In recent years, people throughout the world have held a hope that things cannot be different for future generations. The false hopes that as young people, we would grow to be a replica of the older generations, be bound by the confines of their failures and abide by their metrics of success. Our elders paid a high price to liberate themselves and our societies, and they did not want us to go through similar struggles. So, they planned and demarcated our futures through the lenses of their worthwhile experiences.
Of course, this was intended for a greater good. However, times have changed. What used to be sacred and hidden sources of wisdom are a given for millennials. Our elders had to go to secluded colleges to attain knowledge, but today, we simply browse online and take information as we please. What they once deemed miracles such as racing automobiles, online interactions, faster means of trade are how we spend our days.
Previously, for anything to be done there was a preconception that force was required. Until the late 20th Century, the leaders of the day simply used force to acquire their power. However the 21st Century is different, an alternative skill set is favoured. Based on persuasion, and appealing to minds, resonating with feelings and the needs of people in order to be conferred with power and authority.
However, the fate befalling the world is an upsetting one and contrary to what our forefathers and mothers held in values. They fought so hard for us as young people to own our future and actively take part in building it. Yet as young people, we are sidelined and excluded from decision making processes on issues of grave importance to us. The prevalence of gender inequalities is alarming, yet ancient precepts teach us that it is a fundamental right of every woman, man, boy and girl to be treated equally, and to have equal opportunities to realise their full potential and contribute to the development of their communities.
More to this, the world is over armed, and peace is underfunded. In 2017, over 1.7 trillion dollars was spent globally on arms and armies. Yet the costs of a single fighter jet could educate over 200,000 children for a year. And 13% of the military expenditure would eliminate extreme poverty and hunger in the world. Actually this annual budget would alone support all the activities of the UN Women (an entity for gender equality) for 5000 years. This shows that young people- peacemakers and leaders- have a huge role to play in resetting global standards and shifting global priorities.
It is our role as young people to make the world we want. It is our role to lobby for a good, peaceful and inclusive society by making use of our voices and talents. If we seek, embrace active citizenship, rise in unison, we can influence those in and with power to have liberal space for expression. To contribute to decision making processes on issues that matter to us like equality, peace and justice.
We have to ask hard questions, uncomfortable questions about what is important to us, what we value, question what is working for us and what is not working.
I believe in the future, broken or wrecked, sustained or stained, the young people will not be the same. Their narratives will be incredibly inspiring and they will hold pride in us. They will tell their future grand children about young people that took, on their shoulders, the burdens of the entire generation.
As we trek through the world, we should recall that we are only a product of collective wisdoms, mistakes, successes and sacrifices crafted over subsequent years. Our role as young people is to live up to our potential abilities and play our part within our small talents and wisdoms to leave a better world so that the future generations can find it more inclusive, just and peaceful.
The writer is a student at the African Leadership University
Twitter: @pro_youngpeople