Thione Niang to Barack Obama: Letter of June 18, 2013

 

 

On June 18, 2013
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20500
 Dear Mr. President:
 Let me first thank you for the exemplary leadership that you cease to offer our great nation. As in the past, I remain committed to working with you and the Administration to promote policies that will give Americans more opportunities to improve their quality of life and demonstrate our commitment to promote peace and development in the global community.
 As a Senegalese-American and making me frequently in my country of origin to inspire young people, I want you to know that your presence in the region will affect absolutely transforming youth. I had the privilege to share my story in America, having worked for you in both your campaigns and get involved with youth in Senegal and across the African continent - you give them hope and inspire them beyond their wildest imaginations.
 Since the election of November 2012, I spent a lot of time working across sub-Saharan Africa and to meet with African leaders, civil society and youth. These African voices shared their hopes and discussed their problems and the role that the United States could play as partners to promote peace, development and security on the African continent.
There, I visited many universities and spent a lot of time listening to young people, the future of the continent.
The main purpose of this letter is to share lessons learned discussions on the field during the last seven months. Particular attention is paid to the role of youth in the future of Africa and the importance I invite you to give to issues affecting African youth and their potential to contribute to the growth and development of the continent.
Your journey takes place when the U.S. partnership with Africa are among the key topics, including for increased investment in the United States in Africa, bilateral partnerships, security, infrastructure and trade. Eight of the ten fastest growing economies in the world are in Africa. According to the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, "Africa is the only continent where the number of young growing significantly. In less than three generations, 41% of the youth of the world will be African. By 2035, the population of Africa will be greater than that of China. "
Today, about seventy-five (65) percent of the population of sub-Saharan Africa is under the age of 35 years and fifty (50) percent in this age group are unemployed. Many are left to themselves without sufficient means to live. While African youth may be invisible to many, their role is an essential and central to the future of the continent. Many do not have access to opportunities, without hope and without access to what God has given us. The time has come to respond positively
and appropriately to their need access to opportunities, education, a safe and secure environment from which to learn, live, grow and work.
 Mr. President, I recommend that you use your historic trip to Africa to highlight the need for empowerment of African youth and encourage African governments and their leaders to use their resources to ensure access to education for all children in their respective countries.
 For many young people in African countries, access to education remains a distant dream for the majority of those who were lucky to have found such access they have to do under very difficult conditions. For example, during my visit in Dakar, Senegal, last month, I met a young woman enrolled at the University Cheikh Anta Diop, a university designed to accommodate 35,000 students, but currently hosting 85,000. It is the first of his family to the village to go to university. Because of overcrowding, students must sit on the floor if they wish to attend classes. In another country, a student asked how she would be able to continue their studies without having something to eat. Aissatou, a student, said she had not eaten for two days. She told me the following:. "I have nothing to eat, I can not buy my school supplies and any member of my family can not afford" Mr. President, I have met many 'Aissatou Africa.
Students do not have access to libraries, books and other basic data needed for education. The African continent will not grow if we do not invest in the education of our youth. They will be the leaders of tomorrow and be ready to compete locally and internationally.
 
Mr. President, can you imagine how many young people are there in Africa, and have the potential to become like you? The trouble is that too many of them will never have access to opportunities to reach their full potential. We lose. They are desperate. Some take risks ships in dangerous waters in the direction of Europe. Many of them died during the journey in search of a better life, a better future. These things happen as you read this letter. The sad thing is that Africa has abundant natural resources and a major human capital, yet its citizens can not afford to get an education or a decent life. Many live on less than a dollar a day. With Give1Project, we continue to work with young people in Africa by promoting entrepreneurship, ethics training leadership development and empowerment initiatives. Following the training sessions offered by the organization leadership, youth Lakossa in Benin have themselves received funding and built a school for young children in their communities. They have since developed 40 projects a year that have touched the lives of over 15,000 people in their community.
However, Mr. President, African realities and the future of the continent require that all children have equal access to education. Otherwise, only a very small number benefit from the resources of the continent and only a few will be able to contribute to its development. Only the rich will become richer. Focusing on the education of all young people on the continent, we will equip its nations to manage their own development.
The role and girls' education are major problems in Africa. The girls just do not have the same chance of success. If we are serious about the development of the continent and even the world, we must educate and raise our young women at the same level. There is no nation can develop without the development of gender equality among youth whose nature provides us.
Mr. President, I thank you in advance for your consideration. I hope this letter will push you to discuss the role of youth in Africa in its development and the need to ensure it has access to education to effectively manage its resources and development. Access to education must be ensured for the mass of young girls in the same way it is guaranteed to the children of the elite.
 Respectfully,Thione NiangGive1 Project - Founder / President