AFRICAN YOUTH: MUCH MORE THAN A DEMOGRAPHIC PHENOMENON

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  5. AFRICAN YOUTH: MUCH MORE THAN A DEMOGRAPHIC PHENOMENON

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Summary

It is estimated that 60% of the African population is under 24 years old. With high population growth rates, Africa will be responsible for more than half of the global population increase between 2015 and 2050. These data can generate fear or hope, depending on the perspective from which you look. But the reasons for fear or hope are not in the demographic data itself, but in the way in which African societies face their challenges and in which they involve the youth.

This workshop will offer an introduction to the concept of youth, how it has appeared in the development, peace and security agendas of the continent and how a new paradigm of action evidenced by the Resolution of the United Nations Security Council on Youth emerges. , Peace and Security (Nr. 2250, 2015). This new approach recognizes youth agency in the processes of peace and development which means stop thinking of youth only as a group to be protected, protected, feared or contained. There will be examples of activism and involvement of youth groups and movements in processes of peace and development, some documented in the book "Juventud en África, motor del cambio" Libros de la Catarata/ Casa África, 2018.

After this introduction, participants will be able to interview young African leaders via Skype who will tell about their contexts and projects of social and political involvement. The workshop will close with the collective conclusions: What do these changes mean in the public policy agendas? What can we learn from these examples of youth involvement in Africa?

Speakers

CODES - Ponentes - Celina del Felice

Celina del Felice

Consultant on activism and youth participation. Author of "La juventud en África, impulsora del cambio"

Celina Del Felice works as a peace educator and consultant on issues of activism and youth participation. She collaborates, for example, with the United Network of Young Peacebuilders in research and training projects on the role of youth associations in peace-building processes. She has a degree in political science from the National University of Rosario (Argentina) and a PhD in international relations from the Radboud University (Netherlands). Recently coordinated with Obi Peter Onyeigwe the book "Youth in Africa, promoter of Change" edited by Casa Africa and Los Libros de la Catarata.

Obi Peter Onyeigwe

Obi Peter Onyeigwe

Youth worker and educator from Abuja, Nigeria, especially involved in inter-religious dialogue through the youth association Youth for Peace Building and Development in Africa (YOUPEDA). He has been a member of the United Network of Young Peacebuilders team that promoted the adoption of the United Nations Security Council Resolution on Youth, Peace and Security No. 2250.

Christian Cito Cirhigiri

Christian Cito Cirhigiri

Christian Cito Cirhigiri is a peace journalist from the Democratic Republic of Congo and founder of the Peacemaker 360 campaign. He holds a Master’s degree in International Peace Studies from the University of Notre Dame (US) and is currently working with Justapaz, an Anabaptist NGO involved in the implementation of the peace accord between the Colombian government and FARC rebels.