Being young in the digital age means being connected, updated, creative, empowered, keeping up with trends and, above all, using digital platforms responsibly.
The digital age empowers us to connect with anyone and access a wide range of material, content, and information. This expansion of resources allows us to enhance our skills and create with greater confidence. Additionally, it provides access to global platforms, offering insight into how technology has improved efficiency in various contexts. This privileged information enhances our effectiveness in problem-solving and decision-making.
Compared to previous generations, young people in the digital age have the possibility of digital entrepreneurship, which not only facilitates mobility for suppliers and consumers of products and services, but also broadens access to sources of income. The digital environment also offers a global reach, through the possibility of working remotely or hybridly, thus reducing geographical barriers and providing greater flexibility and balance between personal and professional life. In addition, the digital age has democratized access to information and knowledge, as it offers a wide range of paid, low-cost or free online courses that allow young people to acquire skills and competences on an ongoing basis and adapted to their needs. To make the most of this opportunity, it's crucial for young people to invest in digital literacy, stay updated with market trends in their field, and utilize online platforms to broaden their knowledge and professional network.
Technology can boost sustainable development in Africa by facilitating access to education and awareness about waste management and environmental monitoring, which are essential for preserving biodiversity; and enabling the implementation of policies that encourage reuse, the use of renewable energies and the growth of green, creative, and collaborative economies, which prioritize access over ownership.
Technology can help young Africans overcome the continent's challenges because it provides access, an essential condition for development. Firstly, access to information, which is crucial for increasing young people's repertoire and enabling them to create solutions applicable to local contexts. Secondly, access to technological advances in technical, social and health sciences facilitate implementing projects and programs that address critical problems on the continent, such as basic sanitation. Online education, another value of technology that allows us to acquire skills and competencies in a self-taught way, especially for those who do not have the financial capacity for a formal education. In addition, technology opens doors to job opportunities, support networks, career support and scholarships, and creates a more inclusive environment and greater social mobility. Finally, technology allows us to promote citizenship and community support by providing a better understanding of the realities experienced on the continent. It encourages the active participation of young people in building solutions to the challenges we face.
For young Africans to be on a par with young people in other more developed geographies, they must develop skills in data literacy and cybersecurity. Skills like these enable us to solve problems logically and systematically, while also being aware of online risks and having the ability to protect our data and devices. On the other hand, skills such as design and digital marketing aligned with the ability to interpret data and an advanced level of cybersecurity become a mix of relevant skills that will help young Africans become more competitive.
Collaboration between content creators and sustainable organizations is another item that should be highlighted here, as they can strengthen the digital impact on environmental and social causes. Organizations, in turn, should take advantage of the influential power of these content creators to strengthen the dissemination of their environmental protection programmes. The need to step up these efforts is clear, and the digital age offers the tools needed to transform the future of sustainable initiatives.
Today, technology is nearly unavoidable in human life, and sustainable initiatives are becoming more efficient thanks to it. We now have 100% digital advertising campaigns without the need for printed materials, as well as solar panels that enable us to generate "clean" energy on a large scale. These and other initiatives have defined and impacted human life and set the course for a more promising and sustainable future. However, there is still much to be done in terms of campaigns and actions to raise awareness of these essential issues.
In Angola there are already youth initiatives that are using technological innovation to advance sustainable causes, see some example below:
Menos Lixo: an online platform that promotes interaction between agents involved in the production, reuse and recycling of solid waste, with an environmental education program that organizes events in the field of environmental and social sustainability. It includes a database of items for donation, exchange, sale, and purchase.
EcoAngola: an organization dedicated to promoting sustainability and environmental protection in Angola that integrates technology as an essential component of its strategies, monitoring and mapping ecosystems, as well as using digital platforms to promote awareness and engagement with the community in ecological practices.
Global Shapers Angola: As an association of the Global Shapers Community, the members of this association are dedicated to contributing to the creation and implementation of initiatives, and the materialization of sustainable solutions in urban and rural communities in Angola. With the Toplink platform, community members interact internationally and develop projects, and Shaper Talks is used for dialogues between local community members and the public.
Narisrec: a company that uses advanced technologies to collect, transform and manage electronic waste, with an approach that not only contributes to preserving the environment, but also promotes sustainable practices such as reuse, repair, and recycling. In 2021 and 2022, Narisrec won the AFDDigitalChallange competition with the Binewaste project and was recognized as one of the 10 best startups in Africa.
Associação Nação Verde: an initiative that works to minimize the human impact on climate change, thus promoting reverse logistics and the circular economy. By distributing Ecopoints, this initiative encourages selective collection, providing better conditions for waste pickers who reuse waste for commercial purposes. The use of technological tools such as digital media facilitates engagement with the community, strengthens their initiatives and increases their impact on environmental conservation.
Another reference is the Let's Talk Digital Community (Beer Tour), an event that promotes the exchange of knowledge on diverse topics and explores the main trends shaping the future, standing out as a space for learning and innovation.