Youth Hub,
With the Love Month drawing to a close, I want you to know that I am thinking of you this week with so much joy. I hope your week has been rewarding. If not, let’s just blame it on global inflation. Inflation has affected young people within Africa and across the world. Just as we’re starting to become adults, the world throws us this curveball. With the rising costs of education, housing, and daily expenses, many are facing tough financial challenges.
While I was pondering on this issue, I figured that there are various categories of young people who are affected by this inflation.
Young Professionals: These are individuals with jobs, and yet they are feeling the pinch. Even though they’re working hard, their wages or salaries aren’t keeping up with the rising costs, leaving them with little to take home. In Zimbabwe for instance, where the Zimbabwe Dollar stands at 361.9 ZWD against $1, in other words, the realities are grim for a 25-year-old Tinashe who earns 50,000 ZWD.
Young Entrepreneurs: Starting a business used to be a dream, but now inflation, insecurity, and climate change are teaming up to make it a nightmare for many. Some of these young entrepreneurs have had to shut down, and others, barely surviving.
Underprivileged Youths: These category of young people are with little or no access to education or skills. This makes living is even harder, they rely on goodwill, donations, and sometimes menial labor just to get by.
Now I won’t deny the fact that there are other young people out there who have been able to rise and thrive even in the face of inflation. But what is the ratio, compared to others?
