Unemployment remains rife on the African continent. With almost 200
million people aged between 15 and 24 in Africa today, the youth
community represents more than 60 per cent of the continent's total
population and accounts for 45 per cent of its growing labour force.
Winners celebrate during the finals of the Imagine Cup (image:
Microsoft)
However, the imbalance between the demands of the labour market and the
supply of appropriately skilled workers in Africa is reaching its
breaking point.
In light of this, Microsoft Corp. has announced its ongoing commitment
to driving opportunities for African youth through its YouthSpark
initiative.
Microsoft YouthSpark is a global initiative that aims to create
opportunities for 300 million youth in more than 100 countries during
the next three years.
This companywide initiative includes Corporate Social Investment (CSI)
and other company programs - both new and enhanced - empowering youth to
imagine and realise their full potential by connecting them with
greater opportunities for education, employment and entrepreneurship.
"It is a sad reality that while young Africans are more literate than
their parents, more of them remain unemployed," says Djam Bakhshandegi,
CSI Program Manager at Microsoft in Africa. "At the core of our
YouthSpark and other CSI activities is our belief that relevant
innovation holds the key to unlocking the answers to our most pressing
challenges in the region.
Through YouthSpark, in sub-Saharan Africa alone, we have already reached
over half a million young people and made $1.1 million worth of
software donations to non-Government-organisations. In addition we have
trained almost 30, 000 teachers through our Partners In Learning tools
as well as equipping hundreds of small & medium businesses with
relevant start up skills.
As part of its broader strategy, Microsoft views Africa as a critical
investment market. Its flagship African investment and growth drive,
4Afrika, which YouthSpark falls under on the African continent, was
launched in February 2013.
Through 4Afrika, Microsoft will actively engage in Africa's economic
development to improve its global competitiveness. By 2016, the
Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative plans to help place tens of millions of
smart devices in the hands of African youth, bring 1 million African
small and medium enterprises (SMEs) online, up-skill 100,000 members of
Africa's existing workforce, and help an additional 100,000 recent
graduates develop skills for employability, 75 percent of which
Microsoft will help place in jobs.
"YouthSpark forms part of this 4Afrika vision and through YouthSpark, we
are paying specific attention to the next generation of our ecosystem
through our work with schools, students, start-ups and the developer
community to drive skills and ICT integration which will in turn trigger
growth," says Bakhshandegi. "Through our partnerships with governments,
non-profit organizations and businesses, Microsoft YouthSpark aims to
empower youth to imagine and realize their full potential."
Microsoft YouthSpark goes beyond philanthropy and brings together a
range of global programs that empower young people with access to
technology and a better education and inspire young people to imagine
the opportunities they have to realise their potential, including Office
365 for education, free technology tools for all teachers and students
to power learning and collaboration, and Skype in the classroom, a free
global community for teachers to connect their students with others
around the world. Other YouthSpark initiatives include:
· Partners in Learning Network. An online professional
development platform for government officials, school leaders and
educators to help them with new approaches to teaching and learning,
using technology to help students develop 21st century skills.
· Microsoft IT Academy. A career-ready education program
available to all accredited academic institutions, providing students
with 21st century technology.
· DreamSpark. Free access to Microsoft designer and developer
tools for students and educators, helping advance key technical skills
during the high school and college years, a critical time in a student's
development.
· Imagine Cup. The world's premier youth technology competition,
which challenges students to apply their knowledge and passion to
develop technical solutions for social impact, to develop engaging
games, and to demonstrate innovation that can benefit others, local
communities and the world.
· Students to Business. A program that matches university students with jobs or internships in the technology industry.
· BizSpark. A software startup program, providing young
entrepreneurs with access to Microsoft software development tools and
connections with key industry players, including investors, to help them
start a new business.
· Employability Portals. An all-inclusive platform that links
users - who wish to plan their career, get career advisory, acquire
training, build their capacity, apply for jobs and internships - with
customized resources, counselors, mentors and jobs.
Another example is Microsoft's Build Your Business programme, a
comprehensive and inter-active training course designed to support
aspiring and emerging entrepreneurs. David Arkless, Manpower Group's
President of Corporate and Government Affairs, says, "Start-ups and
small businesses are the backbone of Africa's economy, and this learning
course will encourage aspiring entrepreneurs to take the leap to set up
a business venture. We are committed to helping new small businesses
get off the ground and provide them with the skills to deal with the
rigors of competition and day-to-day business tasks."
"We are committed to using our technology, talent, time and money to
help create sustainable growth across the African continent," says
Bakhshandegi. "Microsoft YouthSpark is not just about enhancing young
people's digital skills. Rather it is about helping young people having a
more balanced set of skills that is required in today's very
competitive work environment."
from itnewsafrica.com
