In 2016 the East African Institute of the
Aga Khan University released the findings of a youth survey conducted in Kenya,
Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. The findings of the survey were received with both despair
and hope.
According
to the survey 53 percent of youth in the four countries were unemployed. About
80 percent of youth aged 18-20 who were not in school were unemployed. About 63
percent of rural women are unemployed. About 50 percent East African youths
with university education were unemployed.
Circa 53 percent of the youth said they
would like to go into business. Less than 25 percent expressed interest in
pursuing traditional careers in medicine, engineering or education. Only
12 percent said they would take up farming as a full-time vocation. The survey
shows that youth who had the strongest interest in business and farming had no
more than primary education. Moreover, 54 percent more youth with primary
education reported they were self-employed compared to youth who have attended
university.
Over 80 percent of the youth surveyed valued
faith first. Hard work and family were ranked first among 50 percent of the
youth. The youth also indicated that wealth and freedom were important values
for them. The values of faith, family and hard work are largely founded in the
Abrahamic faiths of Islam and Christianity, which are the dominant religious
traditions of East Africa.
With the exception of Rwanda, the survey
findings on integrity set off alarm bells. In Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania parents,
faith leaders and civil society were befuddled by apparent contradiction
between the values youth profess and how they would act. The survey findings
raise concerns about the moral character of the future generation.
Between 30 and 45 percent of the youth
believed corruption was profitable and would readily give or take a bribe; over
50 percent of the youth believed it didn’t matter how one made
money as long as one didn’t end up in jail. Moreover, 60 percent did not
believe it was important to pay taxes. In
contrast, only less than 10 percent of Rwandan youth believed corruption was
profitable and would give or take a bribe. About 20 percent believed it
didn’t matter how one made money as long as one didn’t end up in jail.
Rwandan
youth were the most optimistic about the future. Over 70 percent believing that
their countries will be richer materially with better access to quality
education and jobs. Tanzanian youth were the most pessimistic. Less than 35
percent of the youth believed the country will be wealthy materially with more
jobs for youth and that hard work would be rewarded. About 60% believed
Tanzania would be poorer in ethics and values, and more youth would engage in
substance abuse.
This
Saturday, March 11, the East African Institute will bring together youth leaders
from Kenya, Uganda Rwanda and Tanzania to grapple with the moral, ethical and governance
imperatives fo just, prosperous,
inclusive and equitable societies.
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