2018 theme to focus on developing Entrepreneurship Opportunities and Career Development amongst the employed youth
Every year, MTN Uganda staff step out of their offices to make a difference in the lives of the communities within which they work in. 2018 will be no different as MTN Uganda launched the twelfth edition of its global award winning staff voluntary program.
MTN Uganda 21 Days of Y’ello Care has today been launched Kawempe Youth Development Association offices.
In an event presided over by the MTN Uganda General Manager in charge of Human Resources, Mr. Michael Sekadde, the special activity that involves MTN staff across the MTN footprint sharing the Y’ello spirit of care by sowing seeds of change, empowerment and brightening of lives within communities was kick started this morning.
This year, the 21 Days of Y’ello Care focuses on one of the most critical issues affecting countries across the globe – Youth Empowerment – under the theme ‘Creating a Brighter Future’.
Mr. Michael Sekadde said that the theme was targeted at undertaking initiatives that will aim at managing the unemployment problem amongst the youth.
“I encourage all of us to get involved and participate in this year’s 21 Days of Y’ello Care to brighten up the lives of the youth in Uganda. It’s not all about just work work work but this is a time to give give give to our communities in terms of volunteer work and commitment”, said Michael Sekadde at the launch.
Uganda is the second youngest population in the world with 78 percent of the population below 30 years, second to Niger’s 83 percent (UNDP, 2016).
In Uganda, 30 percent of the youth who are qualified from tertiary institutions have difficulty transiting into the labour market. The situation is worse for youths that are semi-skilled or unskilled.
Evidence indicates that unemployed youths in Uganda engage in socio-economic ills like gambling (sports betting), drug abuse and also engage in criminal activities. Many times, it is such unemployed youth groups that have destabilized peace around the country engaging in demonstrations (ACODE, 2014).
Already, a number of activities have been planned by MTN Uganda to be carried out between 1st and 21st June, including engagements with the KCCA Gender & Community Services Directorate and Makerere Business School Entrepreneurship Center where 10 youth community enterprises will be selected for training and mentorship.