Our Time is Now: Young People Changing the World

Abstract

Children, Youth and Environments Vol. 16 No. 2 (2006) ISSN: 1546-2250 Our Time is Now: Young People Changing the World Kinkade, Sheila and Macy, Christina (2005). New York: Pearson Foundation; 176 pages. $19.95. ISBN 0977231909. Our Time is Now: Young People Changing the World is an initiative of YouthActionNet (www.youthactionent.org). It is a collection of stories from more than 30 young leaders and social entrepreneurs from more than 20 countries around the world. This colorful and attractive book is addressed to a broad non-specialist audience. It presents a positive message of the energy, creativity and enthusiasm of young leaders to make a difference in the world. The examples presented in the book cover a wide range of issues and approaches. They include: adolescent reproductive health in Kenya; girls education in Afghanistan, South Africa and Kenya; the rights of disabled people in Kyrgyzstan; environmental activism in India and Canada; income generation in slum communities in Argentina; music for peace in Palestine; political participation and activism in Albania; youth service learning in Mexico; organic agriculture by indigenous communities in the Philippines; making films to highlight gender issues in the USA; raising awareness about HIV/AIDS in China and Nigeria; social support services for young Muslims in the UK; peace building in Bosnia and Herzegovina; supporting child victims of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Russia; involving young people in community service in Thailand; youth journalism in Vietnam; civic education for students in Argentina; promoting the rights of women and girls in India; and mobilizing students to prevent blindness around the world. Each story ends with a page of advice from the young social entrepreneurs, addressed to other young people and to agencies supporting youth activism. Complementing the stories of young leaders are quotes from human rights advocates, political and religious leaders, corporate CEOs, and journalists recognizing the 368 importance of youth activism and social entrepreneurship. The book ends with a discussion of five leadership styles: visionary, knowledge, political, organizational and societal. This concluding chapter shows how the young entrepreneurs profiled in Our Time is Now are combining different leadership styles to achieve their aims and to bring about social and political change in the world. A number of key messages cut across the diverse range of experiences presented in this volume. Young leaders around the world are able to make remarkable achievements against many odds. They do not depend on external support and do not wait for others to take the lead. These social entrepreneurs lead by example, take responsibility as young citizens and claim their place in their community’s development. All of the young activists had life-changing experiences during their formative childhood and teenage years. They experienced poverty first-hand, met a mentor, or discovered that some young people lack access to education or to health services. These experiences often occurred while visiting other countries or communities. The stories combine personal discovery with social activism. Changes at the personal level lead first to community action, which often progresses to social and political activism for broader changes in society. Many of the young leaders realize that local-level actions have their limits and have to be complemented by advocacy for wider changes in policies and the allocation of state resources. Another frequent theme is the importance of solutions that are in tune with local culture, for example in regard to the rights of women and girls to education in Afghanistan or to reproductive health services in Kenya. Where external agencies would have to spend significant resources to research local values and behaviors, the young social entrepreneurs, being members of their communities, know how to bring about change in their communities and which arguments to use, such as quoting the Koran to convince leaders in Afghan villages of the need for girls’ education. The experiences of the young social entrepreneurs reflect a wide range of approaches to social and political activism, from self-help 369 community development initiatives, to awareness-raising campaigns and social mobilization, to political activism. They make use of the available political space and push the boundaries of what is socially and culturally acceptable. They use creative ways to overcome resistance and obstacles. The...