Addis Ababa, 13 September 2005:

We dream of living – not existing.
Teach us, involve us and use us.
[Youth presentation to UNEP Governing Council Meeting 2002]

On the brink of adulthood, young people give impetus to both the urgency and the opportunity to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

In Africa, however, their aspirations are diametrically opposed to the desperate situation in which they find themselves.

With 55 percent of young people between 15 and 24 living on less than $2 a day, 21 percent unemployed, about half accounting for new HIV infections, and approximately 1.3 million currently living as refugees the need for progress is unquestionable.

The Millennium Campaign puts strong emphasis on the commitment of UN member states to act on their promises and deliver the necessary finances and services, but the involvement of end users – especially the youth – is often overlooked.

So why is the picture so negative, especially given that youth networks are very vocal in their desire to be involved in development issues?

One reason perhaps is that young people operate through more informal and ad hoc channels. This is clearly demonstrated by the serious under-representation of youth in the political arena, but by their active involvement in informal debates, online forums and through cultural expression such as music.

Ways must be found to boost youth participation as a resource for change which means equipping young people with the right tools. Studies show that youth-led projects are the best means to reach young people as they are based on peer-to-peer relations.

One such approach, which has had considerable success, is the Kibera Community Youth Programme (KCYP) in the sprawling Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya. Run by volunteer youths from the slum itself, the programme focuses on peer involvement and management of development projects in the area, such as reproductive health, environment and sanitation, entrepreneurship and so on.

The projects have been highly effective, leading to many spin-offs which have equipped young people with skills and given them self-confidence and a sense of responsibility within their community. The KCYP also organises more informal cultural and sports-related events aimed at reaching out to the youth.
This shining example gives hope, but unfortunately it is not yet the norm in policy-making. This will require a radical change of perception. However some steps in this direction are already underway, such as the UN Secretary General’s World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY) and the creation of youth councils by institutions such as the World Bank, UNICEF, UNESCO and several large NGOs.

The slow but steady progress instils hope and a commitment to the MDGs for future generations, but rapid advancement is stymied by lack of resources and poor management experience.

This is where donors can deliver. They can crucially support the potential of young people by supplying the necessary resources (finance, networks and specific knowledge) and a form of mentorship that acknowledges the uniqueness of youth-led organisations.

In the case of the Kibera Community Youth Programme, a large part of its success is due to the support from partners and an advisory board which contributes actively to programme design and implementation.

The future belongs to the youth. As the African Common Position – a pan-African statement on governments’ responsibility for children – puts it: “Today's investment in children is tomorrow's peace, stability, security, democracy and sustainable development."