https://en.sputniknews.africa/20240813/pan-african-activist-highlights-young-africans-as-a-vital-global-resource-1067832353.html
Pan-African Activist Highlights Young Africans as a Vital Global Resource
Pan-African Activist Highlights Young Africans as a Vital Global Resource
Sputnik Africa
Established by the UN, International Youth Day was first observed on August 12, 2000, and aims to highlight various cultural and legal issues related to youth... 13.08.2024, Sputnik Africa
2024-08-13T12:36+0200
2024-08-13T12:36+0200
2024-08-13T15:53+0200
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On the occasion of International Youth Day, Sputnik Africa interviewed Muneinazvo Kujeke, a peace and security expert, activist, researcher, studying a PhD in Politics at the University of Johannesburg, to discuss prospects and issues concerning youth in Africa.Kujeke identified the first problem as “socio-political and economic issues that really hold back the continent.” Kujeke emphasized that Africa needs “platforms where young people can pitch ideas and innovation.”Another point of supporting youth, according to the activist, is to “spearhead African solutions to African problems.”She also highlighted the need to rely on the networks that young Africans are building within their member states.The activist explained the importance of activism for youth, especially on the continent.Although “a lot of activism might not be seen as safe or might not be seen as good for the country” in all African contexts, if a safe community is created, youth “can engage in activism in a very safe way.”As a message to young Africans and their role in the future of the continent, activism shouldn’t be “in silos,” she highlighted.
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youth, youth day, activism, pan-africanism, cooperation, africa insight, interview
youth, youth day, activism, pan-africanism, cooperation, africa insight, interview
Pan-African Activist Highlights Young Africans as a Vital Global Resource
12:36 13.08.2024 (Updated: 15:53 13.08.2024) Established by the UN, International Youth Day was first observed on August 12, 2000, and aims to highlight various cultural and legal issues related to youth. Each year, events, and activities are organized around the world to raise awareness and encourage dialogue about the challenges and opportunities facing young people.
On the occasion of International Youth Day, Sputnik Africa interviewed Muneinazvo Kujeke, a peace and security expert, activist, researcher, studying a PhD in Politics at the University of Johannesburg, to discuss prospects and issues concerning youth in Africa.
Kujeke identified the first problem as “socio-political and economic issues that really hold back the continent.”
“Young Africans are already a significant human resource for the world. We often discuss unemployment as a problem in Africa, leading to a brain drain where young people migrate to the West. When there are a lot of young people, they end up not playing the role they would want in society, which could even influence the political dynamics of their communities,” she told Sputnik Africa.
Kujeke emphasized that Africa needs “platforms where
young people can pitch ideas and innovation.”
“Leaving the continent is not going to solve our problems. Right now, what's affecting us as young people and hindering our continent's growth is that we are leaving and not addressing the problems head-on,” she underlined, adding that Africa “cannot always rely on policymakers or governments to change the lives of young people.”
Another point of
supporting youth, according to the activist, is to “spearhead African solutions to African problems.”
“You still get foreign interference in capacity building for your activism, receiving aid from donor communities elsewhere. This makes it less authentic and not born within your community, which becomes a problem,” Kujeke said.
She also highlighted the need to rely on the networks that young Africans are building within their member states.
“We need them collaborating country by country. There is always a need for brainstorming among young activists on the continent about how we can gather resources to push our activism forward,” Kujeke noted.
The activist explained the
importance of activism for youth, especially on the continent.
“The beautiful part of activism is service. It is a service not only for yourself but for those around you. The beauty of it is you get to live out your passion every day. You are out there bringing attention to something that you know will change not only your life but the life of your community,” she underlined.
Although “a lot of activism might not be seen as safe or might not be seen as good for the country” in all African contexts, if a safe community is created, youth “can engage in activism in a very safe way.”
As a message to young Africans and their role in the future of the continent, activism shouldn’t be “in silos,” she highlighted.
“Always try to meet like-minded people and push the agenda together. If anything, collective activism is the future,” Kujeke concluded.
