The Next Generation in Southern Africa Advocates for Better Education
There is significant promise for our educational system as the emerging generation of leaders advocates for educational rights and public health. SAYWHAT is a membership-based public health social movement organization, founded in 2003 with the ambition of fostering the development of a healthy, empowered generation of young people in Africa. The members have once again proved that their voices can resonate powerfully across borders. SAYWHAT also leads the Girls Education Advocacy in the Region (GEAR Alliance) funded through the Education Out Loud Programme of the Global Partnership for Education.
From July 17th to 19th, 2024, SAYWHAT convened its 5th edition of the Southern African Regional Students and Youth Conference (SARSYC V) at Travelodge in Gaborone, Botswana. SARSYC V was held under the theme:
“Building Bridges, Navigating Emerging Issues: Advancing Equitable Access to Public Health and Education.”
A theme that embodies a progressive and interconnected approach to addressing the challenges that young people face in Southern Africa. Emphasis was given to collaborative efforts between health care systems and education systems to address inequalities and bridge gaps in the face of the emerging challenges that are affecting young people in the region.
Conference Urges Action to Guarantee Access to Quality Education
The conference facilitated numerous ideas and discussions, weaving together the threads of the International Conference on Population and Development, the intersections of Sustainable Development Goals, and the pressing realities of artificial intelligence, digital technology, climate change, and communicable diseases.
With over 272 delegates in attendance, including 190 spirited students from diverse nations such as Angola, Botswana, Tanzania, Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, the air buzzed with energy and determination.
Central to the conference was a powerful focus on access to quality education across the region. Participants acknowledged the importance of policy frameworks like the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan 2020-2030 and UNESCO's Education 2030 Framework for Action, recognizing them as vital cornerstones for progress across the region.
The members from SAYWHAT urged the SADC Member States to:
- Recognize that education equips young people with knowledge skills, and values necessary to build a better future. Removing education from the successor framework to the Sustainable Development Goals could significantly limit opportunities for young people to develop the competencies they need to address complex global issues and fully participate in society. Take immediate action to ensure Education remains a critical component of the Pact for the Future.
- Allocate at least 20% of national budgets to education to guarantee adequate funding for marginalized learners, in alignment with the Maputo Declaration.
- Eliminate tax burdens on materials used to manufacture sanitary products to ensure they are affordable and accessible for vulnerable girls, especially those in rural and farming communities.
This vibrant dialogue showcased the undeniable power of the Southern African Regional Students and Youth Conference (SARSYC), igniting discussions among young people who refuse to be silenced in their quest for better education systems.
Day 3 marked a significant milestone as participants crafted their collective call to action, culminating in the Gaborone Declaration. This pivotal document was presented to the SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) through Secretary General, H.E. Boemo Sekgoma, who committed to passing on the recommendations and commitments.
“For SAYWHAT, SARSYC V was not just an event; it was a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange, fostering collaboration among students, policymakers, civil society organizations, and development partners. It was gathering rich insights and innovative solutions aimed at ensuring equitable access to public health and education for all particularly for marginalized women and girls in rural and farming communities in the region”
Jimmy Wilford, SARSYC Convener
Young people in Southern Africa are not merely the leaders of tomorrow; they are the changemakers of today, boldly stepping forward to shape a future where education and health are accessible to all.
With their unwavering passion and commitment, these young trailblazers are igniting a movement that will undoubtedly reverberate across the region and beyond, fulfilling the shortened theme of the conference, advancing equitable access to public health and education.