As we mentioned last week here on TakePart, tomorrow the African Leadership Academy will host a day-long symposium titled “Looking Ahead: Fresh Perspectives on Leadership and Governance in Africa.”

Richard Nuccio, Director at The Civitas International Programs of the Center for Civic Education, will be speaking during the segment of the symposium titled, “Leadership From the Ground Up: Inspiring Youth to Take Charge.” This week, he took some time to answer questions for TakePart. Tomorrow, we will be in attendance at the symposium, so please stay posted for more updates!

Q. What do you see as Africa’s greatest challenge right now?

A. Two out of three Africans are under the age of 25. One of the many challenges that Africa will face is educating young people to become active and responsible citizens in their nations. Africa faces extreme versions of the problems facing many modern educational systems, including: 1) the need to educate large numbers of students from diverse ethnic backgrounds and economic conditions; 2) inadequate funding for education; 3) inequities in access to education, particularly for rural, low socio-economic groups, girls, and minorities; 4) inappropriate curricular content and inadequate pedagogy; 5) pre-service teacher instruction centered on lecture and rote memorization; and 6) a lack of educational research with few trained researchers working in the field of education.

Q. Why is civic engagement crucial to Africa’s pursuit of peace and prosperity?

A. All observers of Africa agree that it faces a crisis of leadership and of institutions. The enthusiasm that swept over the continent after the successful struggles for independence has not translated, in most cases, into lasting formulas for stable, democratic, and prosperous nations. Civic education offers two answers to the failures of contemporary African systems. It provides education to young people in the knowledge and values needed to become productive citizens of their countries. It also provides them the skills to hold governments and their leaders accountable for carrying out policies in the interests of the majority.

Q. Fred Swaniker [founded of ALA] has emphasized that Africa “will only stand on its own two feet through the resourcefulness of its own people, and by [Africans'] ability to solve [their] own problems.” However, internationally, many citizens from many countries want to get involved, without imposing ideas or applying a misguided approach. What is an effective approach to getting involved? What can our readers do to TakePart?

A. The Civitas International Programs of the Center for Civic Education pursue a similar strategy in all its partnerships in more than 80 countries, including throughout Africa. That strategy is to trust in our partners, whether they be in-country NGOs, universities, or government agencies, by developing with them the capacity to create quality civic educations programs. This process begins with the translation and adaptation of proven Center materials, capacity building trainings of school administrators and teachers, and the linking of national efforts to an international network of civic education experts. Through the exchange of ideas and best practices, the capability of our partners to solve problems in their own nations is enhanced. The result is that Africans are directing highly effective and culturally appropriate efforts in their own nations to develop and implement interactive civic education programs.