I knew that this is not the way I want myself or others to live—shares Priyanka. “I want people to be able to access whatever they need. So, being able to contribute to development, to turn my passions into purposes, I feel very fulfilled. It feels like a dream come true.” 

From very early on, Priyanka had interest in International Relations—this was further motivated by being part of Model United Nations in secondary school. That curiosity soon led her to a degree in the same field and a goal of joining the United Nations.  

A former combatant of an armed militia now runs sewing workshops to support her children. A senior retiree embarks on a second career as a volunteer, aiding agricultural businesses and enhancing food security. In remote forests, volunteers conduct malaria surveillance to curb its spread.

Like many young Africans, I saw potential where others saw waste.

The olive by-products often discarded became my inspiration. I embarked on a mission to transform this "waste" into valuable products that sustain both the environment and the people around me. This initiative called OleaRevive isn’t just about sustainability; it’s a story of empowerment.

Through our work, we’ve created opportunities for rural farmers, women, and youth, helping them turn what was once seen as worthless into something meaningful, economically and socially. 

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. 

As a young African at 20, I see the hurdles we face—climate change disrupting agriculture, limited resources affecting education, and political instability creating uncertainty.

Yet, these challenges ignite innovation.

I see it in the way my peers use technology to drive social change and transform agriculture. My work with Kilimo Green Farm revealed the resilience of Congolese farmers, who, against all odds, adapt to climate change with sustainable practices. 

Being African means enabling our communities to grow and thrive. 

The spirit of Ubuntu—uplifting our communities.

Growing up, I noticed that young Africans are often encouraged to pursue set career paths like law, medicine, or engineering. But in a changing world, the question should shift from “What do you want to be?” to “What problems do you want to solve?” 

Sexual and reproductive health is not only vital for the social well-being of a girl child but also for her physical and mental health.

Most people from rural areas lack information on how to take proper care of themselves. For example, during my first menstruation, I was so naive that I fumbled through the basic steps of maintaining good hygiene. This was because I had no prior knowledge of what it was about. Not just menstruation—terms like safe sex, HIV prevention, mental health, and sexually transmitted infections were also very foreign to us.