Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur, Dr Tinojonshi Chang (fourth from left) and Can Youth founder, Jenpu Rongmei (third from left), alongwith community leaders, at the launch of the I CAN campaign at the DC’s office on July 18. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | July 18
Can Youth have started a six-month long social campaign, targeting to engage with adolescent youths as agents of change. The campaign, which will run from July till December 2024, was formally launched by the Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur, Dr Tinojongshi Chang at his office on July 18.
The campaign will run under the theme- I CAN (Integrated-Comprehensive Adolescents Nurturing), focused on engaging with the target group, while creating awareness on issues concerning the environment, mental health, substance abuse, personal hygiene, cyber security, legal literacy et cetera. Its initial focus will be in Dimapur and Chümoukedima before moving on to other districts.
According to the Deputy Commissioner, Dr Tinojongshi Chang, if the campaign works in Dimapur, a place with cosmopolitan characteristics, it can serve as an example for other districts. He though maintained that everybody, including the NGOs and government agencies should participate. “We will all have to work together if we want the desired change in our society,” he said.
He said that there are many registered “societies” or NGOs, however, “Many of them, I'm sorry to say, work for their own benefits. They are not actually working as per their aims and objective, as stated in their constitutions. Because of that, many genuine societies are deprived of the benefits they are supposed to get from the government.”
He expressed confidence that the I CAN campaign would mark the beginning of positive change not only in Dimapur but also the entire state. While stating that the state government remains committed to affecting change, he added that if each individual contributes their unique skills and talents, great things can be achieved.
Jenpu Rongmei, Founder and Chief Functionary of Can Youth, said that the campaign, in essence, seeks to understand the needs of the adolescents, a demographic marked by vulnerabilities. “We want to tell the people of Dimapur, including the civil societies and various organizations, to understand the needs of adolescents,” he said. He said that they will be reaching out to the community leaders during the campaign.
