Say yes to innovating with young people

Another week and more job seeking requests. By now I know the drill, after every graduation in Zambia, I get close to 200 job seeking requests. On a weekly basis, I have nearly 10 personal messages from young people looking for work opportunities. I am certain most of us in the work force do receive them (please don't delete those requests in your Inmail, forward them to me).

At my job in Lusaka, the number is obviously much higher. On a daily basis, I watch, at times chat with these fresh graduates negotiating with either our security or office administrator to drop their resumes. Their brilliance, self confidence and determination blows me away every time.

A couple of years ago, when I couldn't bear to watch the "I have come to drop my CV" activity (whether is there was an opening or not), I suggested to management to involve the youth in our work and I am happy to say that this was done. My organisation, does not simply create internship opportunities but there's also work being done on developing a specific youth engagement programme as well as placing the youth at the centre of our programming. At times, a suggestion is all it takes.

Still, the amount of mail I receive via LinkedIn from Zambian university graduates seeking jobs is as encouraging as it is depressing. Encouraging because they 're eager to work and contribute, depressing because often times, I have no work or job opportunities to give or point them to especially without experience.

Even encouraging them to be self employed is unfair because the environment is not enabling - where do they access information on funding opportunities, funding itself and even mentorship?

What can be done because job opportunities are limited, if any? It is one thing to tell this group joining the market place to shift their thinking from "looking for employment" to "self employment" it is another to avail resources and tools to them. How can people like you and I make a positive difference within our means?

My three un-researched ideas are: 

1. Get this group of job seekers to start using the Internet to provide business services. It is much cheaper and most are already tech savvy. This is a smart group, with motivation they can develop or already have business proposals that can set them up for success and also add value to individuals and organisations.

2. Business executives, entrepreneurs, experts spare just an hour in the week to mentor or coach a young person. If you can, start a business project with them, teach them a skill, impart knowledge - give them hope. Through this engagement, you might just find that solution to increasing sales, reducing expenses, creating new markets and strengthening relationships with partners and customers.

3. Businesses - create work opportunities for young people - have a youth empowerment programme whether the entity is an SME or large corporation. Let the youth lead and manage the programme whilst holding them accountable. With collaboration, you can come up with a mutually rewarding initiative.

Lastly, over the coming weeks, I will create a group of job seekers on this platform #LinkedIn where business decision makers from all over the world can share their knowledge, experiences, possible opportunities and answer questions through live chats and direct messages.

Its important to groom successors and vision carriers, be part of shaping the future.