PUBLIC NOTICE: WARNING AGAINST FRAUDULENT FUNDING REQUESTS

NATIONAL YOUTH COUNCIL OF MALAWI

PUBLIC NOTICE

National Youth Council of Malawi (NYCOM) would like to notify the general public, organisations and institutions that it has received complaints that there are some unscrupulous individuals visiting or sending letters to companies and organisations requesting support for 2017 International Youth Day (IYD) commemorations and purporting to be working with the Council in pursuit of the said purpose.

The letters going around portray the picture that the bearers of the letter are working in collaboration with National Youth Council of Malawi in organising the IYD slated for 12 August, 2017 at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe. The letter also requests ‘well wishers’ to channel financial resources to NYCOM’s account (Standard Bank, City Centre Branch, Savings Account Number 0121202933100). The bank account cited is only used for collection of affiliation fees from NYCOM members and is by no means meant to collect money from unsuspecting stakeholders. NYCOM did not plan and has not sought to mobilise financial resources in the manner described above for purposes of the IYD. While NYCOM does at times seek support from other stakeholders interested in youth development, it does so through credible official channels and properly headed letters. The unscrupulous individuals have further indicated the name of one of NYCOM’s officers as a contact person without his consent or knowledge.

NYCOM would like to distance itself from the aforementioned resource mobilisation drive. Stakeholders and the general public are informed that the Council was never at any point involved in the development of the concept and budget being used for the said resource mobilisation. On the contrary, NYCOM is, together with the Ministry of Labour, Youth, Sports and Manpower Development, coordinating activities for the IYD in which several stakeholders, not just, are involved, as per normal practice. The main IYD commemoration will take place at Manika Ground in Balaka on 21^st August, 2017 with a pre-event “Youth Expo” slated for 12 August, 2017 at the Kamuzu Institute for Youth. Another post-IYD event, the prize presentation for the Ngwazi Zazikazi Story Competition, will take place later in September.

Stakeholders and the general public are therefore warned to avoid falling prey to the scam which, in some cases, has taken coercive forms, including attempts to cunningly extort resources from the Ministry of Labour, Youth, Sports and Manpower Development. NYCOM is, therefore, encouraging all companies and organisations and the general public to verify with the Council through it’s the office of the Executive Director in the event that they received any suspicious communication. The people behind this malicious scam have already been warned against continued use of NYCOM’s name, or the name of the parent Ministry, for their ulterior ends. Further action shall also be taken, including officially seeking legal remedies.

Should any institution continue to be approached by the aforesaid fraudsters, please contact NYCOM through the Finance and Administration Officer, Ms. Thembeka Chide, through email thembichide@gmail.com or cell phone 0888550654. You can also contact the Deputy Director of Youth in the Ministry of Labour, Youth, Sports and Manpower Development Mrs. Judith Msusa on 0999416564.