareness and support young people in the process of registering to vote, with the aim of providing the necessary information to enable Congolese youth to become genuine agents of change. The second phase of the "My Vote" movement was the launch of advertising messages on various media.
THIRD STAGE OF THE MY VOTE MOVEMENT
This movement gave rise to a major event attended by more than 600 people in the Pierre Savorgnan-de-Brazza Memorial Auditorium.
To conclude the stages of the 'MY VOTE' movement, an awareness-raising workshop called 'My Vote' was held on July 5, 2022, at the Pierre Savorgnan De Brazza Memorial in Brazzaville. The workshop aimed to help young Congolese
citizens, who represent the majority of the population, understand the electoral process in the Republic of Congo.
Several young individuals from different districts of the city participated in an opportunity to exchange ideas and share knowledge. The workshop was honored by the presence of Mr. Osdet Vadim Mvouba, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister, in charge of Youth supervision, Employability and Civic Education. Three themes were explored: <>, presented by Professor Wildan Obounga of Marien NGOUABI University, then <>, by Mme Okoua Obondzo, born Sylviana Émeline OKO, Deputy Secretary to the President of the National Assembly, and finally <>, by Mr. Ghyslain Nguimbi, Mayor of the town of Dolisie
After a presentation of the association and the MY VOTE movement by Fernel GBANGOLI, General Secretary of the O.J.20 association, Allison LEMBOUMBA, President of the Association, made the following points in her opening speech: "The aim of the My Vote Movement is to enable young people to understand the stakes involved in voting. It's important to know that we also have a share of responsibility in our future. No one will do better for us than ourselves. This workshop will also enable young people to vote, while being aware and knowledgeable about what's at stake in an election, but also knowing the role of an MP, of an elected official".
THE DIFFERENT PANELS
Wildan Obounghat, holder of a PhD in public law and teacher-researcher at Marien NGOUABI University, stressed that a successful electoral process requires the involvement of both politicians and citizens, who must register on electoral lists and then vote by making the right choice. "Elections are the only time when we have the power to influence societal choices. So we must not be insensitive. When you're a citizen, you certainly have rights that are constitutionally granted to you, but you also have duties. We have to get involved if we are to have a government capable of meeting our expectations.
The second panel focused on the role of parliamentarians and the functioning of parliament. In her speech, Sylviana OKOUA OBONDZO, Deputy Secretary General of the National Assembly, enlightened the participants on the role of an MP and the usefulness of voting.
On this last point, she reminds us that voting is, among other things, a
responsibility, a right and a civic duty to give oneself the opportunity to choose
an appropriate representative, to affirm one's opinions, values and mission.
Not doing so, she adds, is tantamount to letting others decide for you.
According to her, "the elected MP is the bearer of the aspirations of his or her
constituents. To do this, the public must make choices on an objective, not
subjective, basis. They must select men and women who are capable of
defending their interests in Parliament, of voting on projects and proposing
legislation to improve their living conditions, and advocate globally for the
development of their constituency".
The third panel, chaired by Ghislain Nguimbi, President of the Municipal Council and Mayor of Dolisie, on the role of the Departmental and Municipal Councilor and the functioning of the Council, enabled the young people to understand that to achieve convincing results, you need councilors worthy of the name, capable of representing their constituents at the local level and making an immediate and visible impact. "What I take away from this workshop is the awareness that young people need to wake up and participate massively in the elections because our choice is crucial. What young people say will matter and will be prioritized, and that is necessary for democracy to work. I encourage young people to vote to elect the representatives of the people. I also hope that this type of meeting will multiply," he declared.
Key moments in the workshop
Meanwhile, in an interview with the press after the meeting, Mr. Osdet Vadim Mvouba, advisor to the Prime Minister and First Secretary of the Force Montante Congolaise, a youth organization of the PCT, congratulated this initiative of this associative structure with a civic dimension, which, he said, puts special emphasis on the importance of the vote at the center of everything. << These young people, by their very nature, embody the future of this country, they are a positive force capable of bringing about transformative change. That's why it's imperative to strengthen their civic consciousness. Through this workshop, young people have become aware of the role they have to play and have understood that voting is a right that allows us to select our representatives in an election and a duty to influence future political decisions for the common good," he continued.
Speaking at the end of the meeting, Allison Lemboumba, president of the Objectif Jeunesse 20 association, said she was pleased that young people realized the importance of voting. "It is important to know that we are responsible for our future, and no one will do better for us than ourselves. This workshop will enable young people to vote while being aware of what is at stake," she said. Objectif Jeunesse 20 was founded in response to a number of issues affecting Congolese youth. Its actions are based on several pillars to promote and defend moral and civic values. It intends to continue this initiative throughout the country.
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By communications team, Objectif Jeunesse 20.
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