youth empowerment

A survey by Afrobarometer shows that the youth in Africa are losing interest in politics.
 
Joseph Maniragena partnership officer at African Monitor says that, “Young people see politicians as corrupt people and therefore they are not inspired. Young people‚ specifically in South Africa‚ don't see any change. Political parties come during elections ... After elections‚ politicians don't come back.”
 

A group of youth activists condemned the Namibian government's intention to approve the lease of 10 000 hectares of fertile land to a Chinese company wanting to grow tobacco for export.

Group leader, Job Amupanda, argues that, "It is our submission that to allocate more land for tobacco than is allocated for food production is a deviation from the policy direction taken by the Namibian government through its Agriculture Ministry, which leans towards eradicating limitations to Namibia's capacity to provide food security and adequate levels of nutrition."

The United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA) says the returns on smart investments in young people could be as much as US$500 billion a year to sub Saharan economies over the next 30 years.

In its report titled ‘The Power of 1.8 Billion: Adolescents, Youth and the Transformation of the Future’, the UNPFA highlights that developing countries with large youth populations could see their economics soar if the right investments are made in education, health planning and protection of rights.

According to the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Global Risk Report, youth unemployment in South Africa stands at a staggering 70 percent.

The report states that South Africa has the third-highest unemployment rate in the world for people between the ages of 15 and 24.

It says graduates and matriculants are struggling to find jobs due to stiff competition in the job market, adding that most of the young people today want everything now and it is that microwave generation.

Teachers attending the upgrading seminar on enterprises in Angola have recommended a major stimulus in regard to entrepreneurial activities, with a view to create more jobs for young people.

According to the final communiqué of the meeting, the teachers highlight the importance of training on entrepreneurial activities as a tool that can guarantee the acquisition of competences, capacities and experiences in generating small and big businesses.

Jacob Zuma - at the Presidential Indaba on Youth Jobs and Skills - announced that the youth employment has grown and emphasises the importance of investing in the youth.

Zuma states that youth employment has vastly increased since the adoption of the Youth Employment Accord.

He adds that, "420 000 new jobs have been created… mainly in construction linked to our National Infrastructure Plan, the trade sector, government programmes, business services, transport and communication."

Former President Nelson Mandela's granddaughter Ndileka, is continuing with Madiba's legacy to enhance education in rural areas.

Ndileka has launched a new foundation in honour of her father and Madiba's eldest son Thembekile, who died in a car accident in 1969. 

The Thembekile Mandela Foundation will focus on education, health and youth development in rural areas and its first project will be to refurbish the hostels Clarke Berry School in the Eastern Cape.

According to the World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Risk 2014 report, South Africa has the third highest unemployment rate in the world for people between the ages of 15 to 24.
 
The report, which estimates that more than 50 percent of young South Africans between 15 and 24 are unemployed, found that only Greece and Spain have higher unemployment in this age range than South Africa.
 
"At the same time the rising cost of higher education has left a generation with unpayable debt and little chance of finding a job," it states.
 

Botswana’s Vice President, Ponatshego Kedikilwe, has called on parents to help government in developing the youth.

Kedikilwe insists that parents and communities should ensure that their children are enrolled in pre-school, primary, secondary and tertiary education so as to be comparable to other youth in the global community.