have every reason to be hopeful that in 50 years the Divine Muragijimana We women and youth in Africa will finally have their voice
Founder/President, The Council of heard. Women and youth are the makers of society. If Young African Leaders these two groups are empowered, then the society is New York City empowered. I have found that when you train young
people to become not only power brokers in society, but give them the tools to contribute to their communities, everyone eventually benefits from these efforts. My dream, particularly for Burundi, is to see young people being afforded training opportunities particularly in business leadership. Their future is Burundi‘s future; therefore, to invest in young people and strong training programs is to invest in Burundi. For Burundian women, training is key. While the gender gap in education is becoming a bit narrow, there is still a great need for training programs for women, especially for adult training programs. This will essentially give them a platform where they can share their stories. Most importantly, I would like to see an established medium where research can take place, and women‘s issues are given a platform where the state government can act based on researched data. The truth is, all this is possible in Burundi, and in Africa. If the youth and women have anything to say about it, in the next 50 years, they will not be left behind. In that regard, our history has been the best teacher. They will take charge of their development. They will take charge of their future.
Elen Awalom Software Developer |Afrofuturist Artist| Curatoric CEO I'll open my vision of Africa's future with a disclaimer. As a selfprofessed Afrofuturist, I am relentlessly optimistic and utopian. In 50 years, the African continent will have been completely transformed. Its urban areas will be rejuvenated. There will be a vibrant nightlife with restaurants, cafes, lounges and concert halls in cities like Asmera and Khartoum. Thriving businesses founded by Africans which employ Africans will be the norm. War will be a thing of the past. Previously conflict-prone regions such as my native Horn of Africa will know a lasting peace. Africa's abundance of natural resources will be unleashed for the betterment of its masses. Famine will be a distant memory. The arts will flourish; African musicians, painters, photographers, and poets will experience a renaissance of sorts. Technology will provide Africans with tools that create solutions to centuries-old problems. It will open the doors to communication and information exchanges that result in increased empathy and awareness of social inequalities. Women and children will be at the forefront of these transformations. The road ahead is tough. This much is certain. But as Africa's daughters and sons return home over the next two decades, change will come rapidly. And it will have lasting power.