SECTOR 1 Young people in the capital city, Windhoek, stage events where they express themselves without fear. They participate vigorously in events such as the standup comedy forum ‘Free Your Mind’, and the popular ‘Spoken Word’ platform. The city’s suburbs of Katutura and Khomasdal also have youth forums such as ‘Young Achievers’ and ‘Physically Active Youth’. Some panellists felt, however, that funding and funding partners influence the level of expression at these urban forums. At government-funded forums, for example, people don’t necessarily express themselves freely. “If you say something against the people sponsoring the event, they take you as a trouble maker, which makes it difficult for you to express yourself 100 percent,” a panellist noted. The topics that young people are vocal about are not necessarily contentious. They tend to speak out on issues that directly affect their wellbeing, such as the lack of jobs or the need for recreational activities. “But they won’t criticise government. People will be critical to a point, but will avoid making themselves a target.” Some panellists went on to say that many young people are unaware of what is happening in the country and the world beyond, and that this may be a consequence of the way many youth forums operate. In this vein, one panellist added: “I am part of a political party youth forum. It took 45 minutes to debate the insertion of a clause recognising the rights of sexual minorities into the organisational constitution. These were university students! Young people seem to take on the narrow views of their elders.” It was also pointed out that these types of platforms hardly exist in rural areas, where “there is always someone in authority looking over you.” “Young people are expected to respect elders and people in authority so they will not express themselves so freely.” Those platforms that do exist in rural areas are usually ruling party initiatives. The government-funded National Youth Council is also active, but some panellists felt that the role of these forums is to indoctrinate young people. “Young people are given a little bit of money to initiate these forums. They are orchestrated actions in the name of free expression.” Such forums do little to help uplift young people and “young people remain where they are,” panellists said. On the other hand, panellists felt that social networks such as Facebook enhance people’s power to express themselves. Young people participate without the fear of their parents or government knowing what they are saying. “But they don’t reveal it (what they say) elsewhere. They are fearful.” Some NGO representatives were concerned about apparent attempts to block public opinion polls using short-message text (SMS) via mobile phones. “Suddenly the SMSs couldn’t go through, and yet this is an innocent activity”. 12 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER NAMIBIA 2011