The young and restless

Last November, the world population hit 7 billion. I meant to write about this at the time but more interesting topics presented themselves. I’m no greybeard but I was born when this figure stood at about 4.5 billion. Our planet’s population has grown by 2.5 billion since. To put that in perspective, by the time my father was born the global population stood at a little less than 2.5 billion. We’ll stay away from discussing what these figures mean for the sustainable use of our planet’s resources lest I be unfairly labelled as a follower of Mr. Thomas R. Malthus. The National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda on its website states that 42.4% of Rwanda’s population is under 15 years of age. This presents both an opportunity and a threat to Rwanda. If today’s under-15s are receiving the right sort of training and are provided with sufficient opportunity, this country will reap the benefits for anything up to 50 years from now. Conversely, if the foregoing doesn’t happen, prepare for upheaval, instability and a crime wave such as Rwanda has never seen before especially when you factor in rural-urban migration as population pressure on arable land increases. Current policy seems to be doing its best to provide the training through programs like the 9-year basic education programme and the economy is humming along nicely, which means more opportunities so there may be hope yet. Of course the proof of success or failure will be witnessed within the next decade. Taking the best case scenario that the younger citizens of Rwanda end up as a highly skilled workforce gainfully employed and making an ever improving living they will come up against what I have decided to name the ‘retirement home’ mentality. The retirement home mentality is one that calls for order, silence and revelry only when it is properly scheduled to end at bedtime [roughly around 10pm]. In short, it’s a mentality designed to cater to people 65 years and older. So you’re young, skilled and employed with a little money and time to burn in the evening but your entertainment is limited to a drink at a neighbourhood bar [always assuming that your Mayor has not set an early closing], dinner and drinks at an up-class spot that has no official closing hour but will cost you a pretty-penny or a night at home watching TVR [where you can catch up on the vintage show involving Inspector Derrick and Herr Klein]. Evenings in Kigali for the young are either proscribed by time or cost, assuming of course that you know where to go. The cultural, recreational and entertainment scene is still taking baby-steps even as everything else in this country sprints. There are a few individuals and places trying to bring some life to Kigali’s nightlife but they often appear to be isolated in their efforts. Where are the theatres, cinemas, festivals, concerts, bazaars and shows? How is it that public transit shuts down by 9pm effectively forcing anyone going out to shell out for cabs? Entertainment may not seem like the most pressing issue when confronting the challenges of population growth but even the most conservative local leader will have to consider the things that a restless young person is capable of. Will our entertainment scene be designed for the 3.8% of Rwanda’s population that is of retirement age or the 42.4%?