Rebuilding Discipline and Hope in Africa’s Youth

In this episode,we discuss the challenges and importance of coaching young Africans in today's rapidly changing world. They express concern over the youth's disillusionment, lack of discipline, and diminishing respect for hard work and integrity. A significant issue highlighted is the excessive time spent on social media, which impacts real human connections and personal growth. The speaker emphasizes rediscovering hope and purpose, instilling discipline, modeling respect, and encouraging self-expression, especially for young women. Despite the challenges, they remain optimistic, believing in the long-term potential and impact of their efforts.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Welcome to today’s episode, where I want to talk about something that's been on my mind for a while—coaching young Africans in today’s fast-changing world.
You know, sometimes I have to sit back and ask myself, *How did we get here?* Africa's youth, often called the continent’s greatest asset, seem to be drifting further away from the values that could truly shape their futures.

(00:23):
I’ve seen it firsthand.
There’s disillusionment, a lack of discipline, and an almost total loss of respect for hard work and integrity.
It’s tough to watch, especially knowing what’s at stake for them—and for Africa as a whole.
They have so much potential, but somewhere along the way, many of them have lost their sense of direction.

(00:44):
And I’m not just talking about the obvious stuff, like getting a good job.
I’m talking about deeper values—hope, resilience, and purpose. 9 00:00:53,906.857142857 --> 00:01:02,286.857142857 One of the biggest challenges I face in my coaching work is how much time these young people spend on their phones—on social media, to be exact. 10 00:01:02,656.857142857 --> 00:01:05,546.857142857 I’m talking 14 hours a day in some cases. 11 00:01:05,926.857142857 --> 00:01:07,586.857142857 Just think about that for a second. 12 00:01:08,76.857142857 --> 00:01:21,686.857142857 That’s more time than many of them spend sleeping! What’s even worse is that it’s not just about wasting time; it’s about what they’re missing out on in the process—real human connection, purpose, and personal growth.

(01:22):
And it’s not just a tech problem.
It’s a mindset problem.
Many of them have fallen into the trap of thinking success is something that happens overnight.
Or worse, something that can be hacked with shortcuts like cheating.
The value of self-development seems foreign to them.
And that worries me.
A lot.
So, I ask myself, *How do I stay optimistic when I see these challenges every day?* How do I help them rediscover the values that lead to a meaningful, successful life? Let’s break it down a little.

(01:53):
First, it starts with helping them rediscover their **hope and purpose**.
Most of the time, when I sit down with these young people, they’ve never thought about what they’re truly passionate about.
They’re caught up in survival mode or following the latest trends, and they’ve lost touch with their dreams.
So, my job is to help them connect with something bigger—whether it’s contributing to their communities or developing a skill that could shape their future.

(02:22):
Because when they find meaning, they find hope. 26 00:02:26,782.28571429 --> 00:02:29,452.28571429 Next is **discipline**. 27 00:02:29,512.28571429 --> 00:02:31,792.28571429 And I’ll be honest, discipline is a tough one. 28 00:02:32,362.28571429 --> 00:02:35,512.28571429 Most young people today are used to instant gratification. 29 00:02:36,82.28571429 --> 00:02:37,832.28571429 But real success takes time. 30 00:02:37,862.28571429 --> 00:02:39,252.28571429 It takes consistent effort. 31 00:02:39,252.28571429 --> 00:02:44,212.28571429 I don’t expect them to change overnight, but I help them set small, achievable goals. 32 00:02:44,722.28571429 --> 00:02:50,582.28571429 Over time, they start to realize the rewards of discipline far outweigh the quick wins they’ve been chasing online. 33 00:02:51,592.28571429 --> 00:02:59,912.28571429 And let’s not forget **respect and politeness**—basic values that seem to be getting lost in this age of snarky social media comments. 34 00:03:00,972.28571429 --> 00:03:08,862.28571429 I’ve noticed that young people are losing sight of how powerful respect is, not just in personal relationships but in professional life too. 35 00:03:09,612.28571429 --> 00:03:10,682.28571429 That’s where I come in. 36 00:03:11,122.28571429 --> 00:03:13,482.28571429 I have to model respect in every interaction. 37 00:03:13,482.28571429 --> 00:03:17,472.28571429 They need to see it in action, to understand that it’s not a weakness, but a strength. 38 00:03:19,122.28571429 --> 00:03:25,222.28571429 Now, one of the hardest but most important challenges I face is encouraging them to **express their thoughts and feelings**. 39 00:03:26,372.28571429 --> 00:03:33,392.28571429 Many young Africans—especially women—are taught to stay silent, to avoid challenging authority or male-dominated views. 40 00:03:34,482.28571429 --> 00:03:36,252.28571429 And this silence is a problem. 41 00:03:36,792.28571429 --> 00:03:39,142.28571429 It stifles creativity and growth. 42 00:03:39,882.28571429 --> 00:03:45,272.28571429 I’ve seen so many brilliant young minds hold back their ideas because they’ve been conditioned to stay quiet. 43 00:03:46,333.42857143 --> 00:03:51,83.42857143 As a coach, I work hard to create a safe space where they feel empowered to speak up. 44 00:03:51,693.42857143 --> 00:03:54,53.42857143 It’s not easy, but it’s crucial. 45 00:03:54,643.42857143 --> 00:03:59,323.42857143 For young women in particular, helping them find their voice is a game-changer. 46 00:03:59,863.42857143 --> 00:04:05,773.42857143 They start to understand that their opinions are valid and that questioning the status quo can lead to real growth. 47 00:04:07,42.85714286 --> 00:04:13,712.85714286 Now, after all this, you might wonder: *How do I stay optimistic?* Some days, honestly, it’s tough. 48 00:04:13,992.85714286 --> 00:04:17,152.85714286 But then I remind myself that this work isn’t about instant results. 49 00:04:17,152.85714286 --> 00:04:23,102.85714286 It’s about planting seeds—seeds that might take years to grow, but when they do, the impact will be huge. 50 00:04:23,790.85714286 --> 00:04:30,620.85714286 I’ve seen young people pull away from their distractions, even if just for a few hours, to focus on something real. 51 00:04:31,310.85714286 --> 00:04:35,970.85714286 I’ve seen them take pride in their achievements after sticking with something difficult. 52 00:04:36,460.85714286 --> 00:04:37,730.85714286 And that keeps me going. 53 00:04:38,58.85714286 --> 00:04:41,148.85714286 Because at the end of the day, I believe in their potential. 54 00:04:41,278.85714286 --> 00:04:42,768.85714286 And I have to keep believing. 55 00:04:43,48.85714286 --> 00:04:49,898.85714286 If I don’t, how can they? This journey of guiding Africa’s youth might be tough, but it’s absolutely worth it. 56 00:04:50,328.85714286 --> 00:04:53,568.85714286 Their future—and the future of Africa—depends on it. 57 00:04:53,730.85714286 --> 00:04:55,340.85714286 Thanks for tuning in today. 58 00:04:55,990.85714286 --> 00:05:03,300.85714286 If you have any thoughts or experiences with coaching young people, especially in today’s challenging world, I’d love to hear from you. 59 00:05:04,50.85714286 --> 00:05:06,30.85714286 Let’s keep this conversation going.