Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders, with Skills Today: Youth-Led Impact

July 19, 2024 —In a world fraught with challenges, youth stand as beacons of hope, wielding the power to shape tomorrow’s landscape. In this landscape, skills are key and collaboration is a must.

Recognizing the value of collaboration, Catalyst 2030 and its members are changing systems at all levels through collective action and bold new strategies.

Catalyst 2030 is a fast-growing global movement of people and organizations committed to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) by 2030. At the heart of this movement was a profound understanding that the actions we take today reverberate far into the future, and it is through empowering the next generation that we pave the path to a brighter tomorrow.

A must-attend event in the global landscape of conveyings of social innovators, Catalyzing Change Week Catalysing Change Week (CCW), an annual flagship program of Catalyst 2030 serves as a testament to this potential, rallying thousands of system catalysts from diverse backgrounds to converge on a singular mission fostering transformative change globally through collaborative action.

From May 6th to 10th, Catalysing Change Week (CCW) 2024, was dedicated to Building the Social Innovation Sector through action-oriented and interactive sessions designed to stimulate systems change and foster collaboration among participants

As a very active and committed member of Catalyst 2030, DOT has engaged in Catalysing Change Week since its inception. Year after year, championing youth voices and youth leadership in achieving the SDGs and community resilience efforts to create impact that ripples across the planet through social entrepreneurship, DOT led a session on the future of Youth Leadership organized and conducted by DOT’s Global Youth Leadership Advisory Board members on May 9th, 2024.

Youth Leadership: Building Future, Creating Impact Today:

The session, titled “Youth Leadership: Building Future, Creating Impact Today,” attracted over 50+ young participants online. The panel discussion, facilitated by DOT’s Global Youth Leadership Advisory Board members , explored various aspects of youth engagement in shaping the future of leadership and creating impact.

The session featured a panel of remarkable individuals, each offering a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing youth leaders today:

Angelika Sharygina, brought digital transformation and a safe and inclusive digital economy into the cross-cutting topic of youth leadership. She illuminated the hurdles posed by rapid digital transformation, urging youth to champion digital literacy, critical thinking, and responsible online behavior. Her call for collaboration and proactive measures resonated deeply in a world increasingly besieged by misinformation and cyber threats. “Young people are in a prime position to leverage digital technologies for good. we need to empower them so that they can bring change to their communities”.

Jean-Désiré Kouassi, emphasized 5 pillars that ecosystem actors should put into practice to uphold supportive environments for youth engagement and leadership; Simply listening to young voices is not enough; we must listen and empower. Beyond soliciting their input, we must provide young people with the platform and resources to implement their ideas. Integrating youth perspectives into policy-making processes is paramount for inclusive governance.Young people deserve environments where they can freely express themselves without fear of judgment. We must Create Safe Spaces for Sharing Ideas. Recognizing and Celebrating the achievements of young leaders not only acknowledges their contributions but also inspires others to follow suit. Building sustainable structures that go beyond just one generation for long-term engagement is essential for fostering continuity and progress. By mentoring and passing on leadership roles, we make sure that young leaders can keep making a difference. In following these five pillars, we can create a welcoming environment where young leaders can truly make a difference in changing the world. When we view young people as valuable partners in decision-making, we lay the foundation for a future where their ideas shape policies and drive positive changes globally. Let’s all commit to harnessing the immense potential of young people and working together to create a more sustainable world for the future.

Caroline Mohoni, drew attention to two major challenges that youth face when interacting with the digital space. The first challenge is digital distraction. Citing an article published by “Common Sense Media”, young people spend an average of 9 hours per day on social media and entertainment platforms. Without proper awareness of how to use the digital space and social media, they may be harmed if they are not properly informed about using it for positive and beneficial activities. To address this challenge, provide youth with awareness on how to use the digital space properly. Give them tools and resources for staying safe online.aware of everything that happens there. A second challenge is the limited availability of resources for youth. These resources encompass financial resources, knowledge, networking, and technology. Referencing an article published by the World Bank, which states that 22% of the global youth population live on less than 1.2 US dollars and supported by an article from the International Labour Organization (ILO), youth constitute the largest population of unemployed individuals. The scarcity of available resources for youth to secure employment or create their own opportunities are significant challenges being faced by young people. To tackle this issue, advocacy for youth empowerment should be prioritized. Additionally, engaging in activities such as volunteering and participating in the gig economy can provide the youth with valuable experiences and opportunities for growth.

Mable Chileshe shared her story of r co-founding “Amplifying Her in STEM,” in 2021, an initiative focused on promoting girls in STEM education, positioned her to respond to the question: What role does technology play in education and empowering young people? There are two key factors to consider: education and youth empowerment. When it comes to education, there are two categories: formal and informal. Formal education encompasses what we learn during high school and tertiary education. Technology can be effectively utilized for research, discovering opportunities, and expanding our knowledge beyond the classroom. Informal education, on the other hand, refers to youth development and empowerment. Mable emphasized that although African youth are passionate and prepared, limited access to resources and global opportunities continues to be a hindrance, but technology can be s a tool and a game-changer in achieving our goals and shaping our future, regardless of our chosen careers.

Feedback and Reflections:

The session’s impact extended beyond the confines of its duration, resonating deeply with participants who lauded its interactive nature and inspirational content. Event attendees found the event inspiring and appreciated the opportunity to connect with other young people. Through Mentimeter polls, attendees voiced their intentions, shared challenges, and reflected on their learnings, underscoring the session’s role as a catalyst for meaningful connections and personal growth.

World Youth Skills Day:

In 2014, the United Nations General Assembly declared 15 July as World Youth Skills Day, to celebrate the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship.

This year, alongside World Youth Skills Day, DOT’s Global Youth Leadership Advisory Board, an innovative team of 10 young leaders, who provide strategic advice to shape DOT’s direction and ensure youth voices are represented, reflects on the power of youth leadership, and the creativity, boldness and energy of their peers.

“Empowering youth with critical thinking and effective communication skills is essential for nurturing the leaders of tomorrow. These skills enable young leaders to navigate complex challenges and inspire positive change in their communities.”

– Jean-Désiré Kouassi

“Digital literacy and technological proficiency equip youth leaders to leverage innovation and drive positive change in the digital era.”

Caroline Mohoni

Conclusion:

As we celebrate World Youth Skills Day, DOT recognizes the importance of addressing the key challenges faced by youth in the future of leadership: job unemployment, lack of access to finance, lack of access to experience, lack of access to digital literacy skills, lack of access to infrastructure, and lack of access to digital gadgets. We are excited to tackle these key challenges alongside our Global Youth Leadership Advisory Board (GYLAB), giving them a seat at our table for their leadership and guidance and emphasizing the realities, needs, and opportunities for young people to acquire digital literacy, job opportunities, work experience, and financial resources.

Together, we are committed to empowering a generation of bold, compassionate, and visionary leaders. By doing so, we ensure a world where every voice is heard, every challenge is met with courage, and every dream is within reach.

Read more about the GYLAB members: GYLAB Team

For more information about the Global Youth Leadership Advisory Board, please contact:

Ann Nderitu, Youth Engagement Manager

anderitu@dotrust.org or dotyouth@dotrust.org

About Digital Opportunity Trust

DOT is a Canadian-based not-for-profit organization headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, with locally managed offices in the UK and across 6 countries in Africa and the Middle East: Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Kenya, Lebanon and Jordan. DOT extends its reach to Ghana, Uganda, Côte D’Ivoire, Malawi, and Zambia through local partnerships with youth-led and youth-serving organizations. DOT’s unique youth-led model has created an impact in over 25 countries, mobilizing and inspiring all underserved and disadvantaged young people with digital literacy, 21st-century skills, and the self-confidence that will enable them to thrive in an inclusive digital economy.

For more information, please visit www.dotrust.org