Continuity

While through its operationalisation in development ‘sustainability’ is frequently reduced to an’ exit plan’, the stories of continuity below speak to the long-term, commitments to development as an always unfinished work-in-progress.

Sustainable (youth) development is a mountain. The mountain it is always there, and due to its nature it saves the community at large. With all the trees and rivers running through it, even the aquatic life benefits from the mountain. For sustainable development, it follows the same pattern because it is always there and because it is self-sustaining, it even bears more fruits for the community and even the surrounding. For instance, a community-based organization in Zomba, initially established by a hunger project and later handed over to the community for management, has become an enduring fixture within the community. This organization includes a maize mill that not only serves the local community but also extends its benefits to neighbouring areas. Moreover, the introduction of electricity associated with this project has provided additional advantages to the community and beyond. There is a library and communities around the area benefit addressing the challenge of lack of reading materials in the area. — Sustainable (youth) development is a mountain.

A digital photo of a rubrics cube. A metaphor to express that empowerment is a bit like a rubrics cube. You need a tactics to reorganise it properly otherwise it will keep going and going. You have to invest a lot of effort. In spite of doing it, many times you may not get a proper result, unless you are clear with the processes and procedures. The different colours represent the different stakeholders. Every time you try to move something, something else changes, there are unintended consequences all the time. — Sustainable (youth) development is a mountain.