Duwa M. Mutharika, MSc’s Post

Why Think Africa specifically champions economic empowerment for the African Diaspora! In Finland, the African diaspora faces a stark reality: lower employment rates and concentration in certain occupations despite diverse educational qualifications. This is where the work of Think Africa steps in, focusing on economic empowerment as a key pillar for our activities. The Challenge 📈: - Those born in Africa experience lower employment rates compared to other groups, with an employment rate of 74.97% versus 80.24% (those born in Asia), 85.54% (born in America), 85.23% (born in the rest of Europe), and 91.31% (born in Finland) - Many are employed in a few sectors. - Access to resources and networks can be restricted, hindering career advancement. Think Africa's Response centers around four pillars: - Employment: Facilitating access to employment opportunities - Entrepreneurship: Providing support to create own economic opportunities - Freelance: Providing means to supplement one’s income and utilise one’s skills. - Volunteering and internships: Providing avenues to improve one’s portfolio, networks, and skills Want to be part of driving our mission? Become a member or partner -> www.thinkafrica.fi #ThinkAfrica #ThinkCareer #EconomicEmpowerment #Diaspora #Mentorship #Opportunity #Success #Finland #Africa

This is one of the many reasons I still actively volunteer at Think Africa ry ... As the data shows, there is still a lot for us to do,🙌 Check out the visualisation for more insights 👇 #DataInsights #statisticsfinland #tableau

Tackling Youth Unemployment in South Africa     Addressing youth unemployment in South Africa requires a multifaceted approach. Here are key strategies:     ⭐ Education and Skills Training:   Curriculum Reform: Align with job market demands, emphasizing STEM subjects.   Vocational Training: Expand through public-private partnerships.   Apprenticeships and Internships: Promote real-world experience.     ⭐ Entrepreneurship Support:   Incubators and Accelerators: Support startups with funding and mentorship. Access to Finance: Provide grants, low-interest loans, and venture capital.     ⭐ Public-Private Partnerships:   Corporate Involvement: Encourage internships, mentorship, and skills development.     ⭐ Promote Digital and Remote Work:   Digital Skills Training: Prepare for remote and tech-based jobs.   Remote Work Opportunities: Develop infrastructure for global job market access.     ⭐ Community and NGO Initiatives:   Community Programs: Provide career guidance and job placement services. NGO Partnerships: Focus on youth development and employment.     ⭐ Address Social Barriers:   Transport and Connectivity: Improve access to education and job opportunities.   Awareness Campaigns: Promote hiring of young workers.     ⭐ Monitor and Evaluate:   Data Collection: Analyze youth employment trends for informed policy decisions.     Implementing these strategies can create a supportive environment for young people, reducing unemployment and driving economic growth.     #YouthUnemployment #SouthAfrica #EmploymentStrategies #TheSkillsMine #EconomicGrowth 

2nd interview in a three-year period, regarding our Employability Training Initiative, Employability Africa (My answers haven't changed much, I just look a little bit older 😊) For graduate: > A university degree is just a foundation, it is about the specific skills that you can bring to the employer in the role that you have applied for. >Global opportunities are already open for candidates from Africa, so don't limit yourself as to where you can work For Parents: >Take your kids to workplaces as early as possible. Let them get to know what you do and what it entails. >If you are a business owner involve your children in the business. Let them pick up calls and sell some of your products. Thank you Bibliotheca Alexandrina 🙏 #employabilityafrica #sckonsult

🌍 The Talent Paradox: 12 Million Africans vs. 3 Million Jobs🌍 Last week was the first Africa Skills Week. It was clear that we are in a dilemma. Every year, a staggering 12 million young Africans enter the job market, yet only 3 million formal jobs await them. This glaring disparity raises a crucial question: Are we truly preparing our youth for the future? In a world that increasingly values innovation, adaptability, and digital skills, we find ourselves at a crossroads. The current education system, often rooted in outdated frameworks, is failing to equip our young minds with the tools they need to thrive in the 21st century. 💡 What Does This Mean for Africa? It means we have an opportunity—an urgent call to action. We must invest in relevant education that focuses on critical thinking, creativity, and technology. We can transform Africa into the skills powerhouse of the world. Imagine a continent where every young person is not just job-ready but innovation-ready, equipped to create jobs rather than merely compete for them. This is not just about filling jobs; it's about empowering a generation to drive change, innovate, and contribute to the global economy. 📈Investment in Education Must Be Strategic: 1. Embrace Technology: Integrate digital literacy and coding into the curriculum from an early age. 2. Promote Entrepreneurship: Encourage entrepreneurial thinking to foster job creation and self-sufficiency. 3. Focus on Lifelong Learning: Develop a culture of continuous education that adapts to evolving market demands. The world is watching, and the time for action is now. Let’s harness our collective potential and ensure that Africa’s youth are not just participants in the global workforce but leaders shaping its future. #AfricaRising #AfricanUnion #EducationReform #SkillsDevelopment #Innovation #EmpowerYouth Huguette Umutoni Primrose Adjepong

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🌍 Addressing the Limited Opportunities for Young African Professionals 🌍 As young professionals navigating the job marketplace in Africa, many of you are all too familiar with the challenges you face in accessing career opportunities. In fact, over 50% of young professionals polled in my recent LinkedIn survey cited lack of opportunity as the biggest challenge they face in Africa. Despite your talents and ambitions, the job landscape often feels like an uphill battle, with limited openings and stiff competition. But amidst these challenges lies an opportunity for change. So, what can you do to overcome the hurdles and create a brighter future for yourselves and the next generation of African professionals? 1. Invest in Skills Development: Let's invest in education and skills development initiatives tailored to our needs. By enhancing your expertise and practical skills, you can make yourself more competitive in the job market and seize opportunities for growth. 2. Embrace Entrepreneurship: Entrepreneurship offers another pathway to success. Let's embrace innovation and explore entrepreneurial ventures that not only create jobs but also drive economic growth across the continent. 3. Advocate for Inclusion: We must advocate for diversity and inclusion in the workplace, ensuring that opportunities are accessible to individuals from all backgrounds. By fostering inclusive environments, we can unlock the full potential of our diverse talent pool. 4. Push for Policy Reform: Let's push for policy reforms that support job creation and youth development. By working with policymakers and stakeholders, we can enact positive change that benefits us all. 5. Leverage Networking and Mentorship: Building strong networks and seeking mentorship from experienced professionals can make a world of difference. Let's leverage the power of networking platforms and mentorship programs to open doors and advance your careers. Together, we can overcome the challenges and create a future where opportunities abound for young African professionals. What solutions do you believe are most effective in addressing these challenges? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and let's continue the conversation. #AfricanProfessionals #JobOpportunities #YouthEmpowerment #CareerDevelopment #SolutionFocused #Youngprofessionals

LinkedIn Myths Were Busted Today! Just spent the last hour and a half, LIVE with +241 students, graduates, staff and faculty members of Vega School. We looked at the top 10 common misconceptions that often circulate about LinkedIn; and we debunked these common misconceptions about how the platform works or how it should be used. The recording will be made available to +600 South African students who have have access to LinkedIn for Learning for getting in demand #skills that enhance their chances of being employed or succeeding as #entrepreneurs! There is no doubt in my mind that nothing is more rewarding than enabling, empowering, and engaging the employees, leaders, and employers of tomorrow! By investing our time and resources in their growth and development, we are not only shaping a better future for South Africa 🇿🇦 but also for the world at large Together, we can create an environment where everyone thrives and reaches their full potential. Together, we can create the Africa we want and need! 🚀 InMail me for how we can help your African #academic institution have successful student outcomes! #jobs #college #jobseekers #careerservices #maketime4learning #linkedin #university #employability #skills4jobs #careers #eachoneteachone #linkedinlife #itstime2shine 🌍

Tips for a Young African interested in growing a solid career I'm a witness to how challenging it is to grow a career in Africa. Even so, it's not impossible to bag your dream career because there are so many opportunities and tools available for you Africa is brimming and boiling with opportunities and Africa needs You now more than ever On my journey to career growth, this is what I'm doing to achieve my career goals in 2024 1. I have wholeheartedly embraced lifelong learning. I'm continuously upskilling and Reskilling to stay relevant in the job market. Relying solely on a degree is no longer enough. Through books, podcasts, YouTube, online learning platforms, and MENTORSHIP you can live from average to master sharply. 2.Getting out of my shelf to Build a strong network. Personal relationships will open doors your resume would never. Actively networking Online and offline 3. I fall in love with the internet every day. From its endless knowledge and opportunities to its profitability. 4. I'm proactively seeking opportunities. That is taking the initiative to volunteer, contribute to side projects, and reach out to the people I admire expressing my desire to learn from them. 5. Im developing a global mindset with a local focus(Cameroon) by staying aware of global trends in my industry and interested in topics and activities, brainstorming on how they can be applied. Having a Pan-African approach and understanding how my skills can benefit other African countries and beyond. 6. Cultivating Soft skills. Bonus. Taking special attention to my health. #careerdevelopment #growthtips #youngAfrican

CLARITY IS WHERE WE START OUR CAREER JOURNEY NOT SKILLS. Typically, we start from the end—technical skills. How so? More often than not, what we are trained in in school or vocational are technical/hard skills. The skills of lawyering, being a medical doctor, being a content creator, or web developer are technical or complex. These skills we acquire are what we assume will lead to earning. Unfortunately, technology and times changed the balance of the equation. We need other things such as Soft skills, Clarity, and #Digital #skills first to get the job before we can earn from it. Given the emerging trends and technology, what we are used to is no longer valid; many people are thrown into the workforce after knowledge acquisition without CLARITY on what to do with it. We at I-Train Africa did an immersive 3-year research and testing to understand Africa's employability problem and introduced a solution: Skilled For Work. Skilled For Work is a Finishing school for #youths & #women starting their careers/transitioning who hope to gain in-demand workplace skills to become globally employable. We have found that despite a sizable number of youths across Africa now knowing they should acquire skills to complement their knowledge, they still have the problem of "CLARITY" on which type of skills for which kind of work. We have now developed a holistic approach to ensure #CLARITY COMES FIRST. At the academy, we already have five lessons making up module 1 of the workplace foundational skills program: The CLARITY MODULE, accessible for FREE to all Africans. (clarity module only). To ensure we are not talking theory, we are introducing the CAREER CLARITY SERIES: A LinkedIn Event Series For African Youths & Women Starting Their Careers Or Transitioning. We will be Drawing Insight From Professionals, Industry Experts, & Academics every Thur at 5 pm (WAT) Save the 📆 date. Join us on the I-Train Africa LinkedIn page this week as we hear from Latifah Lawal, A seasoned professional with 14+ years of experience across the telecommunication, banking, and agricultural sectors. The topic "HOW I LANDED MY FIRST JOB" Latifah Aitse Lawal, MNIM., an Agric business specialist at NIRSAL, will bear her heart on how she started as a customer support at MTN Nigeria and now navigates her career at the management level at NIRSAL Plc . Do not start that journey without being CLEAR. JOIN US AND INVITE A FRIEND who needs career CLARITY as a beginner or middle-level professional.