How to change Africa (Call to action)

Africa has a rich tapestry of cultures, landscapes and resources brimming with potential. It faces multiple challenges ranging from poverty, corruption, environmental degradation and political instability, just to name a few. While these issues might seem unsurmountable, it's essential to recognize that change begins with individuals. Each person has the power to make a difference and by taking action individually and collectively, we can pave the way for a brighter future for Africa. Here are some actionable steps everyone can take to drive a positive change across the continent.

It's true that governments hold a lot of power to drive change, and I am sure we can all think of things the government could be doing to make things better, nevertheless, individuals do have power as well to initiate change which can easily scale and impact others through its effectiveness. There is a choice which is given to us, either to wait on the government to initiate the change or take things in our own hands to determine our futures, I’ll choose the latter.

Here are some actions everyone can take whatever their scale to initiate change first at a local level in their community, which could later scale to a global level.

Education & Awareness

Knowledge is the first step towards change. For you to know where you are going, you must know where you are coming from and understand what didn’t work and why it didn’t. Most people don’t take the time to educate themselves on the issues of Africa but rather propose solutions which have already been tried and failed. Take the time to educate yourself on the issues that Africa faces and why they still persist till today so that the solutions you propose will come from a position of knowledge and not just ignorance fueled with emotions. Share what you learn with friends, family and your community to raise awareness, which leads to conversations about how to address these challenges effectively.

Support Local Businesses

There are already countless businesses and initiatives working tirelessly to improve the lives of people in Africa. Support these efforts through volunteering, donating, or simply promoting these businesses. Support these local businesses by buying their products and services, which will help them grow and contribute to the local economy. These days, the world has become an international economy, and it's easy for businesses to go global while returning their revenue to their initial countries, This ends up hurting the local communities they operate in. To create change in Africa, you must make a conscious effort to support local businesses which have a direct impact in your community.

Empower Local Communities

There isn’t always one solution which fits all, every community can’t possibly be the same, so a solution might not always be effective in every community. This is why It's important to empower local communities so that they can find effective solutions to the problems they face. You can partner with local organizations and community leaders to support projects that prioritize local knowledge, resources and expertise, thereby fostering self-reliance and resilience. Instead of waiting on other people who don’t have a clear understanding of your community, you should rather empower those who do. An empowered community can easily scale up to create lasting change across the country and eventually the world.

Volunteer Abroad

Working abroad to acquire professional expertise which you can later make use of in your local community is a great way to initiate change. There are multiple programs aimed specifically at this, and the goal of 90% of scholarship is precisely this: to train people so they can later on contribute to the development of their communities. Unfortunately, most people make use of these opportunities to better their own lives and choose to stay abroad instead of sharing this expertise in their local communities. Developed countries have already put in place modern techniques to solve so many issues and developed systems which have proven to work, This expertise is invaluable for underdeveloped countries and so the way you can create change is by transferring this expertise to your local community.

Modern farming techniques, civil engineering skills, business strategies, leadership skills and much more, these are just a few skills which can create sustainable change all across Africa.

Promote Sustainable Agriculture

Food insecurity is a major problem all across Africa. I need not pull up the statistics to prove to you why that is. Every initiative which helps make agriculture much more feasible and accessible would be highly welcome. So one way you can create change in Africa is by supporting initiatives which promote sustainable farming practices. This could involve donating to organizations that provide training in agriculture, farming, etc, or being involved in one way or another in the production of food. By promoting sustainable agriculture and by creating these means, which help to make the process a lot easier and faster, you help to improve food security, protect natural resources and empower farmers to thrive.

Engage in Political Activism

Governments still hold a lot of power to create change, so you might want to get involved politically to obtain some of this power to create change, first in your local community, then at an exponential level. You do not need to become president to create change, you can start at a small level and scale upward.

Promote Education & Healthcare

This is another area which plagues development in Africa, there are still so many people who don’t have access to quality education or any at all. Trying to create change or sustainable development will be pointless if the people involved don’t participate actively. There is no change or development which is possible with a population which is uneducated, they won’t even understand what you are trying to do, let alone maintain it. The first step should be for you to invest in education in your community, this can be done through many methods. Donating to NGOs, local schools, sponsoring children in school, etc

You can also volunteer your time to tutor or mentor students, help improve educational outcomes and empower future generations.

These are just a few actionable steps every individual can take to create a tangible difference in Africa. When looking at them on an individual level, they might seem small and inconsequential but imagine everybody in your community doing these or just a few of them; those problems could be solved very easily.

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