Children & Youth In Africa

Children and youth are at the heart of RCIDC’s vision for peaceful, just, and inclusive societies. With Africa’s population being predominantly young, investing in children and youth is essential for sustaining progress, strengthening democratic institutions, and building communities grounded in justice, equality, and human rights.

RCIDC recognizes that young people face intersecting challenges including limited access to education, unemployment, violence, harmful cultural practices, exclusion from leadership, and inadequate protection systems. We work to address these vulnerabilities while amplifying youth potential as leaders, innovators, peacebuilders, and human rights defenders.

Our Children & Youth programming is holistic, rights-based, and community-driven, focusing on empowerment, protection, civic engagement, and leadership development.

1. Child Rights Protection & Safeguarding

RCIDC works to ensure every child grows up in a safe, protective, and nurturing environment.
Our interventions include:

  • Strengthening community child-protection systems and referral pathways.

  • Training parents, teachers, community leaders, and service providers on child safeguarding and rights.

  • Supporting efforts to combat child abuse, exploitation, trafficking, early marriage, and harmful traditional practices.

  • Partnering with law enforcement, justice systems, and social workers to improve child protection responses.

  • Advocating for strong legal frameworks ensuring child rights are upheld in schools, homes, and communities.

We believe that children’s rights must be respected, protected, and fulfilled at every stage of life.

2. Youth Empowerment & Leadership Development

Young people play a key role in shaping governance and community decisions. RCIDC empowers youth to participate meaningfully by:

  • Supporting youth leadership training, mentorship programs, and civic engagement academies.

  • Creating youth forums and platforms for participation in governance, peacebuilding, and decision-making spaces.

  • Encouraging youth innovation, entrepreneurship, and social-impact initiatives.

  • Developing life-skills training and digital literacy programs to prepare youth for modern leadership roles.

Our goal is to cultivate confident, informed, and influential youth leaders committed to justice and accountability.

3. Access to Quality Education & Skills Development

Education is central to a child’s development and a young person’s future. RCIDC works to expand access to equitable and inclusive education by:

  • Supporting community education initiatives, remedial programs, and school sensitization campaigns.

  • Strengthening partnerships with schools, youth clubs, and learning institutions to improve learning outcomes.

  • Promoting digital learning, vocational training, and technical skill development for youth employment.

  • Advocating for policies that prioritize inclusive, safe, and child-friendly education environments.

Equal access to education empowers young people to break cycles of poverty and contribute to community resilience.

4. Preventing Violence, Exploitation & Harmful Practices

Aligned with SDG16.2, RCIDC prioritizes the elimination of all forms of violence against children and youth.
Our work includes:

  • Community sensitization against child marriage, FGM, child labor, and trafficking.

  • Strengthening local protection networks and improving reporting mechanisms.

  • Working with police, justice systems, and local councils to promote accountability and justice for affected children.

  • Creating safe spaces where children and youth can express themselves and seek support.

Every child deserves to live free from fear, harm, and exploitation.

5. Mental Health, Psychosocial Support & Well-being

Children and youth face increasing emotional and psychological challenges due to conflict, family breakdowns, poverty, and social pressures. RCIDC integrates mental wellness into community programming by:

  • Offering psychosocial support sessions through trained facilitators and youth workers.

  • Supporting recreation and play-based therapy, especially for vulnerable or displaced children.

  • Training teachers, caregivers, and community leaders to identify and respond to children’s emotional needs.

  • Promoting youth-friendly spaces where young people can access support, mentorship, and counseling.

A healthy mind enables young people to thrive, learn, and lead.

6. Civic Engagement, Rights Awareness & Participation

Children and youth are powerful agents of change when equipped with knowledge and platforms. RCIDC strengthens civic participation by:

  • Offering civic education on rights, responsibilities, democracy, and justice systems.

  • Supporting youth-led advocacy campaigns on equality, accountability, and social transformation.

  • Engaging young people in national, regional, and international dialogues and policy processes (HLPF, AU, UN platforms).

  • Promoting youth involvement in community service, local governance, and peacebuilding.

We encourage children and youth to actively shape the society they wish to inherit.

7. Digital Innovation, Safety & Skills

Today’s generation of young people is living in the digital age. RCIDC helps them harness this opportunity by:

  • Training youth in digital literacy, critical thinking, and online safety practices.

  • Supporting ICT hubs, innovation labs, and coding programs.

  • Advocating for safe digital environments free from cyberbullying, exploitation, and harmful content.

  • Promoting digital entrepreneurship and employment pathways through technology.

Digital empowerment enhances youth participation, economic resilience, and global competitiveness.

8. Economic Empowerment & Livelihood Opportunities

Many youth face unemployment and limited income opportunities. RCIDC supports youth economic inclusion by:

  • Providing vocational, technical, and entrepreneurship training.

  • Supporting youth cooperatives, income-generating initiatives, and job-readiness programs.

  • Facilitating linkages to markets, financial resources, and micro-enterprise opportunities.

  • Advocating for youth inclusion in national employment and development policies.

Economic empowerment reduces vulnerability and creates a foundation for long-term stability.

9. Partnerships & Multi-Sector Collaboration

RCIDC collaborates with government ministries, CSOs, schools, youth organizations, development partners, and community leaders to strengthen child and youth systems. Through these partnerships, we:

  • Build strong protection networks

  • Improve policy implementation

  • Share knowledge and resources

  • Expand youth voice and representation at regional and global levels

We believe that multi-sector collaboration creates sustainable solutions for children and youth empowerment.

10. Research, Monitoring, and Advocacy

RCIDC conducts research to understand the challenges faced by children and youth, producing evidence to inform policy and interventions. This includes:

  • Community-based studies

  • Youth needs assessments

  • Child protection gap analyses

  • Advocacy briefs and policy recommendations

Evidence-based advocacy ensures that child and youth issues remain central in national and regional agendas.