Since 1991 June 16 has been marked across the continent as the Day of the African Child. The date was chosen because it was the day on which young South Africans rose up against apartheid in what became known as the Soweto uprising. More than 170 were killed by police gunfire.

Today young people in South Africa face very different struggles. Their biggest is finding a job. They have borne the brunt of the country’s poor economic performance – long before COVID-19. Hannah J. Dawson reflects on common narratives in the country about the threat that young people pose given the staggeringly high rate of 63% unemployment. Based on research among young people living in difficult circumstances she sets out what coping mechanisms they’re using, and how they’re going about their daily lives.

There’s a lot to be desired when it comes to the South African government’s policies on tackling the problem. Stephanie Allais explains how COVID-19 has affected the country’s already weak efforts to give young people skills, and what needs to be done to get a proper vocational training system in place. For their part Mark Smith, Jako Volschenk and Meshach Aziakpono set out how developing entrepreneurship can help dent joblessness, but only if policies are rebooted.

Also on offer are some previously published articles that shine the light on various aspects of the lives of children and young people around the continent. Wim Naudé unpacked how the pandemic put the brakes on a decade of youth development in Africa.

Youth activism has been a key driver in societies across the continent. In Nigeria the #EndSARS movement, which was led by young Nigerians, saw young people take to the streets in protest against police brutality. Oludayo Tade shared his insights on what it feels like to be in the shoes of a young Nigerian. And in Ethiopia, Nicole Beardsworth, Assefa Fiseha, Henok Kebede and Getachew Disasa explain why young Ethiopians in Oromia and Sidama fought for change.

When it comes to caring for much younger children, Robert Hughes explored how the effects of toxic stress could be managed and what care could look like. You'll find the stories here.
 

Thabo Leshilo

Politics + Society

Makeshift shops have mushroomed as people try to make ends meet amid South Africa’s excessive unemployment. Hobermunemployment. an Collection/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Stereotypes about young jobless South Africans are wrong: what they’re really up to

Hannah J. Dawson, University of the Witwatersrand

Many unemployed young people are engaged in a variety of economic activities. These may not necessarily be recognised as a form of self employment or informal employment.

COVID-19 has worsened South Africa’s system of developing the skills of young people

Stephanie Allais, University of the Witwatersrand

The pandemic has heightened existing weaknesses in South Africa's skills training regime.

Millions of young South Africans are without jobs: what are the answers?

Mark Smith, Grenoble École de Management (GEM); Jako Volschenk, Stellenbosch University; Meshach Aziakpono, Stellenbosch University

Promoting entrepreneurship will help reduce unemployment in South Africa. But the government has to step up its game.

Business + Economy

What the budget holds for the agriculture sector in Kenya

Timothy Njagi Njeru, Egerton University

Kenya needs to address spending inefficiencies to attain the goals outlined in the budget.

Ghana’s farmers aren’t all seeing the fruits of a Green Revolution

James Boafo, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST); Kristen Lyons, The University of Queensland

Realities on the ground tell a different story from the claim that a Green Revolution ensures food security and increased income for smallholder farmers in Ghana.

From our international editions

G7 showed that post-Trump, the world has shifted

Tony Walker, La Trobe University

Scott Morrison may have found the meeting of the leaders of the world's liberal democracies that aligning himself so closely with former US President Donald Trump was not the most prudent course.

Euro 2020: football’s promotion of unhealthy consumption must end

Robin Ireland, University of Glasgow; Christopher Bunn, University of Glasgow

How much longer can we allow unhealthy products to be associated with 'sport mega-events' like Euro 2020?

Identity fusion: why some people will go to extremes for the beliefs of a group

Roger Whitaker, Cardiff University

We used computer models to study the evolutionary benefits of identity fusion.

Working with dangerous viruses sounds like trouble – but here’s what scientists learn from studying pathogens in secure labs

Jerry Malayer, Oklahoma State University

Scientists get up close and personal with deadly pathogens to give doctors the tools they need to treat people sickened by germs. The key is keeping the researchers – and everyone around them – safe.

En français

En RDC, l’éruption du volcan Nyiragongo révèle de nombreuses faiblesses structurelles de l’État

Joel Baraka Akilimali, Université catholique de Louvain

L’éruption, qui a notamment causé le déplacement de près d’un demi-million de personnes, a pris la population par surprise parce que le volcan n’était plus surveillé.

L’Europe de l’Euro

Paul Dietschy, Université de Franche-Comté – UBFC

Retour sur l’histoire de la grande compétition qui oppose les meilleures sélections européennes depuis 1960 et dont la seizième édition vient de débuter.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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