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Sahar Mohy-Ud-Din's, the author of this article, research interests are in Development, Democratization, Peace and Security, Political, Economy and Policy making decisions regarding the aforementioned fields.
She is currently completing her Masters from the University of South Africa and working as a Marketing Executive at Angels Enterprises in Gaborone, Botswana. She completed her bachelors degree - Political Science, Philosophy and Economics - with Honors at the University of Cape Town in 2009. Sahar was part of the United Nations Association of South Africa – University of Cape Town's chapter for two years. The first year as an active member and the second as Head of Environmental and Social Affairs. Her job entailed the creation, direction and implementation of projects throughout disadvantaged areas in the Western Cape of South Africa.
AFRICA'S CHILDREN– ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY OR RISK FOR THE CONTINENT
Africa is a continent plagued with civil wars and poverty with 30 per cent or more of its population under the age of 24. Basic infrastructure, education and health care is absent in many areas. African youth are frustrated with unemployment and lack of political participation. This coupled with deadly civil wars and crippling poverty makes a deadly mix for the eruption of conflict and instability. However, with such a large number of youth making up the bulk of the population, Africa’s potential for economic growth can be unprecedented if the correct public policies can be implemented and if the human capital is nurtured and invested in. For lasting peace, youth need to be collaborated with in the governance of their country and need to be significant participants to the road to democracy.Children and youth represent the possibility of either an exit from Africa’s current predicament, or an intensification of that predicament” – De Waal 1
It is estimated that there are 1.8 billion young people in the world today aged between 10 to 24 years. 2
Just fewer than ninety percent of young people live in the developing world with 550 million living under $2 a day. 3
An estimated 71 million adolescents did not attend school in 2007 and more than half were girls. 4
The two worst places to be living as a child in 2002 were Angola and Sierra Leone. 5
Category: COUNTRIES
