Africa Will

I am sad. With my neighbors, I am mourning Ghana’s loss to Uruguay. After listening to the cheers from the restaurant next door and feeling the collective energy of the regulars who have been watching the World Cup at the little market down the road, I share their disappointment.

Africa wanted to win in the World Cup because in many other ways, Africa is winning. The latest reports showed that the African economies remained productive through the fiscal meltdown of the developed countries. There is construction everywhere. Agriculture is improving. The latest annual data from the World Health Organization shows that the UN’s Millennium Development Goals are being reached: infant and child mortality has dropped; maternal mortality is similarly declining; reported cases of malaria are lower than ever. Educational levels are increasing.

Of course, there are still atrocities occurring. Female circumcision, child brides, domestic violence, sex trafficking and other long-standing problems have not been eradicated. But there is more awareness of these problems today than ever before, thanks to the great work of organizations like Tostan, CARE, and countless others including Half the Sky. This amazing organization was started by Sheryl Wu Dunn and New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof after their book by the same title hit the best-seller lists and stayed there for months on end. Read it if you want to learn what it means to grow up female in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. (If a young girl is lucky enough and smart enough to survive.)

Africa is an old continent with a very young and energetic population. Unlike the developed world, where aging is a problem because there are fewer and fewer workers available to power the economies, Africa is young. Virtually 41 percent of its population is under 15, as compared to 16% of Europe. By 2050, 28 percent of Europe will be over 65, but in Africa, only 7 percent of the population will be 65.

Youth is optimistic. Youth is confident. Youth believes it can.

That’s why I wanted Africa to win tonight. Because Africa believes it can. I believe it too.