Structured mentorship key to enhancing youth employability

The job industry and academia work closely together in the industrialised world. [iStockphoto]

Young people are capable of accomplishing incredible things. However, this will remain a mirage if we don't equip them with the right skills and direction for navigating the dynamic job market.

In Kenya and Africa, the unemployment rate has been rapidly increasing. Numbers don't lie and recent data on unemployment among the youth should make anyone who cares to understand the scope of the problem uncomfortable.

By the end of 2021, the unemployment rate among youth in Africa was projected to hit 20.8 per cent by the International Labour Organisation. The figures might possibly increase this year.

We have failed to guide this generation towards making meaningful career decisions based on their passions and what they believe they are good at despite the fact that there are many underlying reasons why we are dealing with such a high unemployment rate in the 21st century in a nation whose population is largely made up of youth.

TembeQa youth mentoring programmes aim to address this issue. These programmes are created and delivered with the founder of a modern start-up, as well as current and upcoming workers, in mind.

These mentoring initiatives act as accelerators for our young people to reach their full potential at every stage of their careers.

According to World Bank research, there is a significant disconnect between what is taught at our schools and universities and what employers are looking for today. The graduates that our universities are producing do not match the skill sets that employers in the modern workplace are looking for.

Hold their hands

While millions of degree and diploma certificates are gathering dust in drawers and cupboards, many brilliant young brains are wasting away in rural areas.

Yet, these people could be leading meaningful lives and contributing to the growth of the country's GDP. All they need is someone to lead the way and hold their hands.

TembeQa is attempting to close this gap through regular mentoring sessions. Our pool of mentors is made up of industry executives and specialists from many fields. They understand the job industry dynamics and how to navigate them without falling off along the way.

The goal of empowering youth has never been and will never be simple. It calls for commitment, resources, and time. For those who believe in it, it is one of the most fruitful adventures they have ever undertaken.

There are millions of young individuals whose careers would soar with some kind of mentoring, yet there aren't enough mentors to meet the demand.

On the other hand, most of our universities lack the capacity to run sustainable mentorship programmes because of resource scarcity.

Even when the difficulties seem daunting, the beauty is in identifying solutions that challenge the conventional model of education.

With the help of technology, we have the chance to improve and revolutionise our educational institutions and establish deep connections with people around the world.

Our mentors actually have demanding schedules and are leaders and subject matter experts. We needed to come up with a plan that would benefit both - them and the numerous young people who are in need of access to their experience and knowledge. These sessions are delivered online. The mentees only need a smartphone and mobile data to get going.

When Covid-19 broke out in 2020, the entire world's attention went online. We learned a completely different method of functioning, picking up new abilities, and communicating with one another.

Although there are a lot of opportunities provided by the internet world, they are largely unexploited, particularly when it comes to youth and mentoring.

In order to connect with young people, who actually spend the majority of their time online, it is necessary to make use of digital opportunities. That necessitates a paradigm shift. We must be willing to administer our educational systems in a novel way.

The best method to guarantee that universities produce graduates who are prepared for the job market is to incorporate mentorship into the educational systems.

Pursue goals

The job industry and academia work closely together in the industrialised world. This idea is still being developed throughout Africa.

The Young African Leaders Initiative mentorship programme is a living example of how mentoring can change a person's perspective and inspire them to pursue their goals.

To ensure sustainability, the private sector can learn from YALI and base similar mentorship efforts on the same idea.

Youth empowerment is a necessity for nation-building. In one of his well-known quotes, former US President Barack Obama stated, "the future belongs to young people with an education and the imagination to create."