Health

Health related issues such as HIV/AIDS and STD's is one of the areas in which the youth are becoming increasingly vulnerable.  One of the objectives of the National Youth Policy is to promote a healthy life among the youth through the provision of awareness in family life education programs, greater awareness among the youth of the dangers of HIV/AIDS and STD's and also to provide and promote the care of infected person.

Some of the health related activities in which the youth are involved include:

HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention campaigns, substance abuse, STD's, youth reproductive health, family health, family planning and AIDS Toto Clubs.

Community Service

The Youth policy seeks to develop the full potential of the youth and to promote their active participation in national development.  Youth participation in community development is therefore supported by many youth NGO's.  Some of the community service activities undertaken include: orphan care, community development, outreach, promoting school attendance, house and latrine building, road and bridge maintenance, prison visits, nursery schools volunteers, home based care, hospital visits, rubbish clean-ups, resource centres and community library.  Most seek to promote a sense of responsibility of the Malawian youth towards the community.

The Environment

Environmental conservation is one of the relatively new areas which Malawi as a country has embraced in policy making.  Youth involvement in environmental conservation provides the basis for solid future environmental awareness and sustainable practices.

The National Youth Policy provides for the promotion of environmental education among the youth and their involvement in environmental conservation through the integration of environmental education in the formal and non-formal curricula.  Activities of the informal education environment currently being undertaken by youth NGO's include tree planing, aforestation, supplying seedlings, flood relief, farming, sanitation, vegetable gardens, agroforestry projects, conservation practices.

Education

Creating more (formal and informal) education and the training opportunities for the youth at all levels and to re-orient and encourage the youth to use basic scientific and technological principles in order to stimulate innovative approaches to development is another objective of the National Youth Council.  Lack of information and education among the youth make them less likely to enjoy their rights as well as empower themselves.  Various types of peer to peer education have started.  They range from civic to religious to skills.  Some of the educational activities undertaken by the youth include: civic education counselling, human rights workshops, culture awareness, family planning, research on juvenile justice and administration, workshops on youth socio-political development, peer counsellors, youth clubs public debates, child rights, religious evangelism.

Sports

The Importance of physical education and sporting activities to the well being and development of the youth can not be overemphasized.  With the high and rising unemployment rate especially among the youth in Malawi proper use of their leisure time is very important.

The availability of sports guidance and counselling can also aid youth sports persons in reaching their full potential.  some sports activities in which the youth engage themselves include:  football, basketball, volleyball, netball.

Talent and Skills Development

Talent and skills development is probably the most significant activity area for the youth.  This is because unsustainable livelihoods has been identified as the major obstacle to youth development.  The ability to identify and encourage talent as well as develop skills is therefore integral and very vital.  A number of government incentives are in effect to provide training and technical skills to generate income.  Some examples include drama, vocational, technical skills, training, youth festivals, drama, choice, and income generating activities (IGAs.)

Gender Issues

A rough overview of the youth NGOs in Malawi indicates that the average group has over 65% males,  Enhancing female participation is therefore one of the priorities of the gender issues sections of those youth groups that gave identified gender issues as a priority.  The UN Youth Technical Working Group (UN TWGYP), partners with the Council has embarked upon a female participation campaign and established guidelines which would aid in enhancing the active participation of female youth in all activities.  The Council is also producing IEC materials on Women's Rights and the Law.

Human Rights

According to a discussion undertaken by the UN TGWYP, even though there are well documented laws protecting human rights, there is lack of enforcement possibly due to cultural dictates.  For example, the supremacy of parents/adults over the youth does not give much room for compromise.