Ethiopia is a country of the youth. Close to 70% of the population constitute the youth which is a decisive force in the socio-economic and political developments in the country.
Undoubtedly, today, the Ethiopian youth can play a crucial role in promoting national dialogue in Ethiopia. Their involvement is essential due to several factors:
Ethiopia has a predominantly young population, with a large percentage under the age of 30. This demographic significance means that youth perspectives and engagement are vital for any meaningful and inclusive national dialogue.
As stated above, the Ethiopian youth were often at the forefront of social and political movements in the country. Their energy, creativity, and willingness to challenge the status quo make them effective agents of change. In the context of national dialogue, young people can drive conversations about democracy, governance, and social justice.
Young people in Ethiopia are expected to bring fresh ideas and innovative solutions to longstanding issues. Their familiarity with technology and social media can help in mobilizing and spreading awareness about national dialogue initiatives, ensuring wider participation and inclusivity.
Youth can act as bridges between different communities and generations. Their relatively neutral stance in historical and ethnic conflicts allows them to facilitate dialogue and promote understanding among diverse groups. This bridging role is crucial in a multi-ethnic society like Ethiopia, where historical grievances and ethnic tensions often impede national cohesion.
The Ethiopian youth have promoted their country in the context of Olympic games and other world recognized athletic competitions hoisting the Ethiopian national tricolor on major global sports completions. Today, this has continued more than ever.
The Ethiopian youth have shown their potential capacity in the areas of IT, robotics, computer programing and other forms of modern technological innovations.
Young Ethiopians can advocate for policies and reforms that reflect their aspirations and needs. By participating in civic activities, they can hold leaders accountable and push for transparency and responsiveness in the political process. Their engagement in civil society organizations, student unions, and local community groups further strengthens the democratic fabric.
Educating and building the capacity of young Ethiopians to engage in dialogue processes is essential. Programs that focus on leadership, conflict resolution, and negotiation skills empower youth to take active roles in national discourse. Such education ensures that they are well-equipped to contribute constructively to national dialogue efforts.
For national dialogue to result in sustainable peace, it must include the voices of youth. Their participation ensures that the outcomes of dialogue processes are not only reflective of the present needs but are also sustainable for future generations. By involving youth, Ethiopia can foster a culture of peace and cooperation that transcends generations.
Civil society organizations like the Ethiopian Youth Federation can engages young people in political and social issues, encouraging them to participate in dialogue and decision-making processes.
Various grassroots movements and organizations led by young Ethiopians focus on promoting peace, development, and social justice. To fully leverage the potential of youth in national dialogue, there must be support systems in place.
Training and resources to build the skills necessary for effective participation of the youth in national dialogue is very important to help them speak in one voice instead of voicing ethnic oriented views that may affect the general interest of the youth here and overseas.
By recognizing and harnessing the potential of youth, Ethiopia can ensure that its national dialogue efforts are more inclusive, representative, and geared towards creating a more cohesive and peaceful society.
The youth in Ethiopia, both in rural and urban settings have several challenges that they can forward in any level of national dialogue process. Unemployment is one of the major challenges that the youth are facing in this country. Hundreds and thousands of youth are still wasting their times in undesirable places simply because they have no place to go. It is true that the government is doing its best to build and equip youth centers across the country and also preparing various recreational and sports centers which could contribute to wholesome development of young persons.
Although the youth have a number of challenges that they can mention on the national dialogue, young women have special issues and challenges that they could voice to draw the attention of the participants in the dialogue process. Gender based violence including rape and other forms of crimes against young women need to be discussed in detail. Preventive strategies and action plans as well as further legal enactments should be implemented to ensure the democratic and human rights of young women.
Nonetheless, youth with disabilities must be provided to articulate their concerns, challenges and demands so that their plights could be accordingly addressed. Besides, displaced youth and victims of war crimes and human rights violations must be supported to express their state of affairs in national dialogue processes both at regional and federal levels.
Ethiopian youth may have differences among themselves but they are certainly duty bound to cooperate on issues of nation building and promotion of economic and technological reforms in the country. They need to promote civil nationalism instead of engaging in divisive and disruptive activities that will not serve their interests.
The current generation of youth must engage in strategic thinking and reflect their opinions in a more dignified and respectful manner adhering to the ground rules outlined for the conduct of the national dialogue.
Editor’s Note: The views entertained in this article do not necessarily reflect the stance of The Ethiopian Herald
BY SOLOMON DIBABA
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 4 JUNE 2024
