An Urgent Call: Create Opportunity for Africa’s Youth
by Jumbe Sebunya, ChildFund Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa
This post is adapted from remarks at the African Child Policy Forum held in
With roughly half of Africa’s population under the age of 24 (and closer to three-quarters of the population in many of our countries) child development issues are more relevant to the African continent than to many others — and are more urgent than ever.
Between now and 2025, more than half a billion young women and men will enter the labor force in Africa, and currently there are not half a billion new jobs waiting for them. For governments and other key stakeholders, this raises formidable policy questions:
We work with deprived, excluded and vulnerable children so that they have the capacity to improve their lives and the opportunity to become young adults, parents and leaders who bring lasting and positive change to their communities. ChildFund’s distinctive approach is child-centered. We work with children, families, local organizations, government agencies and communities on clearly defined core outcomes for children throughout their life cycle from birth to young adulthood up to 24 years of age.
ChildFund core commitment is focused on child-centered developmental changes that seek positive outcomes for children at every stage of their lives: at infancy (0 – 5 years), through programs that promote health and security; at a young age (6 – 14 years), by focusing on child sponsorship programs and other activities that promote educated and confident children; and at young adulthood (15 – 24 years), by offering leadership and socio-economic skill development programs.
In 2010, ChildFund reached millions of infants, children and youth in 31 countries. Of these children, 56 percent are from Africa, 12 percent are in the Americas, 31 percent live in Asia and 1 percent are in Europe.
ChildFund Mozambique is at an early stage of development interventions, representing only about 1 percent of the total children and youth who have benefited from ChildFund’s work in Africa. We have, however, developed promising programs in Mozambique.
A good example is our Early Childhood Development (ECD) program, which is focused on the first eight years of a child’s life. These are critical years in establishing the foundation upon which the child grows and develops.
ChildFund Mozambique ECD programs build local capacities of families, communities and government agencies. Specifically, we are working in Mozambique’s Zavala and Gondola districts to create an environment where young children can grow and develop their potential. The ECD program, which is implemented through local associations, focuses on strengthening the synergies among children’s health, nutrition, protection, stimulation, psychosocial support and age-appropriate play and learning.
At ChildFund, we believe that the well-being of children leads to the well-being of the world. To achieve long-lasting change, you need partnership at all levels with strong networks of families and local organizations as well as a broad constituency at national and global levels so that we all join hands to champion the overall well-being of children.
Tomorrow: We hear from a youth who spoke at the forum.
Jumbe SebunyaOriginal Document
With roughly half of Africa’s population under the age of 24 (and closer to three-quarters of the population in many of our countries) child development issues are more relevant to the African continent than to many others — and are more urgent than ever.
Between now and 2025, more than half a billion young women and men will enter the labor force in Africa, and currently there are not half a billion new jobs waiting for them. For governments and other key stakeholders, this raises formidable policy questions:
- Is there a clear relationship between development planning and demography in our policies and practice?
- Are there positive interventions planned by sector ministries, civil society organizations and the private sector to reflect these demographic trends, in terms of training, employment and education activities?
- What should be the measurable positive outcomes of successfully engaging even a fraction of these young people in our socio-economic activities?
- What is the worst possible scenario if the labor entrants — half a billion plus — are marginalized, powerless and excluded?
- Is the recent declaration by the African Union heads of state on “Accelerating Youth Employment for Sustainable Development” a political rhetoric or a policy reality?
We work with deprived, excluded and vulnerable children so that they have the capacity to improve their lives and the opportunity to become young adults, parents and leaders who bring lasting and positive change to their communities. ChildFund’s distinctive approach is child-centered. We work with children, families, local organizations, government agencies and communities on clearly defined core outcomes for children throughout their life cycle from birth to young adulthood up to 24 years of age.
ChildFund core commitment is focused on child-centered developmental changes that seek positive outcomes for children at every stage of their lives: at infancy (0 – 5 years), through programs that promote health and security; at a young age (6 – 14 years), by focusing on child sponsorship programs and other activities that promote educated and confident children; and at young adulthood (15 – 24 years), by offering leadership and socio-economic skill development programs.
In 2010, ChildFund reached millions of infants, children and youth in 31 countries. Of these children, 56 percent are from Africa, 12 percent are in the Americas, 31 percent live in Asia and 1 percent are in Europe.
ChildFund Mozambique is at an early stage of development interventions, representing only about 1 percent of the total children and youth who have benefited from ChildFund’s work in Africa. We have, however, developed promising programs in Mozambique.
A good example is our Early Childhood Development (ECD) program, which is focused on the first eight years of a child’s life. These are critical years in establishing the foundation upon which the child grows and develops.
ChildFund Mozambique ECD programs build local capacities of families, communities and government agencies. Specifically, we are working in Mozambique’s Zavala and Gondola districts to create an environment where young children can grow and develop their potential. The ECD program, which is implemented through local associations, focuses on strengthening the synergies among children’s health, nutrition, protection, stimulation, psychosocial support and age-appropriate play and learning.
At ChildFund, we believe that the well-being of children leads to the well-being of the world. To achieve long-lasting change, you need partnership at all levels with strong networks of families and local organizations as well as a broad constituency at national and global levels so that we all join hands to champion the overall well-being of children.
Tomorrow: We hear from a youth who spoke at the forum.
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