On November 15, 2024, in Gabu, nearly fifty rural youth and returnees gathered before local officials at a rare public forum on employment and opportunity. At first, they hesitated. Few had ever spoken directly to authorities. Then a young woman stood and said, “We want opportunities here, so we don’t have to leave.” Her voice broke the silence. Others followed.
Job Scarcity and Migration Pressure
Youth represent about 60 % of Guinea-Bissau’s population, making it one of the youngest nations in West Africa. Yet formal job prospects remain extremely limited. The youth unemployment rate was only 2.8 % in 2024, not because jobs are abundant but because many young people have left the labor force altogether. In rural areas, migration often feels like the only viable path to survival.
The public forum in Gabu was not an isolated event. It grew out of training sessions organized under the Bright Professional Opportunities and Youth and Women’s Empowerment (BPOE) project, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and managed by GIZ with partners including Tostan.
Through Tostan’s Community Empowerment Program, participants engaged in dialogue and leadership sessions held in local languages. They learned to ask questions about their futures, discuss rights and responsibilities, and practice civic engagement in safe, inclusive spaces.
Youth as Policy Voices
At the forum, young participants did more than speak—they were heard. Officials took notes and pledged to follow up. The real transformation was psychological. For the first time, many youth saw themselves not as passive recipients of aid but as active contributors to local development.
Before, decisions were made for us. Now, we know we can be part of them,” one participant reflected.
In a country where over 70% of people live in rural areas and many young citizens rarely interact with decision-makers, this forum marked a milestone. It represented a shift from isolation to participation, from waiting for change to shaping it.
While a single public forum cannot solve unemployment or stop migration, it signaled the beginning of something bigger: a new social contract. Youth are no longer only the “future generation.” In communities like Gabu, they are stepping forward as the present generation leaders who can influence training programs, entrepreneurship initiatives, and local priorities.
The First Step Toward Lasting Change
The BPOE project and Tostan’s education approach are helping redefine what inclusion looks like in Guinea-Bissau. By promoting dialogue, literacy, and leadership, the program equips young people with tools to participate in governance and advocate for their needs.
Across the country, youth who once felt invisible are learning that their voices matter. The change begins with words spoken in public spaces, but it continues in the confidence they carry home—to organize, collaborate, and lead.
The BPOE project and Tostan’s education approach are helping redefine what inclusion looks like in Guinea-Bissau. By promoting dialogue, literacy, and leadership, the program equips young people with tools to participate in governance and advocate for their needs.
Across the country, youth who once felt invisible are learning that their voices matter. The change begins with words spoken in public spaces, but it continues in the confidence they carry home—to organize, collaborate, and lead.