International Youth Day, observed annually on August 12 since its designation by the UN in 1999, highlights the challenges faced by young people and promotes their role as vital partners in driving global change.
From Landesa Tanzania, an international non-governmental organization, Senior Land Tenure Specialist Masalu Luhula, in commemorating this important day, gives a message of considering youth in decision-making bodies, having strong policies and laws that carry the voices of youth, and securing tenure for land, especially for the smallholder producers. Masalu used a reflection from the story of the wise daughter and the cunning moneylender.
Delivering his message Masalu says, “its important to strengthening youth-led dialogue platforms and active involvement of youth in society/community level, national, regional, and global strategies and plans is the best bequeath adults can leave for the youth, also, to ensure Strong policies and laws that speak the language of the Youth are timely and sensitive and to secure tenure for land, especially for the smallholder producers, is the hope. This will give everyone a sense of belonging, avoid loss of means of survival, life, right of inheritance, and identity”.
Masalu Luhula (left), Senior Land Tenure Specialist at Landesa, with Khadija Mrisho (right), also a Senior Land Tenure Specialist,
However, the 2025 theme focuses on local youth actions for Sustainable Development Goals. Events held in Nairobi, Kenya, supported by UN-Habitat, while the day emphasizes the role of local governments in creating spaces for youth voices, also promotes sharing ideas and building a sustainable future.
According to UNICEF, Tanzania too has one of the world’s fastest growing young people’s population, with more than 50 percent of the population considered to be under the age of 18 and over 70 percent are under 30 years of age.
These statistics show how the youth are carrying a large group that, if trusted and at the forefront, can truly make a difference in various fields.
Learn from the farmer’s story that Masalu has used to deliver a message for International Youth Day.
In a small village, a poor farmer struggled to pay back his debt to a cunning moneylender, the debt had grown so large … He knew he could never repay it. One hot afternoon, the money lender arrived at the farmers home, His sharp eyes noticed the farmer’s young daughter working in the yard. With a sly smile, he made an offer, “I will forgive your debt …if your daughter marries me”. The farmer was shocked; the daughter felt her stomach turn …. but the money lender had more to say… To make it fair, he said, “I will put one white pebble and one black pebble into [a small bag], if your daughter draws the white pebble, you are free from debt, if she draws the black, she marries me. The farmer reluctantly agreed. The money lender bent down to pick the pebbles from the path. but the daughter’s sharp eyes caught something. He had secretly picked two black pebbles and slipped them into the bag. The game was rigged and everyone was watching. Her mind was raced. If she refused, her father stayed in debt. If she exposed him- he might retaliate. If she played along- she would lose, so she had to do something … The moment came. She reached into the bag … felt the pebble between her fingers … pulled it out and accidentally dropped it to the ground. “Oh, how clumsy of me!” she said. But it’s fine, we can check the other pebble in the bag. That will tell us which one I picked. The remaining pebble was black, which meant the one she had drawn was white. She won her freedom without ever revealing the cheat.
Conclusion of Masalu Luhula for Youth
Act now rather than later, since it will be too late
Do not say, I cannot do it alone, everyone will say so, and no one at the end will have done anything.
Happy International Youth Day, 2025
