“The future of humanity and of our planet lies in our hands. It also lies in the hands of today’s younger generation who will pass the torch to future generations.”- Youth and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
Today, there are approximately 1.8 billion people between the ages of 10-24. They are the largest generation of youth in history. Close to 90 percent of them live in developing countries, where they make up a large proportion of the population. The adoption of the 2030 Agenda represented the culmination of an extensive three-year process involving member states and civil society, including youth organizations, in the development of specific goals and targets. This marked the beginning of a 15 – year journey to achieve sustainable development by 2030. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a global vision to shape a more sustainable future. The SDGs call for systematic changes; to safeguard our planet, make societies more inclusive, make our economy more sustainable and address social inequality.
Far from being mere beneficiaries of the 2030 Agenda, young people have been active architects in its development and continue to be engaged in the frameworks and processes that support its implementation, follow-up and review. Connected to each other like never before, young people want to and are already contributing to the resilience of their communities, driving social progress, inspiring political change and proposing innovative solutions.
We sat down with Samuel Mue, a 4th year Bachelor of International Studies student at Strathmore University and the current Coordinator of the Strathmore SDG Hub, to give us insights on the role of the youth in achieving the SDGs and how they can actively participate in promoting the SDGs.
Why is it important for the youth to own the SDGs?
Inclusivity. At the core of the SDGs is the aspect of leaving no man behind. The end goal of the SDGs is to create a sustainable future for all. This core perspective gives a better understanding of why the youth are critical in achieving the SDGs. There must be the aspect of inclusivity. The SDGs can’t be achieved without the youth.
The Future belongs to the Youth. Solutions to issues can only come by including the people who are affected. “The future we are fighting for is our future as the youth. The issues we are trying to fight for now are issues that are going to affect us when we are much older. Seeing it is our future we are fighting for, we as the youth need to be at the forefront,” Samuel Mue emphasized.
Shaping Policies. Development is context-based and the youth play a huge role in shaping policies and giving ideas that actually work. Additionally, the youth are needed in shaping policies because they understand their needs better and what is required in facilitating growth and enhancing change.
What role does the youth play in promoting the SDGs?
Advocacy work. The youth are doing advocacy work by actively appearing in various campaigns and raising awareness of SDGs through walks, trivia games, summits and seminars.
Localization of the SDGs. The youth are teaching various communities about the various SDGs and what they mean. This is a key aspect of achieving the SDGs as it reflects on the ‘Leave no man behind’ policy of the SDGs.
Consultations. There are a lot of youth consultations on different things. Recently, the Strathmore SDG Hub was involved in the consultation of SDG 4(Quality Education), leading up to the Transforming Education Summit. Additionally, the youth are suggesting what should be changed, what should be worked on and what should be improved.
Innovation. When it comes to innovation, the youth are at the forefront, especially with the current leap in technology. They are innovating ideas to address climate change, mobility and inclusivity to be presented at both the national and international levels.
Action. The youth are involved in various activities to promote the SDGs. These include; tree planting, clean-ups, working with schools, friendly farming and carrying out projects within communities.
How can the youth actively participate in promoting the SDGs?
Learn and Research. The beginning point for any youth interested in being an advocate for the SDGs is being aware of what’s happening in their communities and what they are passionate about. Do your research on the various SDGs, know the key stakeholders and the key organizations that work with the SDG you are interested in. Being an advocate is easier if you are acting from an informed point of view.
Network with the Right People. The issues one advocates for in their community might not be the same for other advocates in a different community, country and continent. Therefore, ensure that you are in the right places. Pick your place, your context and talk with the right people. Additionally, find relevant mentors who will guide you through this journey.
Identify your Community of Action
Identifying your target audience is vital in promoting the SDGs. Start by identifying what you are trying to achieve as an advocate and this will guide you in choosing the right community.
Be Action-Oriented. You must be action-oriented as an advocate for the SDGs. Making noise isn’t enough. The end goal is action and therefore you must push for it. You should have the desire to actually see action in the community.
Be Consistent and Resilient. Being involved in promoting the SDGs is not easy. Sometimes you are not given the space and voice to actually be involved. So you have to fight and demand your space as the youth. Additionally, ensure you are always on the ground doing the work, constantly learning and developing your skills. Being an advocate is not enough as you have to progressively evolve. Resilience tied up with consistency creates impact. It does not matter if people support you or not, as long as you are doing your part.
About the SDG Student’s Hub at Strathmore University
The SDG Student’s Hub is part of a global programme known as SDSN Youth. SDSN Youth is a program of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network – an initiative launched by the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, in 2012. The initiative was set up to accelerate youth action and mobilize expertise around the SDGs globally. The SDG Student’s Hub has set up different Hubs in different universities across the world. Currently, they have over 100 Hubs around the world. The Strathmore SDG Hub is one of the few Hubs in Kenya. The mission of the Hubs is to engage, act and interact with the SDGs in order to provide the youth with an opportunity to know more about the SDGs, interact with them and act upon them.
“If you tap into the potential of young people- into their creativity, idealism and numbers- you are going to start the biggest movement for sustainable development in history.” – Sam Loni, Founder of SDSN Youth.
Article by Michelle Nthemba
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