Youth Leadership
Child Parliaments in and around Dzaleka Refugee Camp
Koko Poyo has established Child Parliaments in four villages surrounding Dzaleka Refugee Camp and inside the camp itself, so that children have a say in the decisions that affect their lives.
Dzaleka Refugee Camp and the host communities around it are where Koko Poyo works. He is working to promote meaningful child participation there. His goal, he says, is "to ensure that children have a platform where they can express their views, develop leadership skills, and actively participate in decisions that affect their lives."
So far he has established Child Parliaments in four villages surrounding the camp, as well as within the camp itself. They give children "a safe space to learn about their rights, discuss issues affecting them, build confidence, and work together to find solutions within their communities," he says.
“The sky is huge to have all of us flying, so no need for competition and fly as high as your wings can take you.”
Koko Poyo
He cares deeply about this work. "I believe every child deserves to be heard, regardless of whether they are a refugee or from the host community," he says. When children are given the opportunity to participate, "they become more confident, informed, and capable of contributing to positive change in their communities," he says.
He has also been elected coordinator of the Movement for Community Led Development Youth Task Force in Malawi.