Recently, I attended an event organized by young people active in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. The event was very well organized and attracted a huge crowd. As I sat among more than a thousand young people, I found myself reflecting on the important role religion (specifically the different expressions of Christianity and Islam) plays in the lives of young Africans today.
The question I was contemplating was, to what extent do the values we seek to cultivate through Africa Unbound – agency, curiosity, reverence for life, and the capacity to imagine different futures – align with, complement, or challenge the influences shaping young people’s lives today?
This is not just a question about religion. Other factors include education, family expectations, history (in particular conflicts), and intergenerational trauma.
For example, most of our educational systems place a heavy emphasis on memorization. While memorization can be useful, I wonder to what extent students are being encouraged to ask questions, challenge assumptions, and think independently?
Can they ask questions such as:
These are the kinds of questions that often lead to discovery, creativity, and innovation. If young people are not consistently encouraged to ask such questions, how can they develop agency and genuine reverence for life?
Family and friends’ expectations present a similar dynamic. These communities provide identity, support, and belonging. However, when conformity is expected while snubbing exploration, young people will learn to seek approval rather than discover their own unique path and contribution.
Collective trauma has even deeper influence. Societies that have experienced prolonged periods of instability, conflict, or hardship develop strategies for survival where safety, predictability, and certainty are much more valued than experimentation.
Curiosity, imagination, and risk-taking tend to flourish when people feel safe. However, throughout history, progress has depended on the courage and conviction of individuals. Examples include Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the U.S., Leymah Gbowee of Liberia, and Pres. Nelson Mandela of South Africa. These individuals worked day and night, facing great adversity and hardship, because they had the courage to imagine possibilities that did not yet exist for them.
This then leads us to ask: what are the conditions necessary for people to imagine and work towards more peaceful and fulfilling life?
What if curiosity is not a threat to faith, but a path to deeper understanding?
What if agency is not a rejection of community, but a prerequisite for meaningful contribution?
Can we see imagining different futures as an expression of hope, rather than an act of disloyalty to tradition?
At Africa Unbound, we are NOT telling people what to think. Rather, we are interested in understanding the conditions that help human beings become unbound.
We know that EVERY young person possesses untapped creativity and wisdom. The question is not whether these qualities exist, but what conditions allow them to emerge. As we explore these issues we will share what we learn.
If this work resonates with you, I invite you to join us by becoming a Pathfinder or a mentor to Pathfinders.
By Dr. Rahel Kassahun
June 2026