Nrupesh Soni
I’ve been in too many rooms where “youth empowerment” is thrown around like confetti at a national pity party. Boardrooms, conference halls, panel discussions, and press releases—all overflowing with the language of potential.
But when the talk is over and the confetti is swept away, nobody is handing over the tools.
Let’s be brutally honest. We don’t have a shortage of ideas or intelligence among Namibian youth. We have a crisis of access. A deficit of trust. A paralysis of action.
And most of all, we have a surplus of committees, reports, and roundtables.
I’ve had the privilege of engaging with some of the most driven young minds in this country.
Here’s what I learned:
They don’t need more motivation.
They don’t need another ministerial speech.
They don’t need a 40-page PDF strategy document.
They need guidance, a Wi-Fi password, and access to the tools that can bring their vision to life.
The moment they get that—just a nudge, just a pathway—they take off. No looking back.
The Funding Fallacy: Why the Problem Pays the Bills
For years, we’ve had GIZ, UNDP, AfDB, every bank and every alphabet soup agency doing “youth-focused programs.”
Studies. Reports. Frameworks. Think pieces.
And here we are…
Still talking.For years, the narrative has been the same:
“We need more funding.”
“Let’s draft another proposal.”
“We’re launching a new pilot program.”
Great. But where is the platform? Where is the portal? Where is the digital toolkit? Why is everything perpetually “coming soon”?
The uncomfortable truth is this: the system is incentivized not to solve the problem.
If we truly equip the youth and solve the access issue, the funding dries up. The reports stop. The consulting fees disappear. We have built entire careers on the process of solving the problem, not the solution. We have become professional problem-admirers.
This has to stop.
The Antidote: Curated Guidance
Youth don’t need to be spoon-fed. They don’t need you to teach them the entire syllabus.
They need curated guidance.
It’s not about hand-holding; it’s about handing over the map. Point them in the right direction. Give them access to tools, platforms, and your time. Make yourself available to help, not to control. Stop packaging empowerment in bureaucratic wrappers and endless steering committees.
Here is what we can do today, not after the next budget approval:
- Open-Door Tech Hubs: Establish public centers with powerful computers, high-speed internet, and offline learning systems. Not just computer labs, but creative spaces.
- Sandboxes for Ambition: Build cyber ranges and hack labs that let students legally explore, build, and break things in a safe environment.
- A Library of Tools, Not Textbooks: Provide sponsored access to premium software, platforms, and industry-standard tools.
- Mentor Networks: Connect doers with dreamers. Pair youth with professionals who are actively building, not just those who talk about it.
- Embrace Productive Chaos: Sanction failure. Encourage experimentation. Celebrate every single result, big or small.
Namibian youth aren’t waiting for a handout. They’re waiting for access. Or rather, they were. Many have stopped waiting. They’re building anyway, with or without us.
So, if you’re not in the business of providing access, tools, and trust… Then please, step aside.
The era of discussion is over. We’re here to build.