GEO-6 for Youth: Africa


Edith Uwineza


Rami Elsayed


7.2.3 A Zimbabwean man’s letter to his 21-year-old self Dear 21-year old Solomon Mutasa,


In the year 2013, the African Union gathered to seek ways for transforming the continent into a vibrant economic powerhouse that would improve the lives of its sons and daughters. They came up with an epic roadmap for the transformation of Africa within 50 years.


Known as Agenda 2063, this roadmap declared that, “We aspire that by 2063, Africa shall be a prosperous continent with the means and resources to drive its own development with sustainable and long-term stewardship of its resources.”


Here we are in 2063. Although many things remain to be done, it is never too late to start over. But if we could just turn back the hands of time, we would ensure that we get started on implementing Agenda 2063 sooner rather than later!


Yours Sincerely, Solomon Mutasa, Zimbabwe


7.2.4 A Rwandan lady’s letter to her 21-year-old self Dear 21-year old Edith Uwineza,


I am having such an amazing time! Remember what they used to tell us back then, that the future is bright? Well, that future has arrived and it is indeed very bright in a sustainable way. Can you believe that the Great Green Wall created Africa’s second largest forest? More than half of the Sahara is now forested and people are living there. In fact, young Africans now migrate to this new forest and not to Europe. They do so because agribusiness and tourism are booming in this area so much, that now it is young Europeans and Americans who are migrating here!


While being on the subject of forests, you will be thrilled to learn that the conflicts that often complicated efforts to conserve the Congo Basin Forests ended three decades ago. As a result, these mammoth rainforests have seen drastic expansion which has greatly boosted ecotourism in the Central African region.


The good news doesn’t end there. The River Basins of Congo River, Nile River, Senegal River, Niger River, Zambezi River, and all of Africa’s transboundary rivers have seen full restoration. Consequently, fishery and agriculture in these basins has skyrocketed and, in the process, enhanced the livelihoods of millions.


By the way, it now takes only less than 30 hours to travel by train from Cape Town to Cairo; or from Nairobi to Dakar. If you prefer a road trip instead, it will take you a few more hours but you will get there. This drastically expanded transport infrastructure completely avoided disrupting natural ecosystems. Let me just put it this way – our roads and railways rock! It is Pan-Africanism on wheels like you have never seen.


I have a lot more to tell you but am just about to leave my house in Kigali for the 7 PM train to Bamako, Mali. Find below a painting that will give you an idea about the Africa of 2063.


Luv U, Edith Uwineza, Rwanda


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