How Teen Leaders Are Solving Problems Adults Cannot
“Adults have been trying to solve this problem for years,” the village elder told me with a hint of skepticism. “What makes you think these teenagers will do any better?”
Six months later, that same elder was shaking his head in amazement as he watched clean water flow from the new rainwater harvesting system designed and implemented by a team of local teenagers.
Meet Tanzania’s unexpected problem-solvers: its youth.
In a country where 67% of the population is under 25, young people represent both Tanzania’s greatest challenge and its greatest resource. Too often viewed as problems to be managed rather than partners in progress, teenagers possess unique perspectives and capabilities that we overlook at our collective peril.
Salima from Singida
Take 16-year-old Salima from Singida. After participating in our leadership program, she identified a problem adult had normalized: girls missing school during menstruation due to inadequate facilities and supplies. Rather than accepting this as inevitable, Salima designed a peer education program and partnered with local women’s groups to produce reusable sanitary pads. Within one year, girl’s attendance increased by 28% at her school.
Or consider James, 17, from a fishing village near Lake Victoria. Concerned about declining fish stocks, he mobilized fellow youth to research sustainable fishing practices, created illustrated guides in local dialects, and conducted boat-to-boat outreach with traditional fishermen. The result? A 40% increase in compliance with fishing regulations and the establishment of community-enforced conservation zones.
why youth leadership works
These aren’t isolated success stories but demonstrations of why youth leadership works:
- Innovation without limitation: Young people approach problems without the constraints of “how things have always been done”
- Peer influence: Teens can change behavior among other youth in ways adults simply cannot
- Digital fluency: Today’s youth leverage technology and social media to amplify solutions
- Longevity: Youth-led initiatives create young champions who will advocate for decades to come
- Cultural bridging: Young people often navigate traditional and modern perspectives with unique dexterity
At the I Want to Be Foundation
At the I Want to Be Foundation, our Amka Youth Leadership Academy invests in these natural problem-solvers, providing training, mentorship, and seed funding for youth-led initiatives across Tanzania. The results consistently demonstrate that when we position youth as leaders rather than beneficiaries, both the problems and the solutions are transformed.
“Adults see what is,” explained Salima with wisdom beyond her years. “But we see what could be.”
In a world of complex challenges, perhaps that’s exactly the perspective we need most.
Want to support Tanzania’s young problem-solvers? Learn about our Amka Youth Leadership Academy or contribute to our Youth Innovation Fund that provides seed grants for teen-led community initiatives.