Angola: Youth Engaged in the Elections

Through three program streams, SFCG works to create a space for young people throughout the country to be forces for the realization of non-violent, free, and fair elections.

Education
Youth groups from throughout the country will convene community meetings of young people from all sectors of society to talk about the code of conduct and its implications on youth during the elections. Youth will take a lead in educating their peers about the role of young people, their civic rights and duties.

Voice
SFCG's existing youth-run radio program will create and broadcast a 20 episode series on the elections and its relationship to youth. Shows will focus on the rights and responsibilities of youth as well as give voice to young voters and members of civil society to speak about the political issues that most affect them. This will assure that youth issues get on the political radar screen and that young people throughout the country feel that they have not only a stake in the outcome but a role in defining the parameters of debates;

Action
SFCG's youth network will mobilize youth throughout the country to carry significant responsibility during the immediate lead up to the election by registering voters, monitoring the electoral process, and preventing community disputes. During the year before the elections, SFCG's youth project will have a particular emphasis on voter registration. Teams of youth in all the major provinces will support civil-society efforts to register as many eligible voters as possible. In addition to being able to access sectors of the population that adults often can't, youth can play a significant role in educating voters about their rights and how to find out necessary information on candidates. Secondly, youth leaders in each of the provinces will be trained in conflict prevention and will serve as resources for the community in heading off conflicts before they develop.