Many movements that have changed the course of history were started and led by young people, says University of Pretoria alumnus David Kabwa (26), a former SRC President. He penned a rousing message this Youth Day and offers tips on how to make an impact in your community.

Young people have long since demonstrated that they possess the agency to make a meaningful impact. In fact, the African Union’s Youth Charter recommends that states increase the capacity of young people and youth organisations so that they are included in decision-making spaces. The charter further indicates that 65% of Africans are young people under the age of 35 – that means that youth make up the majority of the population on the continent by far.

There are many instances of youth demonstrating agency on the continent and across the globe. For instance, the Baraza peace courts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) were promoted by the Chirezi Foundation (FOCHI), a peace-building organisation in the DRC that seeks to empower youth communities through training and research regarding human rights and conflict resolution. The young people invited by FOCHI to participate in the courts were trained in dialogue and mediation skills in order to address conflict in their respective villages. These youth carried out a reintegration scheme for about 55 child soldiers in the town of Kiliba.

Another example are organisations such as ONG Vitalité Plus and Oiseau de la Paix, which provided several peace-building programmes. ONG Vitalité Plus set up 13 committees in six cities throughout the Central African Republic, training more than 2 860 young people in the areas of conflict transformation and peace education.

Many movements that have changed the course of history were started and led by young people. For instance, the Kent State campus demonstrations in the US resulted in the participation of 1 million people and went on to change the view of the Vietnam War. In South Africa, there was the #FeesMustFall Movement, which is considered to have caused the greatest paradigm shift since the Soweto uprising in 1976. In May this year, it was the vote of young people that resulted in new political parties being ushered in. These parties are on the cusp of replacing the military-appointed government and are striving for constitutional change in Thailand. This was considered impossible a decade ago.

Young people mobilised millions to stand in opposition to the Vietnam War; youth were on the frontlines of the opposition to apartheid, and brought the eyes of the world onto South Africa; and youth caused one of the biggest electoral shifts in the history of Thailand. Youth carry the determination of a nation and have the ability to influence society for the better. History has demonstrated that young people are capable of leaving a mark on history. In fact, they are the ones leading efforts to stabilise communities across Africa.

As we commemorate Youth Month, it is important to note that, at some point, the above-mentioned examples were considered impossible. However, the ability to make a difference begins with a decision.

There are steps that you can take to make an impact:

Face your fears; don’t be paralysed by anxiety when taking the first step.
Take action – we all need to begin somewhere.
Prepare for financial challenges. Evaluate what the biggest financial hurdles are and begin planning where you can.
Find a trusted mentor. Someone has walked the path that you may want to take, and they can make your journey easier.
Establish goals and keep them in mind. You need to have an idea of the destination that you are headed towards.
Embrace your mistakes. You may not always get it right, but keep moving forward.
Begin networking. Find like-minded people that can connect you to opportunities.
Find existing tools instead of starting from scratch.
Take care of yourself mentally, emotionally and physically.

Above all, remember that life is a matter of decision-making, and young people possess the capacity and capability to be less complacent. If you give your best, it is good enough – just be consistent about giving your best every day. Young people are the present and are able to influence society for the better. It has happened before; it is happening now; and it will continue to happen in the future.