Youth are our future. And our right now.
Anyone who was out supporting America’s young people at March for Our Lives this weekend or followed along on Facebook heard it — the rage, the knowledge, the power in the voices of our youth. Many people were surprised by their articulate and well-informed speeches. I was not. Young people have long been at the forefront of major movements, from labor movements at the turn of the century to Vietnam and civil rights in the 1960’s to, more recently, Black Lives Matter. They have always been the pulse of the nation; they hold us accountable because they are not yet implicit in the structures of power in the same ways adults are.
The difference today is the unprecedented access these young people have to information, thanks in large part to the internet and channels that they are able to employ more efficiently than even the most tech savvy adults. More than ever, children of all ages can be exposed to perspectives and points of views that differ from those of their parents, peers, and communities, and can engage in these conversations with others around the world. The kids we saw quote Toni Morrison, school us on the legislative process, and demand justice for marginalized communities this weekend are not superheroes. All young people are equally capable of such greatness. Anyone who has ever had the privilege of working with youth could tell you this. I listed just a few of the young people who have shown this to me in my last blog. Kids are not “just kids.” They are incredibly resilient, smart, curious, driven, and creative people — as much or more so than any adult. They are not future humans, they are humans right now. They have valid opinions, great ideas, and a wealth of knowledge and ability. They can lead and teach even while they continue to learn, just as adults should never stop doing.
The young people we heard from are incredible, but they are not special. There are Emma Gonzaleses, Naomi Wadlers, Yolanda Renee Kings, Samantha Fuenteses, Aalayah Eastmonds, and Edna Chavezs in every country and every community across the world. When governments and individuals support holistic, quality education, well-trained teachers, and well resourced schools, the world’s youth will be better able to take the place at the table they all demand and deserve. And we will be better for it.
You can support a school that is providing a platform for girls in Tanzania to lead and to affect positive change in themselves, their families and their communities. Access to the internet, human rights education, environmental awareness and activism, cross-cultural study abroad opportunities, and life skills training are just some of the ways that the Secondary Education for Girls’ Advancement (SEGA) School is expanding girls’ access to the very same resources that the students we had the privilege of listening to this weekend had, that allowed them to step into their own potential to be leaders.
Donate to the SEGA Girls’ School today: give.classy.org/NatashaSEGA
