The Roots and Vaccine of the City: African Youth as Catalysts for Urban Vitality and Well-being

Abstract

As cities in Africa confront a constellation of systemic vulnerabilities, the narrative is often one of despair and decay. Yet, this overlooks a vital lifeline: the city’s youth, who serve both as the roots that nourish and the vaccine that heals. Like roots nourishing trees, African youth serve as transformative agents, shaping the future of urban living across economic, social, mental, physical, digital, and educational spheres. Through active engagement in public spaces, they unlock and administer the antidote to systemic urban challenges.
This study uses empirical data to highlight youth-led public space initiatives in Nairobi, Kenya, Kampala, Uganda, Freetown, Sierra Leone and Harare, Zimbabwe, revitalising local economies via urban farming and income diversification. 
As stewards of green spaces, they enhance urban vitality, social connections, and well-being. Notably, the youth expand their influence into the digital sphere, advocating for internet access in public spaces as a fundamental socio-economic right. This stance aligns with Reglitz’s (2020) view on online access as essential for human rights. Within this narrative lies the principle of adaptive governance, transitioning from merely including youth as beneficiaries to youth-led decision-making.
This photo essay elucidates these dual roles, highlighting how African youth are both the roots that sustain and nourish and the vaccine that heals and rejuvenates the cities. It serves as a clarion call for a paradigm shift in how we approach planning for public spaces and governance. The message is clear: the solutions to our most pressing urban challenges reside within our cities, activated, and administered through the untapped potential of youth in public spaces.