Project IV

Youth Empowerment on Water and Environmental Issues

Africa has the fastest-growing and most youthful population in the world. Over 20 percent of Africa’s population is between the ages of 15 to 24 and, since over 40 percent of Africa’s population is under 15 years of age, that number is expected to grow significantly in the coming years.

According to the International Labour Office, youth make up as much as 36 percent of the total working-age population and three in five of Africa’s unemployed are youth.

While recognizing Africa’s demographic challenges, the World Bank sees the large youth population as an opportunity: “The demographic transition makes youth the most abundant asset that the region can claim, thus making it a window of opportunity.”

The situation in Ghana is not much different from the regional perspective. This means that for there to be sustainable development and management of water and environment, the youth must be empowered with the necessary skills to take up the leadership role of these areas tomorrow.

As a result of the above, Green WaterHut together with Nature Today Group, Integrity Internet Marketing Ltd and Green Spears Ltd launch the Ecoyouth Africa Initiative to help involve and support the youth in Africa to become ambassadors for the consequences in their environment. The first phase of this initiative is the Ecoyouth Africa 2011 Conference to be held in August in Kumasi, Ghana.