While protests in France are capturing the headlines, students in various African countries also “take it to the streets.” See a discussion on the BBC website, where students share opinions on their right to protest against government policies and actions of school administrators.
Many comments highlight the leadership role that young people play in society. Yet, the energy and the enthusiasm of youths, if not channeled properly, can lead to protests that turn violent at times. Certainly, having the right and being able to express your disagreement with certain policies is one of the core aspects of democracy and good governance. However, to make democracies truly functional – one must make sure to not only protest, but offer concrete recommendations on how to make things work better. In other words, there is a difference between simply protesting against some measures and looking to government to come up with a solution and advocating for change.
Ability of young people to advocate for change often hinges on several factors – whether countries allow for freedom of association, whether young people have the skills and education to organize and implement advocacy campaigns, and, most importantly, whether political and economic institutions promote (or allow for ) their participation in the economic and political arenas. One thing is certain – their opinions, as opinions of future leaders of their countries, cannot be ignored and “swept under the carpet.”
Published Date: April 06, 2006