Meet your Leaders Session is a peer to peer weekly conversation hosted by Community Reporters via the CR family WhatsApp group. The youth leaders get to share their leadership journey through interviews conducted by their colleagues live on the group.
In this session, Mbale based Community Reporter Ndifuna Aramazani (Nash DJ) takes lead interviewing Wakiso based youth leader Nicholas Barigye.
Nash: Hi Nicolas you are welcome to the WhatsApp platform of Community Reporters. Please introduce your self
NB: Hi ladies, my name is Barigye Nicholas, a community reporter based in Wakiso district, I report at radio simba, embutikizi. I hold a bachelor’s degree in BBA, specialized in Human Resource Management. I am currently working with Innovations for poverty Action (IPA) an international research organization. Am not married yet and waiting on God. Thank you! Am sorry, I mean Ladies and gentlemen!. I am ready for you all.
Nash: What inspired you to involve in youth community leadership?
NB: I personally believe in the cause, ever since I was trained in Youth Leadership and community reporting, I feel it deep down, I personally have testimonies of how much better it has made me. Thus believed I should be among the drivers of the cause I know and own at heart. Thank you!.
Nash: What does a typical day or week mean or look like to you?
NB: A typical day or week is a day or week of active service throughout…., to my community.
Nash: Ok what has been the most rewarding part of being a youth community leader in your life?
NB: I was recommended by CEMCOD to be part of 22 young researchers to conduct the Kampala Youth-led labor market assessment with IREX and Makerere University in 2018…That linked me to another community of people and the researcher world of being very informed and traveling to so many places.
Nash: What are some of the challenges you face in your role as youth community leader?
NB: It’s hard to mobilize a team of youths today towards achieving a common goal if you are not gonna reward them there and then, yet in actual sense, young people should mind giving their service, then believe that money and many other rewards are ahead, or perhaps look at other ways they can acquire other rewards as they better themselves.
Nash: And how do you work to overcome these challenges?
NB: At times working with people that have that kind of attitude ends up driving one along, thus get discouraged, but the best way am planning to overcome is not to stop ,keep going and leading by example.
Nash: How have u seen your community change ever since you became involved in its youth leadership?
NB: Not quite too much change, I am not gonna lie or make a political speech here. It’s just a few stories I filed and solutions were applied. And others had something with mindset change in the community.
Nash: What change do you want to see in your community in future?
NB: Improved service delivery, and less unemployment among youth which would bring down numbers of many young people that head to western countries where they end up getting killed or mistreated. I believe the crime rate would reduce as well.
Nash: How has being a youth leader affected your personal life?
NB: I behave way very different from the person I was years ago. I am informed, more humble, and focused to equip myself with productive character tools including knowledge, wisdom and understanding, because tomorrow awaits for what I have to offer, to make my little world and outside it a better place.
Nash: And last but not least in which ways have you sacrificed your time and energy for the sake of advancing youth leadership?
NB: We are all aware that Wakiso district is the biggest district in our country, before I got so engaged with hustles and school, I was so zealous that I used to put in a lot of personal money in transport to file stories, and together with other reporters we moved to different villages to capture people’s voices and concerns. I believe those are some of the sacrifices I had to make…….
Nash: Aright then, I now open up to any member on the platform to ask questions.
David: Hello Nickolas, Youth leaders often wear many hats – student, employee, friend, family member, etc. How do you balance all of these different roles and still find time for self-care?
NB: David, it’s not easy at all, without looking onto a goal ,or a vision that motivates you to keep on and stay in control. It’s hard but very possible through believing and praying to God.
ProssyK: Thanks Nicholas for taking off time to share your leadership journey with your colleagues here. It’s amazing to see the kind of growth and transformation that’s happened over time. As a leader, what do you think is the most important thing to teach youth?
NB: Thank you madam Prossy .It’s been a transformation indeed! Most importantly I would advise youths to not lose themselves to the many distractions, and mind the content they feed their brains, if it’s not educative, inspiring, keeps you in the line of your dreams, don’t digest it. Keep focused as a young leader, get yourself equipped so that when that chance comes, you are able to fit in it and make much more from it. Lastly, network, seek knowledge, seek experience, Money will come at its own appropriate time.
JoyK: Thx mr. Nicholas I have only one question. Have you ever faced any challenge in the field since u joined reporting and if yes please would u share it with us and how u overcame it coz we almost face the same challenges but sometimes we fail to solve yet some of you went through them and solved.
NB: Oh, thank you Ms Joy Kawala .I doubt we have faced the same problems, given the differences in our work locations, but many of the problems I faced were problems of identification, but I could simply contact my radio mentor and they would help. But I made sure, I looked confident before everyone who would ask me questions.
JoyK: Was it the most challenging to you???
NB: Yes ma’am. Aside other problems I would say they are personal, like transport money to the field, especially during the times when I wasn’t working, I was just a student. But I wouldn’t mind much because in the first place I am a volunteer.
JoyK: Thanks Mr. Nicholas
NB: You are most welcome ma’am
Christine: In communities we always have people who think we reporters are their solutions so how were you handling such cases?
NB: I made sure my explanation while requesting for an interview was clear, honest, hopeful but not raising any expectation. It’s my community, chances of meeting the same people is high, besides as community reporter ,it’s unethical and misrepresenting the organization if I don’t critically, honestly explain to them my only simple role; to gather their views through interviews and amplify their voices through radio to generate the desired impact.
Felix: Thanks to the guest as I fire in 1 question. Since you joined community reporting, when have you so far experienced your best moments?
NB: I was recommended by CEMCOD to be part of the 22 young researchers to conduct the Kampala Youth-led labor market assessment with IREX and Makerere University in 2018…That has linked me to another community of people and the researcher world of being very informed and traveling to so many places.
Felix: Thanks bro for your time
NB: You are most welcome Mr. Felix
Goret: Waoooo, I can see a great leader in your statements. Please keep it up. The world awaits your distinct leadership.
NB: Am humbled Ms. Awor Goret CR Tororo
ProssyK: On behalf of the host Nash DJ CR Mbale, I would like to thank our guest Mr.Barigye Nicholas for honoring the invite to appear on the *Meet* *our* *Leaders* session this evening. And to all of you for participating actively.
This session has now come to an end.
NB: I thank you all.
