Microsoft Ghana in partnership with the International Institute for Communication and Development (IICD), yesterday launched TizaaWorks, an initiative that would provide tools and resource to job seekers, aspiring entrepreneurs and school leavers.
The platform is expected to
match the right skills to appropriate jobs, and equip youth with the necessary training, tools and knowledge required to succeed in their desired job.
Accordingly, the TizaaWorks aggregates the best, ensuring access to rich e-content and exposing youth to the various learning and training organisations that can help them realise their career aspirations.
The platform offers hundreds of soft skills training courses to equip youth with the best possible opportunity to land their dream role.
The offerings from the online tools included, plan your career, career counselling, job market information, training, mentor matching, IT training, entrepreneurship, CV writing, among others.
The employability Platforms are being rolled out in collaboration with key local partners across Middle East and Africa as part of Microsoft's YouthSpark and 4Afrika Initiatives.
The plan is to have 25 platforms across the region by the end of first quarter of 2015 , including thirteen in Africa: Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, and Nigeria within Africa.
Microsoft aims to reach a target of seven million youth across the Middle East and Africa, and create 96, 000 job opportunities and 200,000 new entrepreneurs by the end of 2015.
With the World Bank reporting that 65% of Ghanaian youths are unemployed, the platform aims to equip young graduates and school-leavers with the right hard and soft skills to bridge the skills gap and secure first-time job opportunities, as well as providing career guidance and resources for those wanting to build their own businesses.
Meanwhile, Gallup World Poll data has indicated that African governments currently only employ around 14 million people between the age of fifteen and twenty nine, which corresponds to about 5% of Africa's population in this 'youthful' age group.
"Technology can empower young people to make a vital contribution to their community and our world. We hope that this platform serves as a bridge, connecting Ghana's young people to the tools, resources and people they need to find the fulfilling careers they deserve." Brad Smith, General Counsel and Executive Vice President, Legal and Corporate Affairs, Microsoft, said.
Also speaking, Martine Koopman, Ghana Country Manager, Global Advisory Services Manager for IICD, said that, "The TizaaWorks platform is critical for expanding IICD's impact in supporting Ghanaian youth in smart learning, working, and earning. Thanks to TizaaWorks, our programs that build market-driven digital skills and help youth find employment and start their own IT-related businesses can reach out to a much wider audience, beyond our physical presence.
"With the current online platform, physical programs and the upcoming mobile version of TizaaWorks, any young person in Ghana will be able to access information and services enabling them to become more employable."
source:VANGUARD
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