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This post is part of a series reflecting on the results of the Common Futures Conversations (CFC) Youth Survey conducted in January 2019. We asked young people from 13 countries across Africa and Europe a range of questions about the level of their political engagement. When asked to indicate how much attention they paid to politics, these were the results.
The Common Futures Conversations survey asked 3,487 young people from 13 countries across Africa and Europe to consider a list of political issues, and then prioritize them, including which issue most affects their own country and which most affects the world. When comparing global with national concerns, the survey data shows their answers were significantly different.
Across the world, young people are often overlooked in political processes. For example, 60% of Africa’s population is aged under 25, but the median age of its leaders is 62. Meanwhile in Europe, political scientists are increasingly concerned about the effects of an ageing population which numerically marginalizes the concerns of younger voters. Low youth turnout during elections is frequently cited as evidence that the young are too apathetic to participate in democracy. However, these demographic realities suggest that even if electoral turnout were higher among young people, their opinions would still struggle to effect change through traditional political processes.
In early 2019 several alumni and seniors from Hult International Business School joined forces to continue a legacy of outstanding service. With success in hosting their own summit, launching an energy solutions start-up through the Hult Prize, and completing consultancies for brands like Virgin Money and Ferrari, founders of the Vertex Ecosystem and their team of exceptional students are making strides in the world of entrepreneurial empowerment. This month, the Explore series celebrates its second event, inviting executives and CEO’s for a thought exchange event taking place in the heart of London.
By Caroline Dubois
Mamadou Gouro Sidibé of Mali could have continued his comfortable life working for the French National CBy Caroline Dubois Mamadou Gouro Sidibé of Mali could have continued his comfortable life working for the French National Center for Scientific Research, but in 2017 he decided to return to his country to develop Lenali—a voice-based social network app.
By Prof. Jill Cottrell Ghai
The overall vision in the Constitution is of a Kenya where everyone is equal and equally respected. Article 56 requires affirmative action programmes to help minorities and marginalised groups (including women) participate in all aspects of life, including governance, special opportunities in educational and economic fields and for access to employment as well as reasonable access to water, health services and infrastructure (like roads).
By BEN NYABIRA
It was a captivating, warm and lively evening at the largest informal settlement in Kenya. The event was the final one of the 2018 Samosa Festival which focused on the Constitution of Kenya 2010 against the backdrop of recent calls for its review. The event, on 11 July at the Kibera Town Centre (KTC) between 6:30 and 8:30pm, focused on questions such as what the people understand about the Constitution, what their role is in its implementation and what they can do to localize it. The participants were also allowed to ask other governance questions.
BY RAPHAEL OBONYO
With a majority of African nations diversifying from traditional sources of income, entrepreneurship is increasingly seen as a key to economic growth. So far, entrepreneurship has yielded huge returns for entrepreneurs, and according to experts, there lies great untapped potential to drive the African continent into its next phase of development.
BY KACI RACELMA
Soufian El-Kherchi, an intern at Clean Rabat, a small organization in Morocco’s capital, spent most of his days giving information technology support and setting up its network.
Bustling with ideas and plans for the future, Mr. El-Kherchi, a computer science major, looked forward to formal employment after his internship. However, one day he got thinking about starting his own IT business.
