Microsoft paving the way for Africa’s youth with YouthSpark

Microsoft really cares about Africa’s youth — so much so it has designed a new initiative to help empower them. The company has announced its YouthSpark global project 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 programmes — both new and enhanced — which it claims will empower 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 US$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 startup skills.”

The tech giant seems to have big plans for growth in Africa calling the continent a “critical investment market”. Earlier this month, the company launched its flagship African investment and growth drive, 4Afrika, which YouthSpark falls under.

Microsoft hopes to actively engage in Africa’s economic development to improve its global competitiveness, through 4Afrika. As part of the initiative, the company plans to help place tens of millions of smart devices in the hands of African youth by 2016. It’s also looking to bring one-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.

“…we are paying specific attention to the next generation of our ecosystem through our work with schools, students, startups 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 realize their full potential.”

The company reckons YouthSpark will bring together some global programmes that empower young people with access to technology and a better education that will create opportunities that helps them realise their potential.

Other YouthSpark initiatives include:

• Partners in Learning Network. An online professional development platform for government officials, school leaders and educators to help them with new approaches to teaching and learning, using technology to help students develop 21st century skills.
• Microsoft IT Academy. A career-ready education program available to all accredited academic institutions, providing students with 21st century technology.
• DreamSpark. Free access to Microsoft designer and developer tools for students and educators, helping advance key technical skills during the high school and college years, a critical time in a student’s development.
• Imagine Cup. The world’s premier youth technology competition, which challenges students to apply their knowledge and passion to develop technical solutions for social impact, to develop engaging games, and to demonstrate innovation that can benefit others, local communities and the world.
• Students to Business. A program that matches university students with jobs or internships in the technology industry.
• BizSpark. A software startup program, providing young entrepreneurs with access to Microsoft software development tools and connections with key industry players, including investors, to help them start a new business.
• Employability Portals. An all-inclusive platform that links users — who wish to plan their career, get career advisory, acquire training, build their capacity, apply for jobs and internships — with customized resources, counsellors, mentors and jobs.