20/01/2026
Youths Are Not Trash to Be Used by Political Elites, but They Are Called to Lead
Department of Advocacy and Justice for All
Christ Aid International (CAI) – Sierra Leone
20th January, 2026
By Jeremiah Fengai Quee
Chief Executive Officer
Across Sierra Leone and the wider African continent, youths are often treated as political tools rather than as partners in nation-building. They are mobilized during elections for slogans, intimidation, violence, and social media propaganda, only to be abandoned once political power is secured. This dangerous trend reflects a deep misunderstanding of the value, potential, and calling of young people in society.
Youths are not trash to be used and discarded by political elites. They are leaders in waiting innovators, thinkers, and agents of change. When political systems reduce youths to instruments of manipulation, they rob nations of creativity, progress, and sustainable peace. The future of any country depends on how it treats, trains, and trusts its young population.
One reason youths are easily exploited is the lack of economic opportunity. High unemployment, poor access to quality education, and limited skills development create frustration and vulnerability. Political elites take advantage of this desperation, offering temporary rewards in exchange for loyalty. This cycle not only degrades the dignity of youths but also weakens democratic values and fuels instability.
Another challenge is the deliberate exclusion of youths from leadership and decision-making spaces. Many political parties and institutions reserve real power for older elites, while young people are confined to youth wings with no influence. This tokenism sends a damaging message that youths are good for mobilization but not for leadership. Such exclusion contradicts the reality that innovation, courage, and transformation often come from the young.
History consistently proves that youths are capable of leading. From independence movements to modern social reforms, young people have been at the forefront of positive change. What they need is mentorship, access, and trust not manipulation. A society that fears youth leadership is a society afraid of progress.
At Christ Aid International, through the Department of Advocacy and Justice for All, we affirm that youths are called to lead with integrity, vision, and responsibility. Leadership is not determined by age alone but by character, competence, and commitment to justice. Empowering youths means investing in education, entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and ethical leadership development.
Political elites must move beyond using youths as foot soldiers and begin to see them as stakeholders in governance. This requires opening political spaces, reforming party structures, and creating policies that address youth unemployment and inclusion. It also requires youths themselves to reject manipulation and prepare intentionally for leadership through learning, discipline, and service.
The future of Sierra Leone depends on the choices made today. When youths are empowered to lead rather than exploited to serve selfish interests, democracy is strengthened and peace is sustained. Youths are not a problem to be managed; they are a solution to be embraced.
The call is clear: stop using youths start empowering them. When youths rise to lead with purpose and principle, nations rise with them.
