According to research, Teens and young adults across Africa don't always see their Africa countries as a place where their voice can be heard or see as their homes. They feel unwelcome, perhaps a result of negative messages about youths coming from adults and even the media.
We are running out of time to solve the problems facing the youth across Africa nations. Every day it seems more people are calling out for change action.
Youth across Africa nations feel fear and despair when they think about the problems facing them could mean for their future.
Many young people in Africa don't know where to start in addressing this huge issue. Many youth are looking for ways to be a part of the solution, but need the training and support to take the next step.
In light of the issues the youth are facing, here is a list of (10) ways that you can start empowering your children to be positive youth leaders NOW.
1. Give the youth tools to collaborate and problem solve, brainstorm and reflect.
Providing youth with the information and resources necessary for analyzing issues that affect their lives and environments will help them become strong strategizers on ways to act as change agents in their communities.
2. Encourage the youth to use their passions for good.
Guiding youth to use what their passions and creativity to share positive messages or bring attention to issues they care about will allow them to find purpose within their passion and use the power of their joy to share important messages.
3. Guide the youth to believe that their voice matters without judging or criticizing their ideas.
Empowering the youth to understand that their voice can makes a huge difference in this world and that all ideas are worth exploring will only give them more motivation and fuel to continue strengthening their own power for change.
4. Guide the youth to understand that people will not always want to listen, just because we would like them to but to not take it personal.
Helping the youth to understand that not everyone is going to respond the way you hope they would and that some people may not be ready to hear what you want to share will support their confident. It's important to let youth know that when someone doesn't listen to them, allow that to only make them stronger.
5. Help the youth to learn that sometimes even the most fabulous idea may need a bit more logistical planning.
Guide the youth to help them understand that all visions and ideas take time to make sure they are realistic and well thought through. Help them to know that there are different stages to a project and the first stage is having an idea but there are many stages after that. This will help them understand the full process and not get stuck on one idea.
6. Help youth develop habits, that in the end, they can sustain without 'suggestions' or prodding.
Good habit produce sustainable leaders. Youth that have good habits for their own well-being and constant personal progression that they enjoy will help them become strong leaders on their own.
7. Give the youth a chance for them to fail but help them to learn to succeed.
Let the youth that failing is not a bad thing to happen, it's actually important to find out what went wrong so they can improve and make it better the next time they try. Often the way to success is through failure.
8. Employ storytelling of successful youth leadership to counteract negative messages about young people.
Encourage the youth to speak about to their triumph often, to share their victories across all media platforms to reinforce the positive change that has occurred. This will empower more positive action to continue and give youth more foundation and support to work from
9. Invite the youth to launch a project or idea and support their progress.
Support youth in implementing their project once they feel they have come up with a good strategy and support them along the way. Allowing them encouragement and coaching support will be an empowering experience and let them feel supported in their process.
10. Become involved with All Africa Youths (AAY)!
It's time for each of us to support the leadership of generation to come who will be most affected by the crisis of Africa leaders not supporting the Africa youth. This spring, AAY will train and support 500 young solutionaries to lead a collaborative national movements of young people to take direct actions for solutions starting in their own communities. This project needs your attention and support to bring it to life.
Contact All Africa Youth:
Twitter.com/aay_nigeria
Facebook.com/allafricayouths
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