Party politics, community politics, or advocating for a particular cause – these activities contribute to healthy public debate and help to guide important decisions. Time spent learning about issues, attending meetings, writing letters, and attending lawful public demonstrations are all legitimate Service activities.

Or you may wish to pursue leadership as your Skill. There’s lots to learn, from research and analysis to public speaking and other communication tactics.

Democracy depends on people sharing a diversity of ideas and perspectives. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award can encourage young people to take an interest and participate in the process.

Time for another Their Shoes Tuesday

It’s a bit alarming how quickly the youth unemployment rate is on the rise. Here in Victoria I have noticed a lot of other people just like me, fresh out of college or university, looking for work, having more than enough experience yet finding no luck. After spending months walking through the downtown core, dropping off cover letters and resumes, and researching different companies I know first hand that you become rather deterred from trying. Some people choose to make use of their EI benefits, others keep on trying and end up settling for a position that they are over qualified for and aren’t able to find passion in. We all want to have a job where we are happy, satisfied and able to support ourselves comfortably. However if we continue to live as though we are in in a marketplace where we all deserve instant service and gratification with personalized appeal, while still paying as little as possible in the process, we will all come up empty handed. There are just too many human beings on this planet to keep up with; population rates are climbing rapidly through each generation. Eventually we will all have to settle for spreading the wealth around a little more, giving the youth a chance to make an impact within the economy, and most of all, embrace change.

When you want to watch a t.v. show or movie, or perhaps listen to new music, there is no longer a constant payment in place to support the efforts of the ones who have produced the desired product, instead we stream or download it. That sense of immediate gratification and the whole point and click mentality is crippling our culture and art as well as our economy. While the transfer of ideas and information over great distances is no longer an obstacle and we have access to more than ever before in terms of material, it seems as though no one wants to have to pay for the access pass. Nothing comes for free in life, there is no motion without force, there is no money without trees and minerals, there are no jobs if we do not create a place for them. Money is just a term we use for the material possession of wealth, in order for wealth to spread it needs to be spent and shared across market places for the exchange of goods and services. If we constantly expect that we deserve more than we do, that we need to have and consume more than a single person requires, then we are going to starve the world’s economy. If you took a bucket of water from the sea each day, and consumed it with nothing left to replenish what was taken, one day you would go thirsty. This matter ties into what I was suggesting last week about Kiva and other charities that help small markets thrive and have a chance to prosper. It makes me sick to think of all of the wealthy business types that sit upon millions and even billions of dollars while there are people every day the world over that suffer in the process. That insurance companies don’t really want to have to pay out to people who end up falling ill and let them get worse so that pharmaceutical developers can find a way to make money off prolonging rather than preventing. There are a lot of things in the world that could use a new perspective. Back to our incessant need to sit, stuck staring at HD screens, absorbing all of that false reality, reality show of someone you don’t even know. The people that are trying to put out fresh ideas and change industries are the ones that are getting stuck with no paychecks. The writers of magazines, newspapers, artists and musicians behind photos, music and artwork that you download and distribute for free. Who helps them support these efforts? Even if it’s just a small fee of a few dollars each, like iTunes has tried with their downloading system, it’s all about you paying respect to the source of your enjoyment. I admit I am guilty of downloading albums and mixtapes as well as television shows and movies, however I do pay for the ones that I feel deserve to be paid for. Lately all you get is a re-made or over polished fake bull product, like a bad movie script or screenplay, or a track that isn’t even their voice, that they don’t even live that life. Like I said we all need to embrace change, and embrace each others’ styles and interests. There are a lot of different crossovers in every kind of industry, people are developing new outlooks on business models, throwing the old ones out the windows, and that is what we have to be prepared to do.

The youth of today is a very vibrant and expressive culture, aware of world events and political structures. We deserve to have careers that bring out our full potential, that help us to support our communities both local and global. It all starts at the roots. Too often a lot of us settle for jobs we hate or that are leading us down a path we don’t want to travel, but we have to remember that there is a choice. You don’t even have to go back to school, go to the library, read different articles, expand your understanding. Think outside the box and do something different from everyone else. I believe the best way to find your professional path is to be true to yourself and to embrace what makes you the person you are. Take what you know and let it prosper and develop while incorporating what you discover about the paths that those around you are on.

Most of all, when it comes to finding a solid job and coming up strong during this economic recession is to be persistent and confident. Trust that you are making the best decisions for yourself and working as hard as you can push yourself and eventually you will find the benefits flooding in. And if you have a job that is not perfect, stick with it for now, get a good reference, network and look for another job in the process. Be thankful that you have work and that you aren’t struggling, stop complaining about the small tasks you are required to do during your shift. If you are someone who is still in a tough place, hang in there it gets better, and don’t give up on your dreams. Let’s all learn to build a stronger web of connections that is real and that you can reach out and touch, not a screen that you hide behind hoping to fall into a free ride. Keep on keepin’ on fellow young hustlers, we all gon’ be eatin’ one day.

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Here are some related articles that discuss the alarming rate at which youth unemployment is increasing.

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2011/08/23/youth-unemployment-canada_n_933810.html#s330326&title=Youth_Unemployment_In

http://www.economicvoice.com/walk-for-work-%E2%80%93-youth-sends-a-message-to-government/50024468#axzz1oMiAUcfE

http://blog.securities.com/2012/03/the-grim-reality-for-young-job-applicants/

http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/epb/yi/yep/newprog/yesprograms.shtml

http://www.progressive-economics.ca/2012/01/17/real-youth-unemployment-rate-close-to-20/

http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/statistics_explained/index.php/Unemployment_statistics

http://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2012/02/youth-unemployment-across-europe.html

Nigeria may soon be the fifth most populous country in the world and the population of her youth is staggering. Even more shocking is the lack of opportunity that’s available to those youth. Like young people everywhere in the world, many young Nigerians aspire to become successful entrepreneurs, movers and shakers, but are unable to get that big break due to certain constraints. Young Nigerians can’t find opportunities to put their skills to the test.  Which makes me wonder: is Nigeria turning a blind eye to her youth?

Disappointedly, I came empty-handed in my research to find some successful young Nigerian magnates, movers and shakers under the age of 30. Finding a handful was scarce, talk about 30.  Where are Nigeria’s young entrepreneurs and freedom fighters? Here is the few I found:

Jennifer Ehidiamen 

Age – 26

Website – http://youthmakingchange.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html

The scoop – Jennifer is a mastermind and a strong advocate for youth development and empower. Visit her website to find out more!

Favourite quote from Jennifer’s online dairy – “…a society that cuts itself from its youth severs its lifeline, but a society that engages their interests, enlists their talents and liberates their energies brings hope to the entire world” ~ Kofi Anan

Onibalusi Bamidele 

Age – 17

Website - http://www.youngprepro.com

The scoop – Oni is a young internet entrepreneur starlet who’s giving a whole new meaning to blogging. He has guest posted for over 300 blogs. Want to know more, check out his website!

Nmachi Jidenma 

Age: 23

Website – http://www.cp-africa.com

The scoop – Nmachi Jidenma currently works at Google where she is working to drive technology and internet usage in African Universities. She is founder of Celebrating Progress Africa, a new online crusade to reshape the Africa conversation. She started by blogging about progressive things happening in Nigeria on her Facebook page and has now grown the platform to a full website that has attracted more than 18,000 likes on Facebook.  She has gained working experience at JPmorgan and at Accenture and has written extensively for The Next Web, Reuters, and Next Newspapers. She bagged a Masters in Applied Economics & Management from Cornell University, New York.

Toyosi Akerele

Age – 29

Website – https://twitter.com/#!/toyosirise

The scoop – Toyosi Akerele is a youth advocate and education expert. She is the Executive Director of a RISE Group, a fast growing company with interests in publishing, printing, library, media and youth events. She started the RISE business academy in July 2008 to add value to young career people. She is a law graduate from the University of Jos and University of New Hampshire. Toyosi’s RISE summit has attracted huge crowd across Nigeria and her seminar have been estimated to reach 100,000 young people across Nigeria. Toyosi has won numerous awards including the Nigerian Youth Leadership Award, the Future Awards and most recently was selected for the Women in Distinction award (Thisday awards) by the Thisday Newspapers. She was one of a handful of African young women who had an audience with Michelle Obama on her visit to South Africa.

I’m sure there’re many more young Nigerians out there who are shaking things up.  Do you know of any?

Nigeria’s Top 30 Under 30 are people with forward-thinking, innovative ideas and are making a difference in  society – on a local, national and international scale.