Introduction
Gen Z High is an original youth series from Emberlin Studios exploring what it means to grow up in a rapidly changing African and global world.
It is a story about young people navigating relationships, identity, education, family, friendship, ambition, pressure and the uncertainty of becoming who they are meant to be.
Because growing up does not come with instructions.
The world of Gen Z High
Beyond the classroom
School is only one part of growing up.
The world young people inhabit extends from the classroom into friendships, family, social media, relationships, university, work, entrepreneurship and the wider pressures of modern life.
Gen Z High explores these transitions through relatable characters and stories that reflect the questions young people are asking:
Who am I?
Where do I belong?
What happens after school?
How do I deal with pressure?
What does success actually mean?
How do I navigate relationships?
How do I find my voice in a world that is constantly telling me who I should be?
No pretending
The series creates room for those conversations without pretending that growing up is simple.
Friendship Family Identity Love Ambition Culture
The stories
Gen Z High can move naturally between the lighter moments of youth and the more serious realities young people face.
- Friendship
- Family
- Identity
- Love
- Peer pressure
- Education
- Social media
- Mental wellbeing
- Culture
- Ambition
- Failure
- Entrepreneurship
- University
- Work
- Relationships
- The transition into adulthood
“The series is particularly interested in the space between who young people are expected to become and who they actually want to become.”
African, but not limited to Africa
Local and global
Gen Z High is rooted in African experiences while speaking to a generation that exists in a deeply connected global world.
African young people are navigating local cultures and traditions alongside global trends, technology, migration, popular culture and rapidly changing ideas about identity and success.
The series allows those realities to exist together.
It is not about presenting one definition of African youth.
It is about exploring the many ways young people experience being African in the contemporary world.
The Conversations Behind the Stories
(01)
Identity & Belonging
Understanding who we are and where we fit.
(02)
Culture & Tradition
Navigating inherited traditions while living in a changing world.
(03)
Healing & Emotional Wellbeing
Making space for conversations that young people may struggle to have openly.
(04)
Education & Transition
Moving from school to university, work and adulthood.
(05)
Relationships & Friendship
Understanding connection, boundaries, expectations and changing relationships.
(06)
Ambition & Work
Exploring careers, entrepreneurship, creativity and the realities of building a future.
(07)
Digital Life
Understanding how social media and technology influence identity, relationships and everyday life.
The SDGs in Gen Z High
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 3 — Good Health and Well-being Creating space for conversations around emotional wellbeing and healthier relationships.
- SDG 4 — Quality Education Exploring education, learning, skills and the transition beyond school.
- SDG 5 — Gender Equality Creating space to examine expectations, relationships and opportunities across gender.
- SDG 8 — Decent Work and Economic Growth Exploring employment, entrepreneurship, careers and young people’s economic aspirations.
- SDG 10 — Reduced Inequalities Reflecting different backgrounds, experiences and pathways into adulthood.
- SDG 16 — Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions Encouraging dialogue, empathy, respectful relationships and responsible citizenship.
- SDG 17 — Partnerships for the Goals Creating opportunities for collaboration across media, education, youth organisations, creative industries and communities.
From series to ecosystem
Beyond the episodes
Gen Z High is designed to exist beyond the episodes.
Stories can become conversations.
Conversations can become podcasts, publications, educational resources, events and digital content.
Characters and themes can move into other Emberlin platforms, while selected stories can inspire initiatives within the Emberlin Foundation and learning opportunities through Emberlin Academy.
The series can also create opportunities for partnerships, licensing, live experiences and other creative extensions.
One story. Multiple ways to experience it.
The making of Gen Z High
From idea to screen
Explore the journey behind the series—from its original idea and world-building to character development, writing, production and the conversations that shaped it.
Development photography
Character artwork
Production stills