Future Forward: Youth Innovations for Employment in Africa challenge

THE CHALLENGE:

Ashoka and The MasterCard Foundation have launched the Future Forward: Youth Innovations for Employment in Africa challenge to find the next generation of changemakers with bold new ideas and projects - for young people by young people - that will increase employment opportunities in Africa.

We’re looking for young people, between the ages of 18-30, from sub-Saharan Africa to join this community and share their solution that is tackling youth employment issues. Top entrants, who submit their solution by the early entry deadline of October 15th or the final entry deadline of November 5, 2014, will be eligible for prizes including a monetary prize and an all-expenses-paid trip to the Ashoka Globalizer Summit in South Africa. At this Summit, winners will be connected to other innovators, partners, and investors, in addition to receiving mentorship and training to help their ideas and projects grow.

HELP FIND THE NEXT GENERATION OF CHANGEMAKERS:


We are reaching out to you because we are keen to create a network of innovators and partners. If you know of any individuals or organizations that would be a good fit for this challenge please reach out to my colleague Lauren Parnell Marino (lmarino@ashoka.org).

Help spread the word – attached you can find language that you could use to spread the word on your social media accounts, newsletters, and blogs. You can also help to spread the word using the attached e-card (for email and for facebook/twitter), or by joining the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #AfricaYouthFwd.

JOIN THE ONGOING CONVERSATION – Webinar on November 4th 8am ET:

We invite you to share insights in a dynamic ongoing online conversation which features disruptive solutions and innovations for youth employment in Africa. Catch up with past online panel conversations, blog series, twitter chats and youth insights here.

You can also join the conversation during the upcoming webinar in the ongoing webinar series. The next one will take place on November 4th at 8am ET. You can join the conversation on twitter using the hashtag #AfricaYouthFwd.

​Tweet to announce the webinar:
Shattering Myths and Talking Trends in Youth Employment Innovations. Let's discuss on 11/4! http://bit.ly/nov4ayf @Ashoka @changemakers

STAY TUNED

We’ll be developing an innovation guide and a toolkit to provide tips and other practical advice that equip people with the how-to’s for developing impactful solutions for youth employment. In the meantime, sign up for our listserv. And be sure to read about solutions, get to know innovators, and stay informed about the upcoming opportunities to engage at changemakers.com/futureforward.

"Having the right mindset and networking usurp talents in you." - Andrew Mahiga

"Before letting into a little bit about myself and my work, I’d like to share a life lesson that is something that I hope we as young people come to realize rather sooner than later. I also don’t want what I write afterwards to influence your perception of who I am and what I’m doing. As Tanzanians specifically, and Africans in general, we tend to quickly accept our fate – our situations at face value. We tend to pass the buck to people, things and situations – environments we grew in, schools we went to and situations. That type of thinking is very dangerous to ourselves and to the people around us. Everybody has personal battles which have nothing to do with the above mentioned circumstances.


I am Andrew Mahiga, Managing Director of Maanisha! (www.maanisha.co.tz). I was born in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania and moved around the world soon after. I studied at Olympio Primary School in Upanga for 1st Grade then moved to Greenacres Boarding School in Kenya for 2nd Grade. My mother was awarded a Master’s degree scholarship to study in Australia. Subsequently, I completed my 3rd to 5th grades in Australia.

I returned to Tanzania to complete 6th and 7th Grades before going to Swaziland (Southern Africa) for 5 years of high school. My university education was in The City College of New York (U.S.A). I received a Bachelor’s Degree in International Studies. University period was probably the most important time in my life. Not only did I discover my passion, but I also discovered myself – what made me happy, what made me sad, how I acted around people etc.


My globe trotting exposed to different cultures and mindsets with people around me influencing my perception. I developed a passion for marketing, media (and social media), advertising, fashion and branding.


So that is where I began volunteering and interning while studying and realized success has more to do with whom you associate with from whose brains you can pick up something."

Read the rest of the article here.