300 youth benefit from Youth Sandbox initiative

Up to 300 young people have benefited from the United States (US) embassy’s Youth Sandbox initiative since it began operating in Namibia nine months ago.

According to Tiffany Miller, the embassy’s spokesperson, Youth Sandbox is designed to engage young people in meaningful dialogue and action on pressing societal issues.

“Each Youth Sandbox session seeks to provide a forum that amplifies the voices of young people by addressing a critical issue affecting the youth through panel discussions,” says Miller.

The initiative is typically held at the embassy’s three locations: the American Centre in Windhoek, as well as American Corners at Ongwediva and Walvis Bay.

According to Miller, these areas encourage public participation and help the US government establish long-lasting ties with nearby communities.

For several months, the Youth Sandbox initiative has hosted the ‘Youth in Democracy Series’. The session includes a component of voter education to encourage youth participation in the democratic process, emphasising the power of voting to effect change.

Miller says the Youth Sandbox’s mission is to inspire, educate and mobilise young leaders to become advocates for social change through interactive learning and artistic expression, as well as to inspire and educate the youth to stand up to corruption and provide them with the knowledge and tools they need to promote integrity in their communities.

“Youth Sandbox supports the mutual goals of Namibia and the US in promoting democracy.”

According to Miller, the engagements have allowed them to offer young leaders worthwhile chances for advocacy, learning and teamwork.

The initiative has also empowered participants to address critical social issues, such as climate action, integrity and ethics, providing them with the tools they need to become active changemakers in their communities.

In preparation of the upcoming elections in Namibia and the US, the US embassy recently embarked on a road trip through Namibia to host a series of Youth Sandbox democracy-themed events.

Through the initiative, the embassy held a mock presidential debate at Walvis Bay, where four young leaders discussed and presented their manifestos on important topics like corruption, fair wealth distribution, access to high-quality education and climate change.

At Ongwediva, the initiative hosted an event titled ‘Shaping Democracy’, which focused on civic responsibility and provided the youth with practical tools for actively participating in democratic community-building.

Participants in the panel discussion included young leaders from the ruling party, Swapo, the Electoral Commission of Namibia, and the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology.

Through the initiative, youth-led non-governmental organisations countrywide convened at the American Centre this month for a five-day capacity training workshop aimed at improving their operational and leadership abilities.

According to Miller, the workshop covered five essential modules: Emotional Intelligence in Running an Organisation, Financial Management and Fundraising, Advocacy, Communication and Sustainability, and Governance and Ethical Leadership.