The many present and future benefits of investing in the youth of a country is universally acknowledged and accepted. South Africa, with its growing youth population, has taken note. However, every citizen’s help and investment is needed to plan for the future.

Why invest?

“Governments in rapidly developing countries must invest in their burgeoning youth populations in order to avoid an array of potential problems including unemployment, political unrest and alcohol and drug abuse”, warns the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The overall damage to society due to these problems (early school drop-out, risky sexual behaviours, substance abuse and crime and violence) amounts to several per cent of the gross domestic product in countries that do not heed this warning.

South Africa’s population is largely made up of young people; approximately 66% of the total population is below the age of 35 years. These young people can either become an asset or a disadvantage to the country and every other citizen in it. It therefore makes sense to actively plan to help and nurture our youth by making use of every opportunity to invest in their and in our own future!

When to start?

Experts advise that investing in our youth must begin during early childhood and adolescence when it is still possible to establish life-long patterns of behaviour. Investing in programmes that help children acquire early cognitive (mental, intellectual and reasoning) and non-cognitive skills as well as building up healthy bodies is an investment well worth making. This investment will yield both short and long-term dividends and lead to a heightened effectiveness of later investments in these children. Creating pathways for accelerated development will turn them into a powerful force for social and economic development and positive change in South Africa.

Where to start?

The South African Government has introduced a National Youth Policy (NYP) while the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) produced a Youth Enterprise Development Strategy (YEDS). Youth is defined as either minor (14 to 17 years of age) or adult (18 to 35 years of age). The YEDS predominantly targets the latter age group.

Government intends to:

    • Foster youth economic participation
    • Enhance youth entrepreneurship
    • Accelerate the growth of youth-owned and managed enterprises capable of contributing to the gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate
    • Increase youth self-employment and innovation.

Who can help?

Government admits that enhancing youth economic participation cannot be achieved by its efforts alone. It calls for a shared partnership between itself, the private sector and broader civil society.

Education and training agencies must introduce entrepreneurship development programmes and the opportunity of gaining work experience through internships. Local communities should set up social norms and attitudes conducive to young people seeing the value and importance of building a business rather than adopting a “get rich quick” attitude based on entitlement, easy credit and conspicuous consumption.

What about the ordinary citizen, the man or woman on the street? We are called upon to lend a helping hand where one is needed, be a friend and mentor, share our talents and resources, love, nurture and help our young people discover their own unique talents and abilities! When we label them an asset and not a liability we will empower them to be just that!

 

Sources

 

Goko, C. 2013. SA ‘needs to invest in youth to build future’, Motsepe tells students. Retrieved from: http://www.bdlive.co.za/
How to make a contribution to the lives of SA’s children. Retrieved from: http://leadsa.co.za
Youth as a smart investment: fact sheet. Retrieved from: http://social.un.org
Youth Enterprise Development Strategy 2013-2023. Retrieved from; http://www.dti.gov.za