Rwanda is set to host the inaugural continental YouthConnekt Africa
Summit that’s expected to draw more than 2,500 delegates from across the
continent to discuss the future of Africa’s youth.
This is the first ever continental edition of the YouthConnekt
initiative, and the idea is to bring together different youths to
showcase the potential of Africa’s youth and the available
opportunities.
The initiative has been running in the country for the last five
years, mostly recognising the role of the youth in leadership and
entrepreneurship, but also giving a platform to young people to
deliberate on what the future holds.
The initiative was launched in 2012 by the Government of Rwanda in collaboration with One UN Rwanda.
According to the Youth and ICT Minister, Jean Philbert Nsengimana, the concept was developed as solution to youth problems.
“We had the first YouthConnekt Convention back in 2012 when we
gathered over 3,000 youth from across the country, and in 2013 we
started building partnerships to make the programme bigger. The whole
idea was out of the belief that this was the solution to issues that
young people were facing,” he told The New Times.
Nsengimana also said that, during the last five years, the programme
has given a platform to young people to participate in leadership and
business related conversations, which he believes are important in
changing and shaping their mindset.
“YouthConnekt has opened doors for young people to participate in
most of the national dialogues especially those that strengthen peace
building and reconciliation. I believe it is important for young people
to participate in dialogues because they can be inspired and motivated
to act,” he noted.
Today, YouthConnekt has grown to constitute YouthConnekt Convention,
YouthConnekt Dialogue and YouthConnekt Awards, all of which have a focus
on economic empowerment.
The minister said the initiative combines elements of skills
development, entrepreneurship, access to finance, and awareness on
issues related to youth development.
This is demonstrated through the impact that the initiative has made
over the years. For instance, through its different components, the
programme has reached over 4 million youth who have been directly
involved in both decision-making and economic empowerment.
“The businesses we have supported have generated around 4,000
off-farm jobs, and these are numbers we track individually in all
districts. We award them, we encourage them and they grow,” he said.
Stephen Rodrigues, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
country director, said supporting such youth initiatives helps them
realise their potential and contribute to the country’s development.
“It is not just about investing in young people, but also creating
space for their ideas, their innovations, their creativity and energy. A
young person who is educated, skilled, healthy, self-confident, engaged
and who has positive values and attitudes can be a tremendous asset to
the development of their community and their country,” he opined.
He added that having been associated with the programme means that
they understand the impact that such initiatives can have on
transforming the lives of young people in many ways.
“YouthConnekt helps to open doors for young people in many ways. It
helps young people find or create their own jobs, start new businesses,
find apprenticeships, and participate in policy discussions,” he
explained.
This week’s summit is expected to also attract the world’s leading
entrepreneurs including Chinese billionaire Jack Ma, one of the world’s
leading entrepreneurs, the founder and executive chairman of Alibaba
Group. Renowned American singer Akon, born Aliaume Damala Badara Thiam,
an impact investor and co- Founder of Akon lighting Africa, is also
among the speakers at the summit.
Africa’s leading billionaires, Tony Elumelu, Aliko Dangote, and Strive Masiyiwa, among others, will also attend.
This, according to the minister, presents enormous opportunities for
youth participants with proven ideas to network and purse partnerships,
but it also an excitement for young people to see how they can turn
challenges they face into opportunities.
How it has empowered youth
Jean-Bosco Nzeyimana is one of the beneficiaries of the programme. In
2014, he won a YouthConnekt Award by Young Entrepreneurs. A few months
later, he was among the top 10 Young Achievers organised by Imbuto
Foundation.
Nzeyimana was two years later part of a five-member panel that
included the former US president Barack Obama, and Mark Zuckerberg, the
founder and CEO of the social networking site, Facebook.
“It is through the YouthConnect initiative that I opened my mind and
formed new networks. I think the whole idea of the initiative
contributes to changing the perception that the young people have
towards entrepreneurship and business. I have been connected to a wide
range of other entrepreneurs through this platform,” he said.
Nzeyimana is the founder of Habona Limited, a company that produces
affordable and eco-friendly biogas fuel from environmental waste. His
company is based in Nyamagabe District.
Basically, the programme helps youth like Nzeyimana to realise their
potential and help raise awareness on issues related to youth
development.
Musanze-based science teacher and budding entrepreneur, Cephas
Nshimyumuremyi, is another beneficiary who speaks much about the role
that the programme has played.
“I must say the whole programme has helped me improve significantly.
The confidence I gained throughout the journey, the experience, and the
exposure is what every upcoming entrepreneur needs,” he says.
Nshimyumuremyi adds that the initiative didn’t just help him to
secure financial support but also critical skills and exposure to the
media and potential clients.
“Through the programme, we acquire skills and knowledge about running
business. The marketing and sales skills, management, crafting business
models and proposals, and how to attract customers,” he said.
He was among the YouthConnekt champions in 2013. He scooped Rwf3
million, which helped him to expand his then five-month business.
Nshimyumuremyi runs Uburanga Products Ltd producing anti-bacterial
products, including herbal soaps and jellies. Last year, he was also
part of the winners of Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship
Programme.
These are some of the stories that represent a big picture of how the
programme has been benefitting the youth. The programme continues to
offer training, and connect entrepreneurs to financial institutions.
Scaling up the initiative
Based on the success and impact of YouthConnekt on Rwandan youth, 14
African countries expressed their interest to adopt and implement the
YouthConnekt programme following a regional workshop that Rwanda hosted
in September 2015.
Three countries (Uganda, Liberia & Republic of Congo) have
already launched their own YouthConnekt chapters and others are planning
to follow.
YouthConnekt Africa aims at creating 10 million jobs and 1 million youth leaders by 2020.
Officials say that they want to leave the conference with not just commitment, but with a clear plan that will be implemented.
“The conference is only a means to an end. We want to see new
partnerships, new funding, new programmes, and new opportunities created
for young people,” Rodrigues said.
This week’s YouthConnekt Africa Summit is being organised in
collaboration with UNDP and UNCTAD, and will be held from July 19 – 21
under the theme, “From Potential to Success.”
The highlight will be the launch of the ‘YouthConnekt Africa Hub’ and the ‘YouthConnekt Africa Empowerment Fund’.
New Times
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