I am Ousmane Hamed Doukoure from Mauritania. Growing up in Africa profoundly shaped my vision of the world. I encountered limited access to quality education, healthcare, and employment opportunities. Yet, amidst these challenges, there is an undeniable spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship in Africa. We constantly find inventive ways to overcome obstacles and create our own path to success.
I am 34 years old and a teacher. I firmly believe that to solve Africa's challenges and enable young people to realize their dreams, we need to rethink our education system fundamentally.
Inclusion is essential; we should ensure that every child, regardless of origin, gender, or socio-economic status, has access to quality education.
We need to focus on keeping girls in school. Too often, girls drop out of school because of barriers such as early marriage, family responsibilities, and restrictive social norms.
We must implement programmes and policies encouraging girls' education and breaking down these barriers.
Teachers are the pillars of our education system, and they need the skills and resources to inspire and guide their students to success.
We need proper teacher training and salaries that reflect our work and its importance in society. I am optimistic about the future because I am teaching a generation determined to break down barriers and redefine Africa's narrative.
However, to get there, we harness technology to bridge gaps and create opportunities for communities.
We must advocate for social justice and environmental sustainability.
We must embrace our cultural identity while promoting global connectivity.
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The #54FacesofAfrica campaign, launched in December 2023 at the 6th YouthConnekt Africa Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, is a collaborative initiative by United Nations Volunteers (UNV), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the YouthConnekt Africa Secretariat (YCAS). This campaign empowers African youth by offering them a platform to share their stories, solutions, and innovations, and contribute to dialogue and policy on Africa’s development.
Ousmane was part of the YouthConnekt Africa Summit 2024 and delivered a motivational talk as a youth participant at the UNV-led side event on 9 November in Kigali.
Delivering a motivational talk at YouthConnekt Africa Summit UNV-led side event on 9 November in Kigali. @UNV, 2024.