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.

Do you need a degree to be a leader?

Is university education a prerequisite for an elective post? Is secondary education enough?

Well, Parliament wants to ensure that the next cadre of leaders all have tertiary level education.

It is difficult for a politician to stand up in Parliament and defend people seeking elective posts but do not possess a university education.

This is because if the names of those voicing their dissent against the law were put on paper, there will be a strong correlation between not attending university and not supporting the requirement.

Their opponents, on the other hand, are driven by the zeal of the entitled and the accomplished, the sort of haughtiness you can only find in a meritocracy.

They believe that a university education entitles you to more than those who have not bothered to seek higher education.

It is a ludicrous view that spending time in a university expands the mind in any way. Studying for the sake of studying is well and truly dead.

Universities are meant to instil a set of skills that are convertible into gain in the market outside.

Your CV Does Not Define You

Whaaaat?! What are you talking about? Just a few months ago you told us to make sure that we present ourselves as best as can be done on our CVs and today you tell us that CVs aren’t everything? Didn’t you say that people get to see your CV before they see you and so it needs to be the best representation of you? Isn’t it true that without a CV with impressive educational, work experience and applicable skills information, I am nothing? I mean, besides pay, the whole reason why I go to work and pursue further education is to further build my CV.

What, pray tell, are you talking about?

My, aren’t we worked up? 

Knowledge is Not Enough for Business Success

This topic keeps resurfacing so I'd like to put it to you to comment on. My take is that it is time we debunked the myth that all we need is to "know" and that "knowledge", which, kwa wengi nilioongea nao, wanamaanisha "information", will take us to our highest high. Sikiliza, kunatofauti kubwa kati ya "literacy" na "education"....