Since the launch of its YouthSpark initiative in December last year, global software developer Microsoft has reached over half a million youth and made $1.1-million worth of software donations to nongovernmental organisations in sub-Saharan Africa.
The programme, which forms part of the corporation’s 4Africa initiative, which was launched in February, has also resulted in the training of almost 30 000 teachers through its ‘Partners In Learning’ programme and has equipped hundreds of small and medium-sized enterprises with relevant start-up skills.
YouthSpark aims to create opportunities for 300-million youth in more than 100 countries during the next three years. The initia- tive includes corporate social investment and other company programmes that are geared towards empowering youth by connecting them with greater opportunities for education, employment and entrepreneurship.
Microsoft indicates that it is committed to driving opportunities for African youth through its YouthSpark initiative, as unemployment remained rife in Africa, with about 200-million people aged between 15 and 24 being without jobs. This is particularly worrying, as the youth represent more than 60% of the continent’s total population and account for 45% of its growing labour force.
The company further states that the imbalance between the demands of the labour market and the supply of appropriately skilled workers in Africa is reaching breaking point.