East Africa’s Youth
International Youth Day recognizes youth across the globe, giving importance to empower youth to make positive contributions across their communities and nations. Created by the United Nations, this year’s theme is “to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the world needs to leverage the full potential of all generations.”
To achieve this, we must first break the idea of ageism. Ageism, as defined by the United Nations, refers to the stereotypes (how we think), prejudice (how we feel), and discrimination (how we act) towards others or oneself based on age. Intergenerational solidarity ties us all together, no matter the age.
This is now more important than ever, as 60% of the current population in Africa is under the age of 25, making it the world’s youngest continent. With Africa’s population expected to double by 2050- from 1 billion to nearly 2.4 billion inhabitants– it is apparent that young people will determine Africa’s future.
To ensure it is one of prosperity and stability, young people must be equipped with the skills and knowledge to compete in a changing and increasingly competitive global economy and prepared to lead change.
Asante Africa Celebrates International Youth Day Every Day:
By reaching out to communities in East Africa that “are off the paved roads,” Asante Africa Foundation empowers youth to transform their communities and create opportunities for others through our educational resources. Our programs teach technology & financial literacy, advocacy, entrepreneurship, leadership, and social skills.
As our empowerment programs enable youth’s brilliant ideas to sprout into existence, our Pay-It-Forward model, allows our youth’s ideas to flourish within their communities, leading to a multiplier effect of transformation. With individual Pay-It-Forward action plans, we ensure students will apply their newly-learned skills toward projects benefiting their peers, families, and communities. The Pay-It-Forward model instills confidence and places youth on the path to become leaders of their communities.
With the support of peers, families, and communities through intergenerational solidarity and with our social-impact curriculum, students who complete our programs are well-equipped and confident to be a change maker in their community.
As we strive to fulfill the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by leveraging the full potential of all generations, we highlight Sally’s positive contribution to her community. Sally represents thousands of youth whose lives have been transformed to change-makers as a result of our educational solutions.
Sally’s Embodiment of International Youth Day
Sally is a 17-year-old resident of Turkana County, Kenya. With the skills she acquired from our Leadership and Incubator Program, she requested Ksh 1,000 from her mother and opened a mobile shop. This mobile shop business currently operates at Ksh 5,000 capital.
Her business plan started when she identified a need for a nearby grocery shop within her village. Wanting to improve the lives of the village residents, she created a business that cuts down the distance her community members need to travel for groceries and other food items.
She purchases groceries from the town then sells them at her mobile shop. She also offers on-credit sales for customers who cannot purchase groceries immediately. Her mobile business extended to her family who assists her, also providing them with a job. She says that her mobile business has become her family’s main income source and also pays for her education fees. By helping her community members easily access groceries, she is a social pioneer.
Sally is a prime example of the countless Asante Africa students who embody International Youth Day by giving back to their communities through innovation.
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