Every year, 1 November is observed as Africa Youth day where youths across Africa are supposed to reflect on how far their respective governments have gone to design programs to impact positively on their lives as indicated by the African Union Youth Charter. With 60% of Africa’s population currently 24-years and below, it is no surprise that at the dawn of our implementation of both Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, African Heads of State and Governments have devoted the year 2017 to “Harnessing the Demographic Dividend through Investments in Youth”. Education and skills development, health and wellbeing, empowerment as well as employment and entrepreneurship lie at the heart of this march towards progress, sustainable peace and development.
Africa has the largest youth population in the world, but they are faced with many challenges, including involvement and participation in governance, culture and the economy. Sierra Leone is signatory to the African Youth Charter and its National Youth Policy includes the vision, goal and objectives of youth development, which was developed in 2014 with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Most young people have expressed concerns that the document was watered down, altered and changed after it was handed over to the Ministry of Youth Affairs, and many of them want an explanation. Since the launch of the document in 2014, very little has been done to capacitate and empower young people. The inter-ministerial committees are overlapping and as a result there’s a lack of synergy and coordination rendering implementation a huge problem.
Report states that the global number of young people between 15 and 24-years increased from 90.8 million in 1980 to 230 million in 2015. It is projected to reach 293 million by 2025 and 535 million by 2063.
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) has been helping African youth institutions to look into the needs of young people, with relevant government and NGO stakeholders. Earlier this year, a two-day session was held at the New Brookfield’s Hotel for young people with major Government and other youth state actors where participants discussed issues in the National Policy Framework document.
Up to date, the recommendations are yet to be implemented and after several meetings and conferences held by international partners and NGOs on youth issues, young people in Sierra Leone are still concerned that youth issues in the 21st century is still hanging, despite the commitment made by Government to alleviate the major challenges, which are education and employment.
Anthony Koroma is the Youth Commissioner. He said a lot has been done by Government and partners to address the many challenges surrounding youth. But, the resources are not enough to address all the needs of young people in the country. He praised the efforts of the European Union, UNDP, and DFID for supporting livelihood skills programmes, but a lot more needs to be achieved.
Ngolo Katta from Centre for Coordination of Youth Activities (CCYA), said other African countries are making progress in youth empowerment and development, and Sierra Leone has all the policies and frameworks to develop young people. “I wonder what is the problem. I think the political will is very thin especially the level of direct Government budget. The most valuable way we can resolve the youth crisis is to invest in technical vocational education and training. But the Ministry of Education has not shown any sober interest in TVET and do not even relate with the TVET coalition in Sierra Leone.”
Technical training is one thing but the modern job markets demand engineers, scientists, economists, etc. and there are already too many unemployed carpenters, brick layers, tailors, caterers, tie dyers and soap makers.
At Bismarck Johnson Street, otherwise known as Black Street and the Stadium car wash along Brookfield’s, young people expressed dissatisfaction on how some youth projects are being implemented. They noted that the selection criteria into such programmes is not transparent. “We are Sierra Leoneans, and some of us have learned trades and this is what we use to eke out a living. Despite their situation some are still optimistic that someday, one day the tables will turn and youth issues will be prioritized. “We are not fools and cannot be fooled any more,” a car wash boy claimed.
AC/1/11/17
By Ade Campbell
Thursday November 02, 2017.
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