African Youth in 21^st Century

Deliverance from Fear & from Want

Africa Isn’t Poor nor is it a “S**t Hole” but it is

‘Poor People’ in a Rich Continent

Speech to University Youth and Scouts

Africa Day – May 26, 2019

Public lecture – Respublica Litereria - RL Vol XIII No 511 MMXIX

Costantinos Berhutesfa Costantinos, PhD

Former Chairperson of the African Union Anti-corruption Advisory Board

Professor of Public Policy and Sustainable Institutional Reforms

https://addisababa.academia.edu/CostyCostantinos

Summary

The abundant opportunity availed to me, as Chief Scout of Ethiopian Scouts to address this august gathering of university youth and scouts is a tribute to how far we have travelled in our modicum of endeavours for human security and youth participation in shaping Africa. True, there is no silver bullet for sustainable livelihoods, peace and security in Africa. For the ultimate hope to salvage imperilled Africa lies precisely in strengthening of African youth and civil society. Strategies to transform Africa need to be undertaken simultaneously at local and regional levels, in the social, political, military and economic spheres of development. To undo the historical slavery, colonialism and authoritarian militarism peddled by Africa’s despots and the current looting of Africa’s natural resources by its ‘elected’ leaders and the resultant human despair, Africa’s youth must stand up. In the long term, a youth-visioned human security is best guaranteed by democratic, accountable and stable states presiding over sustainable development.

The heart of Transformative Social Change is the intimate connection between the outer work of strategizing, organising, and campaigning, and the inner work of who we are as human beings. Transformative change asserts that our success in creating a more just and sustainable world requires our ability to connect with the deepest longings of people. We ought to develop our emotional intelligence as well as our political analysis, that we live and practice justice and sustainability in the way we do social change, and ultimately, that we be spiritual as well as political leaders. Hence, the lecture deals with social capital - youth-led society - freedom from fear (democracy); economic transformation -freedom from want (development), wrestling corruption, youth-led society & the media. It also dwells on youth-led society peace-building framework; strengthen civic education in primary schools adult civic education & popular participation in citizenship and premises of alternative conflict management

Key words: African youth, Africa Day, transformative social change, peace, human security, development.

See lecture here or https://www.academia.edu/39286110/African_Youth_in_21st_Century_Deliverance_from_Fear_and_from_Want_Africa_Isnt_Poor_nor_is_it_a_S_t_Hole_but_it_is_Poor_People_in_a_Rich_Continent_RL_Vol_XIII_No_511_MMXIX