Fireside Chat Theme: Youth in Namibia "The Whys of Moving In and Out"

On the 28^th of September 2023, the second session of the Fireside Chats platform took place at the Goethe Centre in Windhoek from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The platform attracted 60 participants from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.

The main message from the event was:

• Young people should take advantage of their youth and explore the world as this opens up their worldviews and also spurs innovation. An example was given of local company LEEFA, which was founded after the Founder lived abroad and saw how Uber was popular, so he brought the concept into Namibia, which is doing well.
• Young people looking to leave were advised to network extensively to ensure they return home with a concrete plan to establish themselves economically.
• The 2024 elections were not viewed as a catalyst for change, and strong opinions were submitted on how disillusioned the youth are with elections in Namibia. Hence, not much is expected from the coming elections and candidates. A call was made for more sense of responsibility and ownership through civic education to facilitate critical thinking.
• For Namibians to believe they are agents of change in their different spheres of influence outside politics, encouragement was also offered.