Poverty and Youths

I had a discussion today with Sanjukt Saha, founder of www.onebillionminds.com and explained the concept of a prize for the best ideas for self-employment/employment in developing countries. His firm is just six months old and still in start up phase, but he is willing to work with us on pro-bono basis to publicize an award contest among universities students in India, Germany and other countries.  We may also be able to attract students through his fir willing to work on a website to host the ideas. This could be one avenue for putting this project idea into action.

see www.onebillionminds.com/

Garry Jacobs

 Thanks Lloyd Etheredge for your comments and ideas. 

The proposal is written in a generic manner without any specific ideas for immediate implementation with youths but it provides objectives where forums are organized to call for ideas for activities on how an objective can be fulfilled.  

For example to achieve Objective 3 
(iii) to increase awareness of ways on how youths can earn a living and create livelihoods... it could be a "A weekly "How Can I Make Money?" Internet Program" as you suggested or a youth NGO could run information seminar locally using the materials WAAS collected, or ....  etc. 

At the moment it is difficult to define such activities in a project proposal to WAAS  since we dont have any critical mass of people/Fellows for brainstorming and for screening out the best ideas (and do-able one) that could be used for requesting for funds or to match a call for proposals.

regards
Jacky Foo

NOTE: Prof. Carl Goran Heden (1920-2009) (WAAS Trustees, http://www.worldacademy.org/?q=Biofocus_Foundation) passed away on 07 June. If you have any messages for the family, you can send it through me <jacky.foo@gmail.com>)

     I'd suggest a weekly Internet program, featuring site visits by a team of experts to a range of villages and other (urban) settings, especially including successful entrepreneurs and experts in micro-enterprise finance. The programs would feature discussions about the money-making possibilities that these experts observe. The programs also could include information about sources of micro-enterprise finance.

     Most young people in UDCs, especially in rural areas, will not have access to the Internet. However, many people do - including networks of relatives in urban areas or abroad, college students and recent graduates from rural areas with a bit of extra money to spend/invest. The trick is to create an exciting "How Can I Make Money?" program, rich in good ideas, that nobody would miss.

      Our foundation tried this idea on the World Bank, several years ago, as part of their Knowledge Management shift. They liked the idea (and did start an Internet channel) but felt that their Ph. D. level of expertise did not translate into this kind of practical advice.

     This youth-oriented project would be an exciting new dimension to economic development. I suggest beginning boldly: perhaps a national experiment in India, that would be available worldwide without charge?

     We know, psychologically, than successful entrepreneurs tend to see the world in a different way. This is more than just textbook knowledge. Perhaps a key component will be the role models, and participants in the panels, who could help young people see their world around them with a fresh eye.

      Funders are paying attention to micro-enterprise lending projects. This kind of bold national/worldwide experiment might be supported readily, especially if there is a good team to develop the weekly program. (Sorry, this isn't my field. But you're right that a good youth-oriented project could change the world of development for this generation, especially in current circumstances.  - LE)

 Pls comment and improve this write-up which will be submitted to SPCC.

regards
jacky

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WAAS AWARD on Youth and Employment

Background and Problem
Around 51 per cent of the combined population of developing and least developed countries are below the age of 25 (World Youth Report, 2005). About 76.6% of the global youth population (15-24 year olds) live in Asia and Africa and around 515 million of them are living on less than US$ 2 a day. Youth unemployment (ILO, 2003) was highest in Western Asia and North Africa (25.6 per cent) and sub-Saharan Africa (21 per cent) and lowest in East Asia (7 per cent) and the industrialized countries (13.4 per cent).

Employment (unemployment and underemployment) is a problem everywhere and has worsened in recent years because of the global recession. As a result, the percentage and number of poor people in the world will increase and many of them will risk joining the "less than 2 US$ a day" category.

We urgently need to be more creative and provide youths with information on the many ways to make a living and how to earn a livelihood. Formal education is traditionally advocated as the way out of poverty in many poor countries but isn’t providing an immediate answer to current problems in the cities. More than 50 % of the world’s population now live in cities and by 2050 it will be 80 %. There will be greater competition for salaried jobs. Already many countries face the problem of insufficient jobs for university graduates and unemployed professionals. While the ability to read and write is essential, there are many ways where youths with primary education can create their own livelihoods through self-employment.

Goal
This goal is to help youths to earn a living and create their livelihoods.

Objectives
(i) to gather information on best practices on how to earn a living and create livelihoods
(ii) to honor best practices with WAAS Prizes
(iii) to increase awareness of ways on how youths can earn a living and create livelihoods.
(iv) to help youths through the whole process

Methods:
(i) to gather and provide information on best practices
by searching via Internet, cooperation with youth organizations and from entries into competitions; and providing the information via WAAS website

(ii) to honor best practices with WAAS Prizes
select best entries from Internet competitions on different themes and give WAAS Prizes

(iii) to increase awareness of ways and to help youths through the process of earning a living and creating their livelihoods.
co-operate with Awardees and others to organize information seminars and implement programs

Funding
(i) “project funds” for operational costs is needed
(ii) “Prize” money from sponsors should not be difficult.

Preparations

Preparations for the execution of each of the steps/objectives will be discussed via WAAS e-forums and involving WAAS Fellows and invited guests. Details will be worked out in these forum discussions.

Implementation
(i) several awards can be given during the project
(ii) co-operation with other organizations may be needed and encouraged

WAAS Resources:
WAAS forum software can be used but may have some limitations that may need to be improved in the future. However it has most of the essential features for conducting e-forums during the preparatory phase.

As part of this project, we might consider researching all existing sites and resources promoting employment and self-employment ideas and creating a centralized directory of such resources and especially of success stories. That would fit in well with Jacky's idea of a prize. If a prize is offered by the World Academy, the prestige of recognition could outweigh the monetary value or when can think of finding a sponsor/sponsors for the prize on each continent, which may not be difficult. We can also use email marketing to NGOs to make them aware of the project. Recruitment of one full-time research assistant in India for website development, e-marketing and forum management would cost about $500 per month.

This is an interesting idea. We are already involved in a young-person’s essay prize contest for the best solution to nuclear disarmament, but we don’t have to chip in financially. Perhaps I missed something, but can you provide some detail on Changemakers and its contribution of USD 5000/yr for 5 years? Also we will need admin/secy support to handle this as well as qualified and dedicated volunteers to read all the essays submitted.

ACTIVITIES FOR GENERATING INCOME BY PREGNANT YOUTHS
(this ... e.g. is targetted at girls who are at home and doing something to generate income for better nutrition of unborn child, to cover expected future expenses for delivery of the child,...etc)

INCOME GENERATION BY YOUTHS At CHILDREN CENTRES:
(i) REHABILITATION CENTRE FOR CHILDREN ON PROBATION
(ii) CHILDREN'S HOMES
(iii) ORPHANAGES
(iv) HANDICAPPED CHILDREN HOMES
(v)....(etc...)..
(this....e.g. there can be several activities and the attractive results are those where youths can use their earnings to start their own small businesses.)

INCOME GENERATION AT HOME INDOORS
(any form of activities where youths can generate income indoors

INCOME GENERATION AT HOME OUTDOORS
(any form of activities for homes with an outdoor compound and can generate income....)

We need 20 selected titles........ CAN YOU SUGGEST MORE ??

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Note:
an important goal for the project is to increase awareness on the many ways to generate income by youths. It addresses the question where youths say they dont know what they can do that can generate income (and remain in a state where they just do nothing) ?

Jacky, I understand what you are looking for. There are many examples in the Indian context, many of which have been collected, such as the work of self-help groups in various states, but I am not up to date on who is doing what. It would require some research to find out whether anyone has made a comprehensive effort to collect Best Practices in one place, which would certainly be useful.

Thanks for your excellent proposal to focus on youth employment. Over the past five years the Academy has conducted several sessions exploring the employment issue globally, in developing countries and Europe. It is certainly a high priority issue globally on which fresh thinking is very much needed. Please do elaborate on your ideas on the role you think WAAS can play on this issue. (Garry Jacobs)