MCDO Participation in the National Youth Personality Development Strategy Draft Discussion
February 14, 2026 (Yekatit 07, 2018 E.C.) – Bishoftu Town, Ethiopia
The Meqoamia Community Development Organization (MCDO), represented by its Executive Director, Mr. Elias Kalayu, participated in a high-level consultative workshop focused on the draft National Youth Personality Development Strategy. The event, which took place at the Nora Resort in Bishoftu, was organized by the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs to gather expert input on the future of youth development. The session was presided over by Her Excellency Muna Ahmed, State Minister for Youth Affairs, and featured a diverse group of invited stakeholders and development partners who shared their insights on the strategic framework.
About the Strategy
The strategy provides a framework for shaping the psychological, social, and ethical values of youth, encompassing 10 core personality development themes.
Key Inputs Provided by MCDO
- Substance Abuse Prevention, Recovery, and Reintegration: Establishing a comprehensive system of prevention, treatment, and community reintegration, recognizing addiction as a societal issue.
- Psychological Resilience Development: Focusing on building the capacity of youth to recover from challenges and traumatic experiences.
- Special Focus on Street-Affiliated Youth: Implementing targeted interventions including outreach teams, shelters, vocational training, and family reunification services.
- Family Engagement: Strengthening the role of the family as the primary institution for character development through parent training and support.
- Digital Media Addiction Prevention: Equipping youth with skills to manage excessive social media use and promoting healthy digital habits.
- Evidence-Based Monitoring & Evaluation: Establishing a modern MIS with disaggregated indicators for different youth groups and ensuring participatory evaluation processes.
- Stakeholder Coordination and Private Sector Engagement: Creating multi-level coordination committees and incentivizing private sector participation through CSR, internships, and mentorship.
- Pilot Phase Implementation: Recommending a pilot phase in selected areas before full-scale national rollout to gather learnings.
MCDO’s Commitment to Implementation
Area MCDO Contribution
🧠 Substance Abuse Training, recovery programs, and reintegration services for youth.
💪 Mental Health Psychological counseling, stress management, and emotional regulation training.
🏙️ Street-Affiliated Youth Outreach services, rehabilitation centers, and family connection support.
📚 Capacity Building Training for smaller CSOs on proposal writing, project management, and financial reporting.
Conclusion
MCDO commends the Ministry for this comprehensive initiative and reaffirms its commitment to collaborating with the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs and all stakeholders to build a brighter future for Ethiopian youth.
Meqoamia Community Development Organization (MCDO)
Website: www.meqoamia.org