Category: News

In Madagascar, young people rarely have the opportunity to discuss topics such as toxic masculinity, violence or gender inequality, topics that society still considers sensitive, even taboo. Faced with this situation, Youth First wanted to create a safe place for them to express themselves freely about gender issues. Thus, the idea of using art to create a real connection with young people – and to challenge the status quo – came to the Youth First team.

With this conviction, the team went to Andoharanofotsy High School, a high school in the capital, to organize an artistic and participatory activity celebrating positive masculinity – a few days before International Men’s Day. “What do you think it means to be a boy?”, “Are boy and girl equal?”. These were the subjects launched at the same time as the young people were having fun painting a mural on the high school wall with the collaboration of a local artist-painter – Naty Kaly. Although some of the responses highlighted how masculinity and femininity are still traditionally shaped in the minds of the youth (the man seen as the breadwinner while the woman takes care of the household), our team was able to train the youth to self-reflect on their experiences of gender stereotypes in their families, at school, and to present them with different perspectives. At the end of the activity, the young people insisted on inscribing on the mural – whose realization was inspired by the slam produced by Conan, a Malagasy artist, for the occasion – their commitments: “Izaho dia manao fanamby fa handray andraikitra manoloana ny herisetra” (“I pledge to take responsibility regarding the different forms of gender-based violence”).

Between taboos, myths, and misinformation about menstruation, the ability of girls to manage their menstrual cycle in the best possible conditions is essential for their health, well-being and the development of their full potential. It is with this in mind that our SAHY Program, through its Sexual and Reproductive Health component, addresses the issue of menstrual hygiene and the co-responsibility of all.

Thus, on the occasion of #DayOfTheGirl2020, the Youth Impact Lab had the honor of welcoming 18 young girls from the NGO Manda for a workshop on reusable sanitary napkins – making, given by our Deputy Director, Miora Rakotovao. Through practical learning, sharing of relevant information about menstruation and exchanges, the girls of the NGO Manda – motivated, very meticulous and skillful – quickly mastered the manufacturing techniques!

Would you also like to learn how to make reusable sanitary pads? Our tutorial is available here: bit.ly/3jUZL79

Although youth represents a majority of the world’s population, many challenges still hinder the active participation of young people, both locally and globally. At the same time, the whole world has high expectations for youth: we have been told for too long that we were « tomorrow’s leaders », which had two effects: On one hand, young people tend to step down waiting for that « tomorrow ». On the other hand, the existing leaders used that opportunity to diminish youth’s voices and opinions. Yet, this young population can definitely serve as a “demographic bonus” if investment in youth development really empowers young people to take on this challenge, especially as we are operating in the context of globalization. The good news is that things are positively changing. Leaders of tomorrow are becoming leaders of today. Young activists from all around the world, such as Vanessa Nakate and Zulaikha Patel, have proved why we cannot afford to ignore them anymore: The youth’s voice is too powerful and is the key to social change.

In a society that values and is used to put the elderly at the top of the hierarchy like Madagascar does (« raimanandrenism »), youth participation is often questioned. But today’s Malagasy youth is definitely committed to challenge this ongoing clash between our culture and the globalization, in a way the country and the world would benefit from it : from online activism to working or volunteering in different organizations, youth has taken a step ahead to force the previous generations to consider their voice and opinion.
So, to be taken into account, we – young people – all need to consider ourselves as true potential game changers, if we are not already. To be seen, we need to operate more in public or help our peers so that we are all seen at the end. To be heard, we need to speak up and be strategic about it. Now more than ever, we have the tools and the platforms to be considered, seen and heard. We should not only express ourselves but positively influence each other to do so.
However, youth still needs to be supported along that journey. And within NGO Youth First, we believe that investing in youth means giving young women and men the ability and capacity to “learn”, “acquire”, to “practice” and to “speak up”, which are exactly the main pillars of our work in Madagascar : empowering young people to take actions, equipping them with skillsets, and making their voices heard through advocacy actions in order for them to be seen as key-changemakers.