Empowering Africa's Youth: LAPID's Journey of Change in 2023

As we bid farewell to another transformative year, we stand at the threshold of reflection, celebration, and anticipation.

The theme of "Rebirth" has guided us through this journey, symbolizing maturity, mastery, and the relentless pursuit of impactful change.

Unveiling the Journey: A Year of Rebirth

The imperative to empower and equip the youth for an ever-evolving world has continued to fuel our resolve. The challenges underscored by a recent report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics reveal a pressing need for transformative action.

Kenya's Youth: Navigating Challenges in a Changing Economy

A few years ago the Kenya's National Bureau of Statistics released a report that exposed a stark truth: nine out of ten unemployed Kenyans are under 35 years old. This sobering reality was compounded in the year by an economy struggling and the inflation soars. Kenyan women, particularly young women, experience higher rates of unemployment and underemployment compared to men.

A recent report by the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) spotlight a critical flaw in our education system. It highlighted that our education places undue emphasis on theoretical knowledge, neglecting innovation, experimentation, and entrepreneurial skills —the very skills identified as crucial by employers. Effective communication, critical thinking, teamwork, and time management are essential, yet the absence of these skills inhibits business expansion, revenue loss, and market share decline.

The report also identified leadership competence and skilled worker competence as crucial for the green shift, stressing the need for comprehensive skill development.

As we confront these challenges head-on, we recognize the urgent need for a paradigm shift in our approach to education and skills development.

Lapid Leaders Africa's Impact and Achievements in 2023

Our Flagship Programs: Nurturing Leaders, Creating Opportunities

In the face of these challenges, Lapid Leaders Africa remains unwavering in its commitment to shaping future leaders. This year, we witnessed an overwhelming response, with over 4,100 participants applying to join our flagship program. Four cohorts of our flagship program nurtured young leaders, while three cohorts of the Crossroads Program developed emerging leaders seeking to enhance their leadership skills.

Webinars That Inspire: Connecting Minds and Fostering Growth

Our commitment to knowledge dissemination continued through twenty impactful webinars, attended by 2,751 young and emerging leaders. From "Reinventing Your Brand for Success " with Kalekye Mumo to "Expand Your Horizons Through Networking " with Fareed Khimani, our webinars covered diverse, pertinent topics, benefiting our alumni and the broader community.

LinkedIn for Nonprofits: Amplifying Impact through Collaboration

Our partnership with LinkedIn for Nonprofits marked a significant milestone. Obtaining a LinkedIn Ads Grant boosted our visibility, reaching 23,000 followers and magnifying our impact. Alumni entrepreneurs authored thought-provoking articles, demonstrating the power of corporate partnerships in enhancing social impact. Among them was a beloved LinkedIn show called 'Ubuntu, ' providing a platform for our young leaders to discuss emerging issues affecting Africa.

Embracing Change: A Creative Generation in Action

We continue to embrace the creativity in our young people and celebrate them for actively seeking new income sources in the midst of significant challenges. A recent report highlights Kenya's leadership in TikTok usage, with young people leveraging content creation to open new career prospects.

Unleashing Creative Careers

We have always understood the need to unleash the creativity of our youth and enable them to build non-standard careers. We are now witnessing the our young leaders embrace what Sarah Ellis & Helen Tuper call "squiggly careers ."

They are now open-minded about various career paths. For instance, Lesley , a finance professional passionate about financial inclusion, embraced storytelling to complement her finance profession. James , a civil engineer interested in problem-solving, started a program that trains other engineers on design thinking skills. Nicole , an international development professional, transitioned to a career in communication.

Over the years, numerous young individuals, particularly young women , joined our program without an initial interest in entrepreneurship. However, our holistic approach has empowered them to transition into enterprising and successful emerging entrepreneurs.

Through our practical skills in the Lapid Leaders Council, many young people are building confidence and analytical skills to succeed in squiggly careers. They learn to organize, develop others, and coordinate roles within the organization.

Success Stories: Transformations Ignited by LAPID

When we started LAPID, we took a long-term view. We crafted a curriculum deeply attuned to the challenges young people face, which initially led to fewer participants. Through experimentation, this curriculum became transformative.

Now, we're witnessing the fruits of this endeavor.

LAPID is committed to imparting practical skills alongside theoretical knowledge for employability and entrepreneurship. Many, like Moimet , found jobs through cohort referrals through our intentional community building activities. Others, like Nawire , leveraged our personal narratives coaching to ace interviews, securing roles like teacher trainee. Euster swiftly rose from trainee to team leader at a top hospital due to honed leadership skills.

Building on Success, Addressing Challenges

As we celebrate these achievements, we acknowledge there is more work to be done. We haven't reached as many young people as we aspire to, and fundraising efforts will be a key focus to scale our programs. We're committed to building strong employer networks and supporting SMEs to access leading talent for business growth.

A Grateful Acknowledgment

Thank you for being part of this transformative journey. As we navigate the complexities of the world, your support fuels our commitment to creating a future where young leaders not only thrive but also drive impactful change.

Here's to a year of reflection, growth, and endless possibilities.