The Ichikowitz Family Foundation, a Johannesburg-based (South Africa) philanthropy, recently published a survey of youth in Africa. A total of 4,507 youth between the ages of 18-24 years old were given in-depth face-to-face surveys across 15 countries (Angola, Congo Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe).


A core belief of the Ichikowitz Family Foundation is that Africa's potential can be unlocked through education, the respect for human rights, a better understanding of Africa's dynamic history and the conservation of its rich biodiversity. The Foundation is committed to the kind of active citizenship that promotes the preservation of Africa's heritage, the conservation of its environment, and the empowerment of Africa's youth.


Some key findings from the survey include:


The survey measures' Afro-optimism', that is, how optimistic African youth are about their personal future. Less than one-third believe the continent is on the right track. Approximately 30% believe their country is on the right track, while 40% don't think so, and the others are uncertain. The survey report identifies this as a 'dip' in optimism from levels measured in the last survey two years ago.


The natural environment is a concern for youth. Many youths take individual action and expect their governments to do so too. The expectation is that government will do more to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and find and use cleaner energy. An interesting fact is that almost 50% of the youth responding spend more than 25% of their income on clean water.


African youth consider universal wi-fi as a fundamental right. Smartphone use is high; however, widespread and affordable internet access is not. Only 12.5% of the respondents can afford data coverage all the time. Interestingly, the respondents identified BBC, CNN, and Al Jazeera as the most trusted news outlets and Facebook as the least trustworthy.


Youth identified the need for well-paying job creation as the continent's top priority; more than two-thirds say that their government is not doing enough. 75% of African youth believe owning land is essential for financial well-being.


Key findings in the area of foreign relations are telling. Youth believe foreign countries can positively influence the continent but are concerned about neo-colonialism and foreign ownership of their natural resources. They see China as the most influential foreign country more than the United States or European Union. African youth believe that religious leaders in their country are more trustworthy than government leaders. 75% believe that their politicians use fake news to promote their agendas.


The youth in Africa have personal and entrepreneurial ambitions. Most want to marry and raise a family but do it at a later age than their parents. Most are optimistic that their standard of living will improve over the next few years and they will have a better one than their parents. Approximately 50% would like to emigrate in the next three years, with South Africa being the top choice on the continent. Economic and education are the two most cited reasons young Africans want to leave their home country.


The African Youth Survey 2022 is a fascinating look into the hopes, aspirations, and youth of a fast-growing and fast-changing continent. (Editor's note: At im4u.world, we have constructed a Global Survey to understand what people believe are the most urgent issues facing humanity, how those issues affect us where we live, and our level of optimism about humanity's ability to resolve those issues. Visit https://www.im4u.world/globalsurvey to express your views and have your voice counted.)


Surveys can provide valuable information about a community when done consistently over time. Consider a youth survey in your hometown. Coordinate with your schools and administer it to the senior students annually. You may be surprised by the results. Are they planning to stay in your community or leave for elsewhere? Do they optimistic about the future? What do they fear? How would they change things if they could? Their answers can provide exciting insights into the future of your hometown. Don't assume you know what they are thinking. Instead, look at it as a discovery that can lay the groundwork for involved conversation with your hometown youth, civic leaders, business leaders, and the broader community. If you want to build a competitive edge for your community to attract more economic development or simply want your children to come back home to live and start a family, think about the benefits of a youth survey. Knowledge is power. Use it to your community's advantage.


Photo by Dr. Josiah Sarpong on Unsplash.


To read the survey report click the first source link below.
To learn more about the Ichikowitz Foundation click on the second source link below.