Microsoft engages youth to drive sustainable African economic growth

Unemployment remains rife on the African continent. With almost 200 million people aged between 15 and 24 in Africa today, the youth community represents more than 60% of the continent's total population and accounts for 45% of its growing labour force. However, the imbalance between the demands of the labour market and the supply of appropriately skilled workers in Africa is reaching its breaking point. In light of this, Microsoft Corp have announced its ongoing commitment to driving opportunities for African youth through its YouthSpark initiative.

Microsoft YouthSpark is a global initiative that aims to create opportunities for 300 million youth in more than 100 countries during the next three years. This companywide 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," says Djam Bakhshandegi, CSI program manager at Microsoft in Africa.

"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 and medium businesses with relevant start up skills.

As part of its broader strategy, 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. Through 4Afrika, Microsoft will actively engage in Africa's economic development to improve its global competitiveness.

By 2016, the Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative plans to help place tens of millions of smart devices in the hands of African youth, bring 1 million African small and medium enterprises (SMEs) online, up-skill 100 000 members of Africa's existing workforce, and help an additional 100 000 recent graduates develop skills for employability, 75% of which Microsoft will help place in jobs.

"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," says Bakhshandegi. "Through our partnerships with governments, non-profit organizations and businesses, Microsoft YouthSpark aims to empower youth to imagine and realise their full potential."

Microsoft YouthSpark goes beyond philanthropy and brings together a range of global programs that empower young people with access to technology and a better education and inspire young people to imagine the opportunities they have to realise their potential, including Office 365 for education, free technology tools for all teachers and students to power learning and collaboration, and Skype in the classroom, a free global community for teachers to connect their students with others around the world.

Other YouthSpark initiatives include: