More than 150 female graduate students from 24 universities across Kenya have been selected for the EmployMentor programme which started yesterday.
The plan is a partnership between Microsoft Corp, its 4Afrika Initiative and African Centre for Women in Information and Communications Technology to promote skills development and job placement for young female graduates in technology and business.
The programe consists of one-on-one Skype sessions and on-the-field EmployMentor weekly training. The Skype component will demonstrate the effective utilisation of technology to gain information worker knowledge for 20 of the mentees for eight months.
Microsoft Kenya Country Manager Kunle Awosika noted that unemployment is a challenge for many youths, and initiatives such as EmployMentor coul bridge the skills gap between academia and the working world.
Local innovation
“Through the 4Afrika Initiative, Microsoft aims to play an active role in the evolution of Africa from a labour-based economy to a knowledge economy, by empowering local innovation, up-skilling youth with 21st century ICT skills and providing Internet access,” he said.
The candidates would benefit from a combination of Microsoft’s skilled talent base and Microsoft finance mentors around the world. Already through the MySkills4Afrika programme, Microsoft employees are volunteering their time and talent to provide personalised mentorships in several countries across the continent, while gaining a better understanding of African markets.
During the EmployMentor week, all participants are expected to engage in exciting mock interview and business case challenges, coupled with financial-modelling training that would help them experience a real-world business pitch and interview scenario.
This could also lead to a position at Microsoft. In addition, a mobile app development and guest speaker series would be included. Skills training, content development would be given through Kenyan Employability Portal and Tukoworks.
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