Work, leverage, and leadership for poor urban youth

Hi Anna,
Great experience. Bangladesh context looks somehow similar to Egypt in terms of the rate of school drop outs. However, as you explained in the article, high education is not the answer for the poverty problems. In Chittagong and with the corporate responsibility concept of a company like Taratari, the people started to get vocational and practical education, generating money and learn more about their capacities as well as learning new life-skills. I would like to ask you about the gender perspective, do such initiatives as this one managed by Caritas considering Bangladeshi women within such project? or are there are other similar initiatives for women?
Thank you!

I'm happy to know about Kranti and the amazing work they do. I admire very much the approach of the institution, the fact that they not only prepare the girls technically, not only provide skills training so these girls will have better prospects inserted professionally in Mumbai's reality, but encourage them to transform this reality, to outline completely new and revolutionary perspectives, to see and fight for opportunities often inconceivable for those inserted in their context, or viewed with disbelief. I find it very significant that they see that the difficult background and life experiences these girls have faced have a unique transformative potential, particularly strong and innovative, and encourage them to use it, each one with their individual capabilities and togehter, as a collective power. As Kranti says, "girls who have faced marginalization and discrimination bring added value the leaders and agents of change, not despite their backgrounds, but because of their backgrounds. Our girls are, therefore, revolutionaries". I'm sure they can be!

Hello Andréa
That was very interesting for me to hear how people try to solve their problem without waiting for Government. High degree of solidarity is a sign of social intelligence and understanding among these people, despite maybe one said that residents of informal settlement have less coherency. But my question is how this project financially prepared? and what local problem have been solved by the platform?
thank you so much

Entrepreneurship seems to be the buzz word of the day, almost to the extent of being put forward as panacea for youth unemployment. That's why I found Shaima's feature about the Sawiris Foundation’s projects refreshing, as the Foundation focuses on a number of different aspects of the labour market; they train people for garment factories, for the electronics sector, and to become entrepreneurs. The combination is important, as not everyone can or should be an entrepreneur, just like not everyone can or should be factory worker or a government employee. Sure, entrepreneurship is important, but it shouldn't be promoted in lieu of careful analysis of the labour market and identification sectors needing skilled employees. In addition to developing new entrepreneurs, employment initiatives should also be looking at meeting existing demand. Unfortunately, that's rarely as 'sexy' as looking for the next bright-young-thing with an idea for a start-up...

Hi, Maryam,

I'm glad you liked it (and just to confirm, you are talking about last month article, the one about Vila Torres Digital, right? :)). Yes, each day I believe more in the transformative power of the civil society organized. The ideal, of course, is that the government work together with civil society and with the private sector, but in Brazil the bureaucracy is enormous and there's a lot of corruption, so it's better not to wait and take initiatives somehow.

In this case, the first thing accomplished was the access to technology: 800 people now have access to the internet and to computers (at least at the school and in the Mothers Club headquarters - they are looking for some donations to, somehow, share some computers in the houses of the residents). With the consequent construction of the online platform, these people really incorporated the use of the internet in their routines, they are continually accessing the site to become aware of social actions that are developed in the neighborhood, free courses, joint efforts for cleaning ... The inclusion digital, for many, really happened.

About the online platform itself, according to the residents, problems are solved every day. Now that they can follow what's being done in the neighborhood, now that they have access to information, they can participate in a practical way, to articulate theyselves. For example, many woman who didn't know the activities run by the Mothers Club, now can sign up and participate - a workshop that teaches residents to make bags with discarded banners (a project focused on education and income) have doubled of participants. Some young people who were idle in the streets, now spend their afternoons producing the radio shows that are aired in the site, having access to a mixer and technical equipment they did not know before. The free courses offered (there are many, from computer classes to dancing) have much larger membership. When I was researching, there was a post about a huge tree that had fallen a few days before and the community were organizing themselves online to go to speak to the city hall about this, which is a current problem.

Speaking of technology, which was our focus, through the website (that now they can use at home), the neighborhood residents were able to see the mothers club dependencies and now use the area, where they have access to sewing machines, cameras, computers... and constant workshops that teach how to use this technology, all the equipments. That's the case of the bags workshop and the radio mixer I've just mentioned. Besides that, because of this initiative, the students of Manoel Ribas State School will now have pedagogical support in technology by the Federal University of Paraná.

The tricky part is that this project is funded by social workers who do not earn a financial return in exchange. The internet is provided by a company (in a very low rate for them, they have no intention of stopping), the communication is organized by a company that also receives no money in return (is a large agency, which has many large bills, so they can maintain the site for free with a small part of their profit that comes from the other clients) and the mothers are organized autonomously and don't get any money to do that. They built their headquarters gradually, with donations, and continue the work like this, going after outside support. They produce objects and events that have sales return, but most of themothers work in other places, have salaries... they committed to the community by love. At the moment one of these parts fails, the project does not move anymore. But now that it's been run successfully for a long time, it's easier to ask for support to the government. That's the thing: the project depends on the love, good will and solidarity of some people.

Hi Carlin
That really shows a lot. At the same team, promoting autonomy, independence (that woman, for example, is so happy she can work with her own hands and make a living from it), can be the beginning of that change of mentality, can be the first step so people can see new perspectives and them fight for opportunities :) Of course, that's rare if it's not combine with other actions, like valuing people, stimulating creative thinking... I'm glad too that the projects happening in Nairobi are going in this direction now!

This month provide interesting cases that seem replicable for other cities. Youth are indeed needed to be empowered. Failure to see them as potential will disadvantage city and even one country. Demography surplus as Indonesia experiencing at the moment is actually the right time to put more attention to youth development. Hence, these cases that each city brings attract me to share with colleagues here especially to those who have power to make decision.

Cases such as Bogota and Mexico shows that education scheme given is beneficial for them because these institutions do not only provided skills but also provide market for their skills. There are many government or non-government institutions realize the need to empower youth but often fails to see what beyond that. Some programs stop at giving education and surviving skills but do not actually help how to find market for their skills. Talent pool by Inroads was a great idea to introduce the youth to the world of private business. besides that of course there is an issue of financial for the youth who wants to open business and how the bank of non bank institutions help these youth to start up their business. that would be different area to discuss about. However, i think we really has the same understanding that youth especially those are in disadvantage situation are actually agent of shane, if they are given the same opportunity as other

The lack of performance of MSMEs represent anything that Senegal 90% of businesses who are concentrated in the capital. There are no big company in African countries that help absorb some of the young graduates who represent over 400 000 per year in Senegal . Drought in rural areas mark the stop work in the fields which are the main sources of income for farmers and allows survival of the family. This vulnerable segment of the population ( peasants) represents over 60 % of the African population. Since the exodus from rural areas to the city is the solution for young people. Thus , the capital of Senegal is Dakar in particular and in general African cities become the " El Dorado " of illiterate rural youth. Young unemployed , illiterate , African cities and become the problem source of African governments.

In the 21 century , to solve the problem in youth work, it is necessary to go through ICTs . Africa must be transformed into a technology hub. African introduce young people to new technologies so they can develop their creativity and to respond to their personal and environmental need . ICT is the only way to allow young people to get by and with little means , one can set up its own business. Currently , centers of initiation to ICTs must be provided in African governments' development programs.

Joinafric is a caring young structure of their future with perfect knowledge of their own problem, and who works in this launched to provide solutions based on ICTs to address the multiple problems of young people for leadership , entrepreneurship, business creation.

Joinafric , united youth.

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The problems of urban youth are summed up in precarious employment, unemployment.

The job insecurity concerns more young people from rural and unfavorable environments without any training beforehand. Unemployment is compounded by the lack of performance of MSMEs which are a significant number in the underdeveloped countries. In Senegal, 90% of companies are MSMEs and bankruptcies that are less than 3 years.

In 21 centuries, the alternative youth to solve their problem is self employment through entrepreneurship in ICT. New technology is the youth perspective and that funding is low cost, and can create fairly significant added value. Young people can now self-employed and create long-term employment.

To realize this potential that ICTs, young government organization must all work together. African governements must imperatively include in their development agenda setting up introductory Youth ICT and at the same time help organizations develop structures dedicated to ICT development that will accompanied the young people in the creative process , setting up e development of their own business.

Joinafric is a structure formed by Senegalese youth to meet their need for funding their own business, support and monitoring of their structure.

Joinafric united youth.

Hi Felipe,

I thought of writing about Gastromotiva this month as well, the project has just arrived in Curitiba too, they are forming the first class. Good news, right? It's a great project :)