Welcome to the blog post discussing the thought-provoking theme of “Shifting Perspectives, unlocking Africa’s youth potential” at the meeting organized by Save the Children Italy.
Written by Jessica Jeyamaridas
Mark your calendars for May 30 and 31 as the Rome Aquarium transforms into the host venue for the “Impossible 2024” event, brought to you by Save the Children Italy. This event serves as a platform for young individuals, governmental bodies, and representatives from various sectors like culture, business, charity, and volunteering to engage in enriching discussions. The primary aim is to tackle the challenges concerning the rights of children and adolescents, both nationally in Italy and across the globe.
May 31 specifically focuses on international cooperation, shining a spotlight on the African continent. This subject holds significance as the upcoming G7 meeting is set to take place in Italy in June. Through dialogue, stakeholders aim to explore effective ways to support young Africans in realizing their potential and understanding their inherent needs and aspirations.
Despite Africa boasting the second-highest economic growth rate globally after Asia, sub-Saharan Africa sadly records the highest rates of educational exclusion and learning poverty on a global scale.
One of the distinguished participants at the event hosted by Save The Children is Sierra Leone’s Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, who shared insights in an interview with Vatican News.
Identifying the major challenges faced by Africa’s youth today, Minister Bah emphasizes, “Young people in our continent lack access to the quality education required in the twenty-first century, hindering their ability to compete fairly and justly. This lack of economic opportunities and civic consciousness pose additional hurdles.”
A continent of lights and shadows
As we approach the G7 meetings, it is imperative to prioritize cooperation founded on African ownership and co-development, bolstering education, empowerment, and access to credit for the younger generation. Save the Children projects that by 2050, the continent will house over 25% of the global population, with an average age below 25. Thus, a significant investment in empowering the new generations becomes imperative.
“Africa presents one of the defining opportunities and challenges of the 21st century: harnessing the potential of millions of its young population to propel growth and development. To achieve this, investing in quality education holds the key,” states Daniela Fatarella, Director-General of Save the Children Italy.
Education comes first
Save the Children’s mission centers around advocating for quality education, overall well-being, and socioeconomic empowerment for African adolescents and youth.
Recent studies unveil sub-Saharan Africa’s exorbitant rates of educational exclusion and learning poverty. Shockingly, one-fifth of children aged 6 to 11 and one-third of youths aged 12 to 14 do not attend school, with a staggering 9 out of 10 unable to read and comprehend a basic text.
Minister Bah underlines the necessity of commencing with education, labeling it as the indispensable foundation upon which the future of children and communities rests: “Without our young people’s contribution, our continent essentially lacks a future, as they represent the engine for the continent’s growth.”
How does Sierra Leone offer ‘quality education’ for children?
“We allocate twenty-two per cent of our national budget to education. Over the past five years, we elevated school enrollment by over sixty-nine per cent, ushering in an additional 1.5 million children into our educational system. Within just six years, we tripled the percentage of female students in our schools,” details Minister Bah.
Pope Francis’ Global Compact on Education
Regarding Pope Francis’ Global Compact on Education, the Minister of Sierra Leone perceives it as the ‘most compelling moral call of our time.’
“Education should encompass holistic personal development, devoid of discrimination, should prioritize women’s empowerment, and instill values. To have someone like His Holiness vocalize this demand is not only fantastic but also essential. I believe it to be one of the paramount calls of this generation. I eagerly anticipate engaging with the institutions spearheading this Compact, as there’s extraordinary alignment in our values,” he concludes.
