Young people in Kenya, Liberia and Zimbabwe recently took part in a baseline survey conducted by the Africa Alliance of YMCAs as part of the From Subject to Citizen project.

The baseline survey assessed the distance between the ideal and the current position of the three countries as identified in the recently completed conflict analysis which was produced to assess the magnitude of the impact of conflict in the countries.

A total of 1260 young people aged 12-35 years took part in the survey, which was conducted in one urban and one rural site in each country. Of this, 60 were enumerators and the rest categorised as rights holders. Focus group discussions were also held with the enumerators before, during and after the survey.

The youth engaged meaningfully in the survey and in the focus group discussions, speaking out about what it meant to them to be a subject and a citizen. The second category of respondents was that of the duty bearers – the administrators of justice. At national level this included members of parliament, members of the judiciary, and senior members of government, and at local level it involved municipal council leaders and chiefs.

During the baseline, youth were asked about their understanding of a subject and a citizen:

• What is a subject?
 “A youth who submits to authority blindly”
“A poor youth who becomes a victim of war and bad politics”
“A youth who has limited rights”
“A youth who is unable to question authority”
“A youth with no say and representation”

• What is a citizen?
 “A youth with legitimate rights that can be exercised”
“A youth with voice that can be heard”
“A youth who participates meaningfully and understands his/her obligations”
“A youth who is a partner in national development”

Photo: S2C baseline survey in Liberia