Youth perspectives in Africa and India highlight demands for opportunity and accountability

On International Youth Day, perspectives from young people in Africa and India highlight the challenges and aspirations of the rising generation. In sub-Saharan Africa, where 70% of the population is under 30, youth focus on the need to convert education into tangible livelihoods and political participation. In Benin, aspiring professionals express a desire for improved regional integration, peace, and the resources necessary to build sustainable infrastructure.

In India, the focus shifts to the role of youth in nation-building and institutional accountability. Recent student movements have demonstrated the ability of Generation Z to organize via digital platforms to demand transparency. Meanwhile, younger students in Rajasthan have staged protests to demand basic educational necessities, including teachers, drinking water, and functional classroom facilities.