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Education in Motion: Exploring the Use of Non-formal Education as a Pathway to Greater Civic Engagement Among African Youth

Article by Grace Gondwe. Published January 4, 2026.

Grace Gondwe1

1Academics Stand Against Poverty (ASAP) East and Southern Africa

Open AccessPeer Reviewed

Education in Motion: Exploring the Use of Non-formal Education as a Pathway to Greater Civic Engagement Among African Youth

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Abstract

<p><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; letter-spacing: -.1pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">Africa’s This article examines how non-formal education (NFE) cultivates civic agency among African youth. Drawing on experiential learning theories and comparative case studies from Africa, it argues that NFE provides a transformative pathway for youth civic participation by integrating leadership, reflection, and practical engagement. Through analysis of programs such as Tostan’s Community Empowerment Program in Senegal and the Solar Mamas initiative in Zanzibar, the paper demonstrates that NFE fosters both collective and individual empowerment, albeit with varying levels of sustainability and institutional linkages. The discussion highlights the need for policy frameworks that integrate NFE into national systems without diluting its participatory essence. It concludes that the transformative potential of NFE lies in its non-linear, context-specific design and its capacity to bridge civic learning with governance participation.</span></p>

Article Details

Journal
Journal of Academics Stand Against Poverty
Issue
Volume 9, Issue Special Issue, 2026
Section
Articles
Pages
36-43
DOI
10.5281/zenodo.18741934
Zenodo Record
https://zenodo.org/records/18741934
Published
January 4, 2026
Canonical URL
https://scholardemia.com/workspace/asap/article/education-in-motion-exploring-the-use-of-non-formal-education-as-a-pathway-to-greater-civic-engagement-among-african-you

References

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