Patience Makwele
Young Namibians have called for greater support from parents, schools and government, saying many of the challenges they face, including teenage pregnancy, anxiety and mental health struggles, are worsened when adults fail to listen to them.
The youth voices emerged during the national commemoration of World Population Day 2026 in Windhoek, where learners and young people challenged leaders to move beyond discussions about youth and create spaces where they can openly share their experiences.
The event was held under the theme “Realizing the hopes and aspirations of young people today for the future,” with Khomas Governor Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma warning that Namibia’s youthful population can only become a demographic dividend if barriers preventing young people from reaching their potential are addressed.
Nujoma identified youth unemployment, substance abuse, school dropouts and teenage pregnancy among the challenges threatening young people’s future opportunities.
During a youth engagement session, learners from different schools said one of their biggest concerns is that adults often dismiss their struggles instead of providing guidance and support.
Helvi, a learner who participated in the discussion, said young people need parents who listen and offer direction when they experience challenges such as anxiety.
She said when she approaches her mother about exam-related anxiety, she is often told that everything will be fine but she would prefer more emotional support and guidance.
“I would personally ask for at least guidance,” she said, adding that young people also need opportunities to understand the world around them while still being protected.
She said overly restrictive parenting can sometimes leave young people unprepared to navigate real-life situations and recognise potential dangers.
Martin, another participant, said young people often feel ignored because adults believe they lack enough experience to understand serious issues.
“If you are facing any mental problems and you tell a trusted adult, they will not take you seriously because you are young, you do not know problems,” he said.
Mental health was repeatedly raised as a concern, with another learner said anxiety and other struggles are often dismissed.
“People do not really take mental health seriously, especially when someone talks about anxiety. Some people say anxiety is made up,” he said.
The learner called for greater government support to help young people deal with mental health challenges, noting that learners come from different backgrounds and experiences.
The youth also highlighted teenage pregnancy as a challenge affecting education and Namibia’s development.
Joy, a learner, said teenage pregnancy remains common among some school-going learners and can have long-term consequences.
“I feel like it is a very bad effect on teenagers because it can affect education and that also decreases our development in Namibia,” she said.
She called for increased awareness and education, particularly in rural parts of the country where some young people may have limited access to information about reproductive health.
Joy said schools should support learners who become pregnant instead of isolating them.
“If there was a pregnant teenager at my school, I would encourage her not to worry and ask her to go to the life skills teacher because life skills teachers help a lot when it comes to these things,” she said.
Another learner said pregnant teenagers often experience shame and judgement from their peers and need compassion, counselling and support.
The discussion also highlighted the challenges faced by boys, with Cristiano calling on parents to stop dismissing boys’ emotions.
“When you see that you are feeling hurt or you don’t understand anything, they will say, ‘No, stop crying. Are you a moron?’” he said.
He urged parents to understand their children better and provide encouragement rather than criticism.
The youth engagement comes as stakeholders continue to raise concerns about teenage pregnancy in Namibia, with leaders warning that early pregnancies often interrupt education, limit future employment opportunities and contribute to cycles of poverty.
The young participants said addressing these challenges requires stronger communication between generations, greater access to mental health support and creating environments where young people feel safe to speak without fear of judgement.
“The youth are speaking,” the facilitator told participants after hearing their concerns, a reminder that young Namibians want to be part of shaping solutions to the challenges affecting their generation.
