Youth In Action In the Face of Uncertainty: Youth Revival

By Ms Kina Indongo (Communications Specialist)

The future of African youth in the mining sector is both promising and challenging The mining sector in Africa is theorised to continue growing in the coming years, with increased investment and demand for minerals and metals driving job opportunities and economic growth

As with all sectors of society, there exist several challenges facing young Africans today Despite the potential for innovation and entrepreneurship in the mining sector, many young people in Africa face barriers to starting their own businesses These emanate from limited access to financing to a general lack of mentorship opportunities Starting a mining-related business or investing in mining activities often requires significant capital, which can be difficult for young people to obtain, especially if they lack collateral or credit history. This contributes to limited opportunities for entrepreneurship.

Additionally, financial constraints can also limit access to education and training, as the mining sector often requires specialised higher learning and skills Not only is the barrier and challenges in the form of limited access to financing, regulatory challenges, and a lack of support networks also add to the mix Another challenge and concern for youth are health and safety risks that the mining sector due in part to dangerous working conditions and exposure to hazardous materials. These pose a significant risk to workers' health and safety particularly in unregulated mines and mining operations in politically unstable African states

Added to the health and safety risks are the environmental impacts of unregulated mining activities These impacts include soil and water contamination, deforestation, and loss of biodiversity. Young people are often more aware of these environmental issues and may be more likely to demand more sustainable and responsible mining practices These challenges hinder their ability to fully participate in and benefit from the speculated growth

In order to have a fighting chance at harnessing the potential of the sector, there needs to be greater investment in education and training, as well as policies and programs that support entrepreneurship, innovation, and social responsibility for young people in the industry This includes promoting access to education and training programs, supporting the development of sustainable mining practices, and creating opportunities for young people to participate in decision-making processes and influence policy and practice in the sector.

Revolutionizing the mining sector

Additionally, young people in Africa could be the key to revolutionizing the mining sector. One such example is Kenyan Engineer and Entrepreneur, Roy Allela, who developed a set of gloves that can translate sign language into speech These gloves could be particularly useful for miners who are deaf or hard of hearing, as they could improve communication and safety in the workplace Even more so in the noisy environments that mines contain.

There are many young African entrepreneurs who are developing new technologies and solutions to improve efficiency, safety, and productivity in the mining sector. Young people therefore can play a key role in advocating for policies and practices that promote sustainable and socially responsible mining, as well as in influencing the decisionsofgovernmentsandminingcompanies.

Overall, the future of African youth in the mining sector will depend on how well these challenges are addressed and how effectively opportunities are created to support their participation and contribution to sustainable and sociallyresponsibleminingpractices.

Readings:

Bryceson, D.Fahy (2014) Youth in Tanzania’s Urbanizing Mining Settlements: Prospecting a Mineralized Future . WIDER Working Paper 2014/008 Helsinki: UNU-WIDER https://www designindaba com/articles/creativework/roy-allela-invents-tech-translates-sign-languageaudio https://www weforum org/agenda/2015/03/the-futureof-mining-in-africa/ https://www afdb org/en/news-keywords/miningindustry