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From the Ground Up (FTGU) is a dynamic, youth-centered rural development initiative designed to equip and empower rural Namibian youth with the skills, knowledge, and platforms they need to become change-makers in their communities. Launched by RuralRise Community Empowerment Foundation, FTGU aims to bridge the gap between rural realities and national development agendas by supporting youth-led innovation, leadership, and civic participation.

From the Ground Up: Empowering Rural Youth for Development

A flagship initiative by RuralRise Community Empowerment Foundation

Our Vision

To nurture a generation of rural youth who are empowered, informed, and equipped to shape their communities, influence policy, and drive sustainable local development.

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  • Youth Empowerment: Strengthen the leadership, advocacy, and entrepreneurial capacities of rural youth.

  • Policy Engagement: Integrate rural youth voices into policy discussions and decision-making spaces.

  • Community Solutions: Incubate and support youth-led community development projects.

  • Sustainability & Inclusion: Promote long-term, inclusive, and community-driven development practices.

OBJECTIVE

OUR TARGET

Namibia's population grew by 114% over the past 32 years, reaching 3.02 million in 2023.

 

The rural population slightly exceeds the urban population, with 1.53 million people residing in rural areas, underscoring the importance of rural development.

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Namibia Statistics Agency (2024). Census Report. Retrieved from The Brief.

71.1

of Namibia’s population is under 35 years old.

46.1

of young Namibians (ages 15-34) unemployed.

Editor. (2024, March 14). The Brief

DOWNLOADS

Download the  From the Ground Up Empowering Rural Youth for Development Policy Brief

From the Ground Up: Empowering Rural Youth for Development Policy Brief_March 2025

QUICK READ?
Download the  From the Ground Up Empowering Rural Youth for Development Infographic Brief

From the Ground Up: Empowering Rural Youth for Development Infographic Brief_March 2025

We propose an implementation of ACTIVE rural youth participation in decision-making platforms such as local government development committees and ACCESS to social advancement and entrepreneurship platforms.

WHY?

  • Active youth participation and leadership can transform the socio-economic landscape of rural communities

 

  • Rural youth need to play a vital role in policymaking.

 

  • Rural youth in Namibia face significant challenges that hinder their engagement in policy and development processes.

Our Community Liaison, Issaskar Tjandero, was interviewed on Good Morning Namibia on 28 August 2024; he discussed our "From the Ground Up" initiative. Watch to learn more about this impactful initiative focused on empowering rural communities through sustainable development and local capacity building.

WHAT DO WE WANT?

Core Arguments

Rural Youth Participation

rural youth  in developing countries are among the least engaged in policy making. This disengagement is perpetuated by policy frameworks that often have an “urban bias,” neglecting the unique needs and vulnerabilities of rural youth. Additionally, an adult-centric approach dominates policymaking, viewing youth as passive recipients rather than active contributors to policy design and implementation.

 

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD, 2019

Education and Employment

Despite being a large demographic, Namibian youth are less engaged in political and civic activities compared to their elders. The Afrobarometer survey found that young people are less likely to vote, attend community meetings, or contact their leaders. Moreover, they are generally dissatisfied with the government's performance on issues they prioritize, such as job creation​.

 

Afrobarometer (2021). Namibia Round 8 Summary of Results. Retrieved from Afrobarometer.

Civic Engagement

Namibian youth have higher education levels compared to older generations, with nearly 79% having secondary or post-secondary education. However, they also face significant unemployment challenges, with 44% of young Namibians actively seeking employment. Youth unemployment remains a major concern, with ongoing frustrations about limited job opportunities​

 

Mpako, A., & Ndoma, S. (2024, February 23). AD773: Namibian youth demand that government make job creation a top priority. Afrobarometer.

“We believe that real, lasting change begins from the ground up — with the voices, talents, and visions of rural youth at the forefront.”

                                                                                                — Eslien Tsuses,
                                                                             Founder & CEO, RuralRise

Key Activities

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COMMUNITY DIALOGUES AND ADVOCACY AND LEADERSHIP WORKSHOPS

We facilitate structured conversations between youth, traditional leaders, and policymakers on development priorities, governance, and social issues.

200+

3

+

3

1

rural youth reached in Namibia.

Community Dialogues

Skills development Training

IMPACT

Youth-led micro-projects incubated

Regional Conference

2

Ongoing partnerships

OUR APPROACH

FTGU follows a holistic, bottom-up approach rooted in five core principles:

Addressing Root Causes

Solutions are designed to be self-sustaining and replicable to unique circumstances  in other rural contexts.

GALLERY

Young people from Utuseb in Walvis Bay Rural Constituency presented an advocacy plan at the first From the Ground Up Community Dialogues and Leadership and Advocacy Workshops that were held in Utuseb, a settlement based in the Erongo Region, on 30 August 2024.

 

Some of the unique challenges identified in Utuseb include that of an existing primary school that only has grades until 7th grade, which means when learners graduate, they are faced with having to move away from the settlement to attend secondary school.

 

This is a challenge because not everyone can afford boarding school fees for secondary level, including other living expenses. There is a high drop-out rate due to lack of housing when they are faced with furthering their studies. They also identified a lack of timeous information sharing and limited opportunities in terms of training, although they are willing to better their life's amongst many other challenges.

 

Young people from Utuseb are eager to participate in decision-making, build small businesses, and further their studies, and they call on the Traditional Authority for youth representation.

 

Stay engaged; follow us for more on rural youth stories from the ground up.

 

#FromTheGroundUp #RuralYouthParticipation #IgniteRuralDevelopment

PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS

We proudly collaborate with:

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  • Ministry of Urban and Rural Development in Namibia

  • Ministry of  Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture

  • Regional Councils

  • Local and traditional leaders

  • Youth groups and volunteers

  • Academic institutions and policy think tanks

The first phase of the From the Ground Up Initiative was funded by the European Union under the New Voices New Narratives Policy Sprint which ran from July 2024 to March 2025.

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Get Involved

 

Are you a rural youth with a vision?
A policymaker looking to listen?
A funder or partner ready to support sustainable change?

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Join us From the Ground Up.

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📩 Email us: ruralriseup@yahoo.com
📞 Call: +264 81 819 3737
📍 Namibia

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