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NEW YORK (AP) — This week’s Global Citizen NOW conference made calls for long-term investments in the African continent’s rapidly growing youth population and greater outreach to young changemakers around the world, as the international advocacy group seeks to allocate resources to the fight to provide for poverty.
The conflict-ridden international scene has made it even more important that political, business and philanthropic leaders support education and health care in the least developed countries, said Hugh Evans, CEO of Global Citizen. The week’s biggest demands included up to $6 billion for economic development in Africa and $600 million for a United Nations-administered fund to support education in emergencies.
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“I don’t have to lecture anyone about polarization,” Evans told The Associated Press. “But I think the consequence of that is that sometimes people can feel completely hopeless and powerless. My only hope is that our platform continues to stand for clear, decisive and practical actions that citizens can take to change the world for the better.”
To achieve its goals, the two-day conference in New York relied on the star power of longtime ambassador Hugh Jackman, Oscar-winning actress Michelle Yeoh and Brazilian singer Anitta.
“The Walking Dead” and “Black Panther” star Danai Gurira said more Western aid alone is not enough. African nations need true self-determination because “we are still a long way from liberating ourselves from colonialism,” said the Iowa-born, Zimbabwe-raised actress.
“We are incredibly rich, from cobalt to lithium to diamonds to rubber to oil,” she said. “But often you don’t feel like we have control over it.”
About 60% of Africa’s population is under the age of 25 – a huge advantage that two-time Super Bowl champion Osi Umenyiora believes only needs more opportunities. The former defensive end spoke about his work spearheading the National Football League’s efforts there to provide international athletes with the training they need to catch the attention of college scouts and eventually play professionally.
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The NFL has academies in the United Kingdom and Australia. Umenyiora said he hopes to add facilities in countries such as Nigeria, Kenya and Morocco by 2030.
“In my estimation, the best athletes in the world are in Africa,” Umenyiora told the AP. “It’s just that they haven’t been developed yet. They haven’t been trained.”
The conference was followed by the announcement that Global Citizen will co-host an economic summit in Ivory Coast in the fall. The aim is to increase foreign aid to sub-Saharan Africa, where the working-age population is expected to double by 2050 but many lack access to electricity.
Speakers emphasized that global leaders must now help close these gaps if they are to realize the region’s full potential. Foreign aid can work, they said, despite recent moves by once-generous, heavily indebted governments to reduce the amounts allocated to developing countries.
Former Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven described development aid as a mutually beneficial investment rather than a one-sided act of charity.
“Why not use the world’s full potential?” asked Lofven, who set a goal of spending 1% of Sweden’s gross national income on development aid during his term in office.
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The conference also marked Global Citizen’s efforts to engage Generation Z in its 12 million-member network. The organization recently brought together more than 300 young leaders with officials, including World Bank President Ajay Banga, at the first international edition of Global Citizen NOW.
Nonpartisan civic groups HeadCount and I Am A Voter announced a merger during a panel discussion Thursday to harness the power of musicians and brands to increase voter registration among young people as the U.S. presidential election approaches.
Other speakers shared strategies for engaging authentically with young people online. Anitta told the AP that she hosts classes on Instagram Live so her fans can join her in learning about environmental issues like protecting the rainforest.
Actor Jordan Fisher acknowledged that seemingly insurmountable student loans or the unaffordable housing market could leave young people feeling politically lost. He emphasized that voting is just one way to get involved.
Fisher also identifies new platforms to empower Global Citizen members. As an avid gamer, he advises the organization on setting up a gaming department. He said livestreaming services like Twitch can be a great tool to raise money and increase awareness among viewers watching their favorite creators.
“It’s some of the most authentic work you can do. They’re just people. And that’s just us. They’re people,” Fisher told the AP.
“The power of gaming is enormous.”
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Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits is supported by the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP’s philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy.
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