2014 is a year in a season of great changes. The season is called a period of globalisation. It is times when the world is increasingly interconnected via internet and efficient transport systems. It is interlinked through every growing trade routes. There is hardly an obstacle to contact between one part of the world and another. The power of the telephone was an important of world development a century ago; today, we have mobile technology that have made this interconnection hundred times faster.
This is a season of great changes in politics. The world can work a lot closer together to deal with the challenges that have become much more transnational today than in the past. No country is able on its own to resolve its challenges without the whole community of nations creating a conducive environment for their success. International organisations have assumed greater significance in our lives, from human rights institutions that protect people from the violation of their dignity by the powerful in society to transnational corporations that can move services from one side of the world to another, guaranteeing similar quality of services to many.
Similarly, the failures of society in one part of the world threaten lives in other parts in a matter of short time. The collapse of states in Africa and the Arab world can produced militant and disillusioned young people who are willing to blow themselves up and bomb others to register their frustrations. We call this terrorism. The assistance one part of the world in the form of development aid gives to another can produce dependency, over-reliance on outside help and poverty. International organisations can export wars, conflict and harmful materialist cultures that spread lifestyle diseases. International arts can encourage sub-cultures that engender violence and moral decay.
The interconnected world offers great opportunities for young people of today because it can enable them to connect with opportunities in right time when they have a good sense of what they can be in a positive sense. The world population has become younger overall on account of youth bulge in the developing world. This means Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Latin America can become the third world in the sense that we had the first world that was built on imperialism and slavery and then the second world built in industrial revolution. The third world would be built on what the developing countries are able to do, taking advantage of their abundant resources, youthful population and time.
Young people in Africa and South Africa stand at the crossroad with the route to success wide-open ahead of them. They will need at least three things to succeed.
The first is an understanding of the times, as times of great opportunities in technology, capital circulation, international attention and positive attitude to Africa all over the world.
Secondly, young people need to grasp their personal vision, the purpose of their existence. Purpose is everything needed for personal and societal success. I have always said without purpose there is no direction in life. Inspiration is produced by passion. God designed that human beings must take dominion and rule over the earth.
Thirdly, young people need to determine in their heart to take their first step in the direction of their vision.
At least, the first step is to decide on a plan with regard to acquiring the right educational credentials for the purpose. Young people have to commit themselves to study and there should be no end to acquisition of knowledge. Plan to make connections with as many people as it is possible as networks are essential for success, no one can succeeds properly living and working alone in a corner of life.
Fourthly, young people need to trust in God, the king of kings. For them to be kings, they need the source of kingship. In order to take charge of their future, they need one who knows the end from the beginning. God is the foundation of all sustainable success.
I trust that you will use the youth month of June to pursue greatness and lay the basis for a prosperous future. Your time is now; use it.
I wish all the best of luck as you step into your greatness and become that which you were born to be.
