Adolescent Development and Participation
Young people have the right to be heard in ALL matters affecting them.
Situation
Botswana’s population is relatively made up of young people with approximately 60% of the population below 35 years, 42% under 25 years, and 18.7% in the 15 to 24 years age range. With the proportion of youth population continually growing, significant focus has been placed on the importance of youth participation and the amplification of youth voices. However, youth – particularly adolescent girls and young women and young people with disability rarely have equal access to opportunities to train and act as leaders or as advocates in places where the decisions that affect their lives and their human rights are made.
Adolescents in Botswana differ in terms of their access to opportunities such as education and socio-economic factors. Adolescents are arguably the most dynamic population of Botswana – with unique power and untapped potential to significantly contribute to their communities and positively transform the country. They are also uniquely positioned as a major human resource for development and agents of their personal development, socio-economic development, and sources of innovative solutions and approaches.
Solution
- Support adolescent and youth networks (i.e network of young people living with HIV) to engage in policy and programming.
- Facilitate adolescent and young people’s meaningful participation and leadership in policy and programming platforms at national and sub- national levels.
UNICEF employs the 3-lens approach as a core guide for youth participation. It aims to unpack ways programs, services and policies can be best tailored to encompass the current needs of adolescents and young people. . The approach considers 3 perspectives of engaging youth which is as (1) adolescents as beneficiaries, (2) adolescents as partners and (3) adolescents as leaders.
Beneficiaries: To involve young people meaningfully they should be capacitated adequately with relevant knowledge, facilitating autonomous decision making associated with their health and overall needs.
Partners: The inclusion and participation of young people is a human rights principle, recognizing that programs for young people are most effective when they are involved in discussion around programming and decision-making.
Leaders: When empowered with the necessary skills and resources, young people are seen as key drivers of change in their communities. Furthermore, for young people to be leaders in the response to issues they need to be supported to organize networks amongst diverse affected populations, to mobilize resources and to advocate for their needs.