Majority World Youth

Statistics about Majority Youth

• There are more than 1.5 billion 14-25 year-olds worldwide. They are an important development resource for their own nations, and a pressing challenge for the international community

• Half of the world’s population is under the age of 25, with 85% of these youth living in developing countries  

• In Africa, almost 2/3 of the population is under 25 years of age

• In many developing countries, up to 50% of 15-24 year olds are unemployed and out-of-school, compared to about 12% in developed countries 

• In Sub-Saharan Africa, approximately 27% of youth ages 15-24 are neither in school or working

• In Central and South America, the number out of work and out of school is approximately 20% of youth

(Statistics from InterAction)

“Half of the world’s population is under 25. The

challenges they face are steep. They are hardest hit by the world’s inequalities and injustices. Too many live in poverty, unable to realize their potential. Too few are gaining the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to find employment in rapidly changing job markets, where the capacity to learn and adapt is essential. This is a political priority everywhere, and it calls for carefully constructed policies.

Young people are a wellspring of ideas for innovation. They are today’s thinkers, problem-solvers and catalysts for peace. They are often the world’s strongest advocates of justice and dignity. But they need good jobs, quality education and access to culture for all. They need to be heard and they need to be included”

(Comment from UNESCO website)

Majority Youth: Traditional World

• Structured• Family rules and hierarchy• Shame and control• Order and place• Choice is controlled• Our faith is our culture• Tradition signals commitment

“Here in Malawi because of our tradition and

culture already the youth have boundaries of what to do and not to do but now the problem is that the community and churches have taken this too far to a point that this system has created a gap between the church and the youth. Even in areas where the youth are permitted to do things no body is around for them. So they felt neglected by the community or churches. Its only when they do those things that seems to violate boundaries then churches comes in to accuse and discipline them”

(From an email sent by a youth worker in Malawi)

Majority Youth: New Worldview

• Unstructured• Friends rules and flatness• Freedom and opportunities• Mess and chaos• Faith is personal• Choices are unlimited• Tradition signals restrictions

But Majority World Youth...

• Struggle to make choices• Are under-employed• Opportunities are limited• Are still under 30 years old• Losing cultural/social identity• Faith doesn’t make sense• Lost without mentoring in life

“The truth is that young people here are struggling. They live in an environment where things are tough – family life, money, education struggles, relationships, corruption and ethnic violence. Youth are looking towards the church and society to give them some guidance, support and encouragement – but often young people are not finding these things. Instead they are finding church structures, families and a society that is still trying to function in the traditional Nigerian way where there is a strong focus on doing the right things and looking right. There is a lot of focus on the ‘outward appearance’ while young people are crying out for people to see and understand their inward appearance. Young people here have a desire to be known, to have a voice, for someone to be alongside them as they traverse their way through the many struggles they face in life”

(Reflections of the need of youth in Nigeria)

The Faith World of Majority Youth

• Personal versus community • Evaluation and questioning• Works makes sense of faith• Jesus accepts who I am• Culture is not Christianity• Life without duality• All are ministers

Youth and Spirituality (Stats)

• Fifty-seven percent of young people (ages 12-25) see themselves as being spiritual

• The survey found that about one in three youths consider themselves “very” or “pretty” spiritual, but this varied vastly across countries

• Respondents are still most likely to say they are both spiritual and religious (34 percent). Nearly a quarter (23 percent) say they are spiritual, but not religious

• Being spiritual, for this young generation, most often is associated with believing in God (36 percent), followed by believing there is a purpose to life (32 percent), and then being true to one’s inner self (26 percent)

• When it comes to spiritual help, most young people said they turn to their family (44 percent) and friends (15 percent). Only 14 percent of youth indicated that their religious institution helps them the most

• Nearly one in five youth (18 percent) said they have no one to help them regarding their spiritual lives

(Taken from a survey of 7000 youth from 17 countries – survey from Christian Today Australia)

The Faith Values of Majority Youth

• Journey & process is important• Partnerships and networking• Living out the gospel• Integration across cultures• Integrate external context• Dialogue and discussion• Unreached people group

Presented by:

www.youthmesh.org