YOUTH IN AFRICA: AGENTS OF CHANGE 

Have you witnessed the power of youth as positive agents of change in Africa? Have you been part of a youth-led initiative or been working with young people to bring peace and prosperity to your community in Africa? Would you like to share your stories with a wide audience through a publication? If the answer to any of these questions is “Yes” this may be the opportunity you have been looking for to share about the great contributions that youth make to their communities.

What will the book be about? 

We aim to publish a book showing that youth not only represent a demographic issue, with its social, economic and political challenges, but also represent a positive force of change and an opportunity for Africa. Youth already engage in positive social change but their contributions are rarely documented and visible. The book aims to illustrate how youth are contributing to their societies by engaging in projects towards more democratic and fair societies.

The book will consist of 10 to 15 chapters organized in three parts:

1) Youth in Africa,

2) Youth in the African public political discourse, and,

3) Youth as agents of social change in Africa (selected case studies).

The book will be edited by Obi Peter and Celina Del Felice in English and Spanish, with the support of Casa Africa (www.casafrica.es, Spain) and published by Los Libros de la Catarata, Madrid, Spain (https://www.catarata.org/).

Why a book on this topic? 

Often, youth are perceived as victims or trouble-makers. This book aims to challenge and at the same time complete this picture by uncovering a reality that is often hidden. It aims to bring into focus young people who are positive agents of change. It will do so by describing examples in which young people, despite being victims in some cases, decide to engage in proactive and peaceful actions. There is a need to bring these stories to light.

Why should you apply to become a contributor? 

• The opportunity to write about your own work or the work of other young people and inspire others in Africa and beyond.
• To develop your writing and analytical skills in the topic by participating in an international group process of peer-to-peer learning. You will receive technical support and valuable feedback from editors and peers.
• Networking and sharing of information with experts in the field.
• Contributing to youth policy debates and support youth-led initiatives in Africa.

How to participate? 

To participate and be selected as a contributor, please send an expression of interest/motivation statement, a brief 1 or 2 page description of the chapter that you propose, along with your CV to celina@humblebees.org and dobipeters@yahoo.com by 28 February 2018. [Apparently deadline has been extended to 15 March]

Your expression of interest and proposal shall detail the following:

• Your personal motivation to this topic.
• Indicate to which part of the book you want to contribute and briefly describe what the chapter will consist of. Parts of the book include:

1) Youth in Africa. 

This part aims to offer a definition of the concept of youth, its meanings in different contexts/regions of the continent and describe the social, economic, educational situation of youth. More conceptual and analytical chapters are welcome from sociological, economic, political, legal or anthropological perspectives.

2) Youth in the African public political discourse. 

This part aims to explain how the topic of “youth” has emerged in national and regional political discourses and (youth) policies. Chapters analysing particular countries or regional policies are welcome.

3) Youth as agents of social change in Africa. 

This part will consist of chapters describing and analysing cases of youth-led initiatives or organisations. Please, explain why you think the initiative you propose to describe makes a valuable contribution to peace and prosperity in Africa, if possible, indicate whether you have or could include testimonies and evidence of the social impact of the projects. Indicate the geographical location of the activities and the period in which these took place (for example, months/years)

• Please be sure to also include in your proposal your full contact details (Your full name, country of origin and residence, gender, date of birth, e-mail, Skype id, telephone, full address, city and country).

Conditions 

• Only one chapter will be allowed per author.
• One contribution can be signed by several authors.
• Chapters must be original and unpublished.
• Chapters can be submitted in English, Spanish, French or Portuguese. Note that the publication will be in English and Spanish only.
• Each chapter should be between 4000 and 6000 words, including bibliography and be submitted in word format.

Criteria for selecting authors 

• Commitmentto write a full chapter, between 4.000 and 6.000 words by May 2018 in collaboration with the editors. Authors must be open to receive and take into consideration feedback for improvement.
• Quality of the chapter proposal:Originality, clarity, robustness of the evidence supporting the arguments made and engagement with up-to-date or/and academic literature will be appreciated. We welcome chapters from any perspective or academic discipline (practitioner/youth worker/academic). In the case of a chapters for part 3 (Youth as agents of social change in Africa), you must explain clearly the reasons why you think the chosen youth-led initiative is worth-writing about, or in other words, why is it special in terms of its impact and its contribution to fairer and more peaceful communities.
• Thematic balance. We aim to have different types of youth-led initiatives described working in different social issues (civic and peace education, social and political democratic participation, de-radicalisation and prevention of violent extremism, gender equality, youth empowerment, health, humanitarian and environmental projects)
• Geographical representation. We aim to have case studies and insights from different regions of Africa in an attempt to illustrate the great diversity of the continent.
• Gender balance. We aim to have gender balance of authors. Female authors are encouraged to apply.

What will happen if your proposal is selected? 

• Selected contributors will be contacted on 9 March 2018.
• Draft essays to be submitted by31 March 2018.
• Feedback for improvement from editors sent by15 April 2018.
• Final chapters to be submitted by30 May 2018. Note that if final chapters are not complete or submitted on time, they may not be included in this edition.

For more information, please, do not hesitate to contact us:

Celina Del Felice (celina@humblebees.org) Celina is an educator and researcher in the fields of conflict and peace studies youth work and peace education. She works for The Network University, the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya-UNITAR Master in Conflictology and the University for Peace. Celina is from Argentina, living in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.