NEW ALLIANCE TO REDUCE UNEMPLOYMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN AFRICA

Nokia and USAID to Invest Over US$1.8 Million to Bring Innovative Job Training to Thousands in South Africa, Malawi, Mozambique and Rwanda

Johannesburg, RSA – International Youth Foundation officially launched the “Alliance for African Youth Employment” with the US Agency for International Development (USAID), Nokia, and Lions Clubs International Foundation.  Both USAID and Nokia have collectively committed over US$1.8 million to the initiative.  Building on the success of the “Make a Connection” program in South Africa, an alliance of global organizations will help young people in Africa develop skills and strengthen attitudes and behaviors so they can find and keep jobs, the International Youth Foundation (IYF) announced today.  Lions Clubs International will utilize its networks in Malawi and Rwanda to provide training, mentoring, and placements for the program participants, and to raise additional funds.

Over five years, the Alliance will promote employability and employment for more than 35,000 disadvantaged young people aged 14 to 29 living in rapidly urbanizing areas of South Africa, Malawi, Mozambique and Rwanda.  Young people will receive not only job training, but also career counseling, direct placement in internships and jobs, and the skills to create their own businesses.

“The Alliance addresses a crucial need—to engage youth economically by giving them the tools they need to find and keep jobs,” said IYF President and CEO David Hornbeck.  “This is an essential ingredient to engaging youth socially, and we feel it is vital, given that young people make up at least 30 percent of the population in this region.”

The Alliance will identify, strengthen and expand good practice programs in the four countries.  The “Make a Connection” program in South Africa serves as a model:  in its first three years, Make a Connection in South Africa has set a standard for comprehensive employability training that incorporates best practices in life skills, entrepreneurship, and information and communications technology (ICT) training.  “Make a Connection has secured jobs or internships for more than 65% of participants over three years,” said Ntutule Tshenye, CEO of the Youth Development Trust, which operates the program in South Africa.

“Through Make a Connection, we enable underserved South African young people to see and realize their potential,” said Nokia’s Senior Vice President of Marketing, Martin Sandelin, “and in the process empower them to get or create the jobs they want.”  Make a Connection (www.makeaconnection.org) is a joint initiative of IYF and Nokia, and operates in 17 countries.  To date, Nokia has invested over US$14 million in Make a Connection worldwide. 

The Alliance for African Youth Employment also draws on lessons learned from “entra 21,” the Global Development Alliance (USAID)-funded and IYF-led youth employment program for Latin America.  Entra 21’s experience in Latin America shows that successful programs meet a demonstrated demand in the job market, emphasize acquisition of life skills (e.g. communications, teamwork, leadership), and link training to job placement.

“By sharing good practices learned in South Africa with Malawi, Mozambique and Rwanda, this partnership with USAID improves young people’s ability to succeed," said Dirk Dijkerman, Director of USAID’s Mission in South Africa.  The USAID departments jointly funding the Alliance include the Global Development Alliance, the Office of Urban Programs, and the Bureau for Africa.

In each country, the Alliance is led by reputable national secretariats:  South Africa—Youth Development Trust; Malawi—Lions Clubs of Malawi; and Rwanda—Lions Clubs of Rwanda.  The secretariat in Mozambique will be chosen by July 2004.  These secretariats draw on networks of youth-serving organizations and training institutions, as well as business and government agencies such as Absa Bank, South African Management Development Institute, and the Department of Environmental Affairs, which provide internships and place graduates of the Alliance programs in jobs. 

About the Youth Development Trust

The Youth Development Trust (YDT) is one of the leading organizations in the provision of solutions to the youth sector in South Africa.  YDT’s mission is to act as a facilitative and responsive resource mobilizing and technical support foundation for positive development of youth.  More information about YDT’s programs can be found at www.ydt.co.za.

About the International Youth Foundation

The International Youth Foundation (IYF) is dedicated to supporting programs that improve the conditions and prospects for young people where they live, learn, work, and play.  Since its founding in 1990, IYF has worked with hundreds of companies, foundations, and non-governmental organizations to scale up existing programs and build long-term strategic partnerships.  Currently operating in nearly 60 countries and territories, IYF and its partners have helped millions of young people gain the skills, training and opportunities critical to their success.  More information on IYF can be found at www.iyfnet.org.

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Contact: Karen Diakun