Arjen Westra's African Weblog

Over the years that I have been here, my respect for the young generation of Africans has been growing. Being young in a country where not everybody has the same chance and some people are more special than others has its own challenges. Africa is full with talented, well educated young people, but they don't get jobs because a lot of elder people hold on to their positions. I meet a lot of young people who don't believe that they can really make a difference. Look at politics in Kenya for example: you will find people in the government who were there already twenty years ago. Young people don't get a chance. As a consequence, a lot of youngsters engage in illegal activities like drug dealing, robbery, prostitution. A lot of them are often maintaining their families this way. Others leave the country to try their luck elsewhere in the world, sending funds to their families. These highly talented people could help to build this continent. A good example is in the health sector here in Kenya: according to a recent WHO report, Kenya has a shortage of health workers. Not because they are not there, but because they all left the country, looking for greener pastures. Western countries are even recruiting them. At the same moment, a lot of well paid expats are hired and volunteers come in to 'solve the problems' of this country. I am waiting for a political party for young people that get up and stand up for the rights of the new generation and force their governments in a friendly way to see and use the potential of the young.