Youth Empowerment

Given that roughly a third of the world’s population is between 10 and 24 years old, and over 85% live in developing countries. Africa is a continent of young people, whose demographic structure demands a socio-political transformation. It is a continent of youth who aspire to forms of modernity-in terms of education, employment and family. The Youths play a bigger part in the society than anyone else because they are the future leaders of tomorrow.

Challenges are perpetual especially in the life of young Africans who are confronted by the harsh realities of globalization and other forms of ‘civilization’. The approach to these challenges matters much and can turn what is seemingly negative into a strength. An African youth has a lot of issues to contend with while fighting to stand his ground. Basically, these challenges are summed up in the fight to live up to the expectations of the family, society and above all his/her own goals.

The Youth of Africa today are faced with innumerable challenges stemming from poor socio-economic status of much of the continent and the inability and or apathy of governments in fostering youth representation in policy making processes. African youth represent a majority demographic in many African nations yet are excluded from political representation. The AIDS pandemic, severe unemployment rates, gender inequality, illiteracy, unemployment , inadequate nutrition and health care, ravaging wars, drug abuse and poor access to education all characterize the present challenges faced by African countries.

It is therefore imperative that a systematic and long term plan for Africa is absolutely essential for the future; the mobilization of Africa's youth is imperative to its inception and execution. In Uganda, where Set Them Free International is implementing it’s youth empowerment project, we seek to:

• Establish sports outreaches for youths with support provision for sports wears, footballs, etc.
• Establish vocational skill training and empowerment in combating household’s poverty level of the communities by mobilizing youth in the communities to engage into viable economic activities to influence a better tomorrow, while also offering educational and job training to impoverished youth.
• Combat crime and drug abuse through sports outreaches and other community activities that the youth can be involved in. Through working with young people on the demand reduction side of drug abuse. Provide treatment and rehabilitation for drug-dependent young people.
• Provide income generating activities like poultry, piggery, bee hive keeping and animal husbandry.
• Promote carpentry and joinery; tailoring & garment cutting; saloon training; driving & mechanical engineering; metal fabrication and welding; building construction.
• Create and open information technological centers and train youth with the knowledge of computer literacy involving all packages.
• Integration of environmental training into formal education.
• Enhancing the role of the media as a tool for widespread dissemination of environmental issues for youth.

Major implementations focus on Improved access to Education, Employment, Health Provision, Environment Conservation, prevention of Drug abuse, prevention of Juvenile delinquency, Participation in decision-making, Globalization, ICTs, HIV/AIDS Prevention, etc.