Lesego Chombo: My youth is my superpower

Today's youth generation is the largest the world has ever seen. Half of the world's population is under 30 and this is expected to reach 57 per cent by the end of 2030. Nearly 90 per cent of the world’s youth live in developing countries. They are often the majority in conflict-affected areas.

However, this demographic reality is starkly contrasted by political representation. Youth make up only 2.6 per cent of parliamentarians worldwide and the average age of global leaders is 62. This disconnect is palpable: the 2021 Be Seen Be Heard Global Youth Survey , conducted by the UN Youth Office and The Body Shop, found that 76 per cent of young participants felt their voices were unheard by politicians.

In this Expert Take, we talk to Botswana’s Honourable Minister for Youth and Gender Affairs Lesego Chombo. As one of Africa's youngest-ever cabinet ministers at 26, her journey showcases the immense potential within younger generations and demonstrates how youth can drive significant political change.

Question: At 26 years of age, you are one of the youngest ministers on the African continent. Tell us more about your priorities.

Lesego Chombo : I’ve always been passionate about impact. I've always been passionate about ensuring that whatever I do directly makes someone's life better, and this appointment is simply an opportunity for me to do it on a larger scale. But most importantly, I've always been passionate about advocacy and representing my country, and representing marginalized groups.

So, I get to represent young people who are currently facing such horrible challenges, not just in Botswana but globally. I get to represent various gender groups and specifically really prioritize equality and prioritize the inclusion of women and young girls. It's such a beautiful opportunity being a young person myself and also being a woman.

Question: What do you think are some of the biggest challenges young people face globally as well as in the African continent?

Lesego Chombo : We speak of young people feeling unseen, young people feeling unheard, young people feeling like they don't belong, like they live in a world that is not customized for them - that they just have to wake up and follow the rules that are set by other people in their absence.

This has led to so many issues - to unemployment and underemployment; it has led to political unrest; and it has led to them feeling like they don't have a seat at the table to make the right decisions for themselves.

 

This has really tampered with young people's sanity and feeling of safety. We have a lot of young people who are depressed; young people living with anxiety. I know, even with myself having an opportunity to lead the youth and gender portfolio, I too, live with anxiety, and it's just coming from a world that for a very long time has not felt safe for young people. So mental health is one of the challenges that young people face.

When young people do not have opportunities to not only live their purpose, but also to put food on the table and clothing on their back, it leads to so many other things. It leads to drug and substance abuse. It leads to crime. It leads to violence. And that's another challenge that is currently rising in Africa - gender-based violence - which is not mostly perpetrated by young people, but it mostly affects young women and young girls and children.

We speak of peace being a priority in our world and yet we have a world that is full of unrest. I do believe that the more we include young people, the more we have young people in politics, the more we have young people in the positions that matter the most, the more we don't just say, “let's hear young people” but we have them sitting at the table to actually make those decisions, we are headed in the right direction.

Question: What are some of the challenges that you face as a young woman in politics?

Lesengo Chombo : I lead the portfolio of youth and gender, and the top two challenges that I've faced have been ageism and violence.

“You're too young for it; you're not ready for it; you're not experienced for it. We don't agree with you because it's such a young person thing to say.”

But it's not a challenge that is not conquerable because I don't think that my youth is a prejudice or a disadvantage. I think that it's my exact superpower. We can have young people who can logically, reasonably lead with wisdom and apply their relevant experiences to today's world and to young people's needs.

There's so much hatred and violence towards women and girls. For a young woman in leadership, it's even worse. This is the violence that is perpetrated online. We need to always not hide behind our screens. Most importantly, [we need to] respect other people's rights, respect for other people's dignity.

Question: What is your message to young people today?

Lesego Chombo : I recently had a conversation with young people in Botswana and I asked them, “do you think that the world should be easier or do you think that we should be stronger?”

Naturally, after facing so many challenges, you want the world to be easier, kinder and safer for you. We had half of the young people say, “you know, we work so hard and would just love for that to translate into rewards; translate into safety, into inclusion and would love the world to accommodate us as young people. We deserve it.” And we had the other half saying “we think that our challenges make us who we are. They shape us for a better future, and they shape us for more challenges in the future.”

And that's just how the world is. There are seasons, there are challenges, [and] there are storms. For us to be able to realize [what] we desire to see which is a seat at the table, unfortunately, we have to go through the storm but we must be united in doing it. We shouldn't be pulling down other young people who are advocating for the same thing. We shouldn't gate keep; we should not feel like it should just be us and not other young people. Most importantly, we should be able to work for it.

If there's anything that gives me comfort on a daily basis when I encounter challenges, I think to myself, I have to do this so good and well so that other young people can get a seat at the table. It comes with the territory.

As we continue to aspire to lead, as we continue to aspire to be listened to, let us stick through the challenges. Let us stay strong. Let us stay committed. Let us stay hopeful because I am a testament that it is possible. It is possible for young people to be heard, to be seen, to be given an opportunity. It is possible for the world to realize the true, beautiful, unlimited potential that young people have.