Bongani Andrew Simelane

Youth Culture - Swaziland (South Africa)

 

Bongani Andrew Simelane is a youth activist working in Swaziland as a National Coordinator for the Council on Smoking Alcohol and Drug Dependence. As well as serving on a number of committees, he has been working towards the establishment of a Swaziland National Youth Parliament.

The kingdom of Swaziland is one of the last remaining monarchies in the world. The majority of the one million people in Swaziland is living in rural areas, maintaining their traditional ways of life. With his action plan, Bongani aims to address the low levels of youth representation and participation in the economic, social and political arenas in his country.  “If you come up with innovative ideas, there usually is a lot of resistance”, he says.

However, Bongani tries to achieve his goal by introducing civic education to youth both in and out of school, conducting youth forums and promotion of youth participation through the media. Bongani has extensive experience in working with youth organizations. He pioneered the establishment of the Swaziland National Youth Council. Moreover he has attended the African Youth Parliament and the Pan African Youth Conference on HIV/AIDS.

Currently Bongani is working with the Council on Smoking, Alcohol and Drug Dependence (COSAD) in Manzini. The NGO is working at the national level to fight against drug use, abuse, and HIV/AIDS. During the last few months Bongani could gain the support of the media in Swaziland. He has been recognized as a national youth leader and many young people from his country approach him with questions and concerns. Bongani is planning to hold a national conference in 2006. He is working hard to get more youth involved in his project and to encourage them to have their say in society.

Bongani attended the world Youth Congress in Scotland which was held in July 2005 at Sterling University. At the same time he is in the process of starting up and institutionalizing a Swaziland National Youth Parliament and he is currently selling the idea to major stake holders and the youth of Swaziland at large.