Youth Workforce Development

Intern with an organization that aims to improve the lives of young people by creating lasting solutions to youth unemployment. Their non-formal education programs and activities focus on youth empowerment and employment, volunteerism, gender equality, social innovation and entrepreneurship, environmental protection, and healthy lifestyles.

The host organization aims to spearhead the transition of youth from the societal challenges they face to an emphasis on the opportunities that exist to help them reach a better quality of life in Uganda. While youth unemployment is a national issue, they seek solutions at the local level by equipping young people with the tools and soft skills necessary to become entrepreneurs, build profitable income-generating businesses and social enterprises. The organization hopes to build a new generation of creative problem solvers, critical thinkers, and engaged young people with an entrepreneurial spirit and a positive mind-set.

While 78% of Uganda’s population is under the age of 30, over 50% is under the age of 15 and 37% under the age of ten. Over 80% of youth under 30 are unemployed or underemployed. According to Norwegian political scientist, Henrik Urdal, high rates of youth unemployment among large and growing youth populations creates a “youth bulge” and can be an indicator of a nation’s current or potential vulnerability for conflict, extremism, and civil strife. This underlines the need to pay careful attention to workforce training programs that provide youth with the tools and skills that will help them create businesses and jobs that fit the needs of the communities in which they reside.

Through its workforce training approach, the organization will equip local youth with needed skills, a positive and optimistic mindset and love of self, and the skills to communicate those capabilities to their colleagues, customers, or employers leading ultimately to satisfaction and success in the work place, good health, and prosperity.