• By Hilja Shikongo

Young Namibians living in rural areas have raised concern over their exclusion from developmental activities spearheaded by both the public and private sector. 
This was revealed at a recent screening of a documentary, ‘From the ground up’, hosted by the embassy of the United States.
At the screening, RuralRise Community Empowerment, an initiative which directly confronts the historical exclusion of rural youth from national decision-making and development processes, used the opportunity to paint the status quo. 
Speaking on behalf rural youth, the initiative’s founder and chief executive officer Eslien Tsuses, explained that they are not looking for handouts but rather inclusion.

 
"We are here to demand space at the table where decisions are made," said Tsuses.
The screening was joined by representatives from civil society, development agencies, youth organizations and the diplomatic community, who addressed the stark reality of limited rural youth participation, despite their substantial demographic presence.
Tsuses added that RuralRise serves as a collective voice for young people in Namibia's often-overlooked rural areas. 
"We empower communities not by speaking for them, but by equipping them to speak for themselves. That is how we break the cycle of exclusion," she stated.

The "From the Ground Up" initiative evolved from extensive community dialogues and advocacy workshops conducted in Utuseb, Uis and Okombahe between August and September 2024. 
These sessions highlighted critical challenges faced by rural youth, including insufficient access to essential services, limited opportunities and a lack of platforms for civic engagement. The project receives support from the European Union.
The documentary portrays the struggles of rural youth, detailing the arduous journeys to schools, poor internet connectivity, scarce employment options, and inadequate political representation.

 
Tsuses asserted that: "The narrative that rural youth lack ambition is false. What they lack are platforms. What they need are policies that reflect their reality and include them as co-creators of development." 
Census data from 2023 underscores the urgency of the issue, indicated that rural youth aged 15 to 34 constitute 29.8 percent of Namibia's rural population. Yet, a staggering 81.6 percent of surveyed youth reported feeling excluded from local decision-making, attributing this to a lack of engagement, absence from stakeholder consultations and opaque entry points into governance systems.

Tsues warned: "This exclusion is not only unjust. It limits the country’s ability to move forward. Namibia cannot afford to develop with only half its population in mind. If we want inclusive progress, we must build it from the ground up."
A cornerstone of RuralRise's proposals, is the establishment of Rural Youth Networks (RYNs). These proposed local and regional platforms are designed to facilitate direct youth participation in development planning and public policy.
 

"Our goal is to equip rural youth with the skills and tools to not just survive, but to thrive. Urban migration is not inevitable. If we invest in rural economies, the youth will stay."