Every 20-30 years, a new generation is born.

Each generation grows up with different levels of technological development, impacting how they communicate, learn, and interact with the world.

What this means is that every generation is different.

Kenya today is a mix of all.

The Boomers, with their lived experience, carry the memories of where we’ve come from. The Millennials bridge the old and the new while the bold Gen Z challenge norms and rewrite the rules.

The difference between these generations is not just about age. It’s about culture, technology, and emotional connection, with the younger generation being the most misunderstood.

Begging the question, what do the youth want?

From her experience as the Partnership Manager and Project Lead at LightArt Club, and as a member of Gen Z, Nyawanga Owuor, 21, says the youth want it all in so many different ways.

“One thing I hear very often that’s thrown around is the youth just want it easier. I don’t think that’s a bad thing. I think we need to demystify this culture of wanting it easier. I’d rather call it wanting it practical, wanting it realistic, more than wanting it easier,” said Nyawanga.

For the youth, another key want in life is to be given the space to find themselves.

They also seek the support to turn that self-discovery into purpose and impact.

“Most of the previous generations had a template given to them. Go to school, go to high school, go to uni, get this degree, be employed, save, retire. Working with this generation I’ve seen the way they have the ability to form their own past, they have the ability to make rules that have never been made before,” said Nyawanga.

Despite the differences, Nyawanga notes that there are still things the youth can pick from the older generation, adding that criticism can sometimes be constructive.

Overall, the whole society has a key role to play to ensure all generations thrive.

On this International Youth Day, watch the video below to learn more about what the youth want.