Tech - Microsoft To Engage 300 Million African Youth
As an intervention strategy to create economic opportunities for 300 million youth over the next three years in Africa, the global software ...
http://www.africaeagle.com/2013/02/tech-microsoft-to-engage-300-million.html
As an intervention strategy to create economic opportunities for 300 million youth over the next three years in Africa, the global software giant, Microsoft Corp has announced its ongoing commitment to driving opportunities for African youth through its Youth Spark initiative.
This is also to tackle unemployment on the African continent even with almost 200 million people aged between 15 and 24 in Africa youth community representing more than 60 per cent of the continent's total population and accounts for 45 per cent of its growing labour force.
YouthSpark, according to Microsoft is a global initiative that aims to create opportunities for 300 million youth in more than 100 countries during the next three years.
This company wide initiative includes Corporate Social Investment (CSI) and other company programs both new and enhanced , empowering youth to imagine and realise their full potential by connecting them with greater opportunities for education, employment and entrepreneurship.
"It is a sad reality that while young Africans are more literate than their parents, more of them remain unemployed," Djam Bakhshandegi, CSI Program Manager at Microsoft in Africa, said, adding that, "At the core of our YouthSpark and other CSI activities is our belief that relevant innovation holds the key to unlocking the answers to our most pressing challenges in the region.
"Through YouthSpark, in sub-Saharan Africa alone, we have already reached over half a million young people and made $1.1 million worth of software donations to non-Government-organisations. In addition we have trained almost 30, 000 teachers through our Partners In Learning tools as well as equipping hundreds of small & medium businesses with relevant start up skills"
As part of its broader strategy, he said that Microsoft views Africa as a critical investment market. Its flagship African investment and growth drive, 4Afrika, which YouthSpark falls under on the African continent, was launched in February 2013.
"YouthSpark forms part of this 4Afrika vision and through YouthSpark, we are paying specific attention to the next generation of our ecosystem through our work with schools, students, start-ups and the developer community to drive skills and ICT integration which will in turn trigger growth."
YouthSpark, according to Microsoft is a global initiative that aims to create opportunities for 300 million youth in more than 100 countries during the next three years.
This company wide initiative includes Corporate Social Investment (CSI) and other company programs both new and enhanced , empowering youth to imagine and realise their full potential by connecting them with greater opportunities for education, employment and entrepreneurship.
"It is a sad reality that while young Africans are more literate than their parents, more of them remain unemployed," Djam Bakhshandegi, CSI Program Manager at Microsoft in Africa, said, adding that, "At the core of our YouthSpark and other CSI activities is our belief that relevant innovation holds the key to unlocking the answers to our most pressing challenges in the region.
"Through YouthSpark, in sub-Saharan Africa alone, we have already reached over half a million young people and made $1.1 million worth of software donations to non-Government-organisations. In addition we have trained almost 30, 000 teachers through our Partners In Learning tools as well as equipping hundreds of small & medium businesses with relevant start up skills"
As part of its broader strategy, he said that Microsoft views Africa as a critical investment market. Its flagship African investment and growth drive, 4Afrika, which YouthSpark falls under on the African continent, was launched in February 2013.
"YouthSpark forms part of this 4Afrika vision and through YouthSpark, we are paying specific attention to the next generation of our ecosystem through our work with schools, students, start-ups and the developer community to drive skills and ICT integration which will in turn trigger growth."
