Global Report: The state of youth - challenges and opportunities
- Refilwe
- 3 days ago
- 6 min read
Youth Month in South Africa, observed in June, honours the youth of 1976 for their role in the fight against apartheid. This year's theme, "Skills for the Changing World – Empowering Youth for Meaningful Economic Participation," builds on last year's focus, emphasising the socioeconomic gains of South Africa's 30-year democracy. Initially planned for June, this article was delayed due to overwhelming feedback from youth participants.
The drive to amplify youth voices was reinforced at the Kids Rights Youth Summit I attended in Amsterdam last November with my daughter, where global youth shared similar challenges and opportunities. These shared experiences inspired me to write about the global state of youth. To capture diverse perspectives, I invited youth to respond to four questions, receiving thorough and generous feedback from 18 respondents. While this article only scratches the surface, I've endeavoured to cover their sentiments.
In today's rapidly evolving world, the youth face a myriad of challenges and opportunities. From societal pressures to the lack of resources, the voices of young people from various parts of the globe provide a compelling insight into their current state and the potential for a brighter future.
Youth voices from around the world
The first question I asked was “What’s your view about the state of youth in your country?” The majority highlighted a youth demoralised by high unemployment rates, government corruption, lack of direction, uncertainty in a war-wrought world and an overall, overwhelmed generation. Additionally, social issues like early marriages, teenage pregnancies, alcohol and drug abuse, lack of discipline, parenting, mental health concerns, and crime rates were also mentioned.
Zambia’s Shekaina and Busi from South Africa shared concerns about high youth unemployment rates and poor access to quality education. These sentiments were shared widely amongst the participants, with Tim from the UK pointing out that the state of youth in his country “was upsetting due to the lack of opportunities”. He cited that a big contributing factor is that “schools are lacking in funding to help educate” its youth.
Another UK resident, Jourdan echoed Tim’s sentiments, noting that “youth are lost without a solid plan due to uncertain times”. In contrast, Andrew from the UK believes that many young people are “given an easy ride, lack respect for their surroundings and other people”. However, the trio agreed on the lack of funding for education, and the need for better education to address the issues raised. Jourdan went further to add that he believes that the reintroduction of trade schools and affordable housing are part of the missing link.
“The youth are overwhelmed and face immense societal pressure to succeed. They possess boundless potential, yet lack access to resources that can help them realise it.” – Dayo, Nigeria.
Echoing Dayo’s sentiments is Saru from Switzerland. Notwithstanding the country’s efficient systems, stability and privileges, Saru shares that “many youths feel stuck between pressure and passivity. There’s this silent struggle between maintaining high expectations and finding personal purpose.”
The topic of purpose is a significant one considering that varying factors impact what Saru is referring to. Systemic factors such as policy reforms, education and skills development, economic growth, high unemployment rates, access to financial resources, and social and cultural norms play a big role. What the youth want to see is change and not this rinse-and-repeat cycle we are finding ourselves stuck in mainly due to the quality of leadership in the world.
“The upcoming national dialogue is particularly frustrating. I fail to understand why R700 million will be spent to discuss the KNOWN needs of the country. These funds should be used to build schools, especially in provinces like the Eastern Cape.” – Yvonne, South Africa.
Complacency due to increased usage of technology
Whilst we are all beneficiaries of a connected world, a high number of respondents shared that technology was creating a glaring complacency amongst the youth. Mimi from South Africa believes that “youth are too shallow and lazy, spending too much time on their phones and lacking social skills”. Rick from New York agreed, pointing out that youth are glued to technology and lack creative outlets. Echoing these statements, Aldo from Germany observed that “today's youth have more tools and access to information than ever before but also face more noise, distractions, and pressures”. Jaiden from Australia elaborated further on this phenomenon, citing the impact of technology on cultural shifts, ideologies, spirituality and propaganda.
“Most (youth) are more influenced by content than character, more driven by pleasure than purpose, and more focused on validation than values. Many young people are spiritually lost, disconnected from God or a higher sense of purpose. When you remove sacred values, it’s easy for clout, sex, or addiction to fill the void.” – Jaiden, Australia
Furthermore, Jackson from Canada is concerned about the ideologies being taught in Canadian schools. He cites increased rates of teen suicide and their dire impact on the mental wellbeing of youth.
Silent battles: the mental health pandemic
According to this recent World Health Organisation report, one in seven 10-19 year olds experience mental health conditions whilst suicide is the third leading cause of death among those aged 15-29 years old.
“Mental health issues, career uncertainty and the cost of living are pressing challenges that many (youth) faces silently.” – Saru, Switzerland
Drawing from her professional experience of working with children, adolescents and families, registered counsellor, Tebogo from South Africa shared that many young people struggle with “anxiety, depression, trauma and many other mental health challenges.” According to Tebogo, mental health issues are further exacerbated by the increased use of technology. Jaiden added to this and said: “technology gives youth access to opportunity, but also to false realities. They (youth) see the lifestyle but not the grind. They adopt ideologies with no real-world grounding.”
As young entrepreneur in South Africa, Jaylene’s sentiments highlight the complexities of operating a start-up and the effects this has on mental health: “I wouldn’t say I’m hopeless. I’m genuinely proud of the youth in this country. I see people starting side hustles, building platforms, making noise, and showing up as creatives, content creators, and entrepreneurs. But it’s also hard to ignore the other side - the oversaturation of degrees, graduates with no work, and dreams that get shelved because the economy isn’t playing fair. It’s complex. It’s not just one person’s fault it’s a messy system with a lot of moving pieces.” Her cautiously optimistic view displays the strength that the youth possess and their untapped potential for success. But everyone needs to play their part to create practical solutions that work.
Calls for transformative solutions
In response to the question, “what can be done to change what seems to be the current status quo?”, the youth provided practical solutions toward the much-needed transformation. Their insights highlighted the need for a collective effort to address the challenges faced by the youth. In terms of employment and skills development, Timmy from South Africa proposes “adjustments in base expectations for entry level jobs and more opportunities designed for recently graduated students.”
Adding a perspective from India, Praneetha highlighted the urgent need for proactive participation for change. According to her, "passive, neutral little nudges don't work anymore". She further encouraged the youth to actively pave the way:
"There is life outside of the way society taught you to live, outside of the validation from screens. You matter. Your voice matters. Your actions matter. There is always hope. Every time you chase your dream, or speak up for yourself, take inspired action to driving better change and stand in solidarity with the collective consciousness of being human, you ARE creating revolutions." - Praneetha, India
Other solutions include the provision of better education, genuine support, and relatable role models. Additionally, addressing issues like unemployment, poor access to education, and mental health challenges is crucial for empowering the youth. Masedi from South Africa believes that youth should not rely on being employed, instead they should boldly tap into entrepreneurship as this has far reaching impact due to its powerful contribution to growing economies. Jaylene thought-provokingly reiterates these points and says:
“There needs to be a serious investment in real support systems - actual financial investments, mentorships, job-readiness training, mental health resources, and industry exposure. Not just big announcements, financial programmes that have so much red tape and 5-day long summits, but real, tangible programmes that help young people feel seen and equipped.” – Jaylene, South Africa
From these insights, it is evident that we need to proactively create systems and opportunities that allow youth access. By investing in the youth, providing them with the necessary resources, and involving them in decision-making, we can unlock their potential and create a brighter future for all. As Mahatma Gandhi said, "Be the change you wish to see in the world."
Let us work together to build a better future for the youth and, in turn, for society as a whole.
To all the youth that participated in this report, THANK YOU! I am not only grateful for your rich insights but also encouraged by your perspectives, passion and solutions-oriented mindset. Use your voices, take up your positions and create impact in the spaces you are in... our world needs this now more than ever!
Let us work together. Sisonke-Simonye. Beautifully written piece!