The Challenge
Africa is the world’s youngest and fastest growing continent. By 2035, the continent will contribute more people to the global workforce than the rest of the world combined – a demographic surge that has led to dramatic rates of unemployment.
• Growing youth population – 60% of the population in Africa is under 25.
• Lack of formal jobs – According to the ILO, around 90% of young people in Africa will work in the informal economy.
• Barriers to accessing quality education – Around half of secondary-age youth in many regions of Africa are out of school. For young women, the situation is even more troubling, with only 1 in 20 rural girls on track to complete secondary education.
Meanwhile, education systems face challenges in preparing youth for the realities of Africa's huge informal labor market, with many secondary school graduates lacking essential practical skills and millions more unable to complete secondary altogether.
Despite these challenges, we’ve never believed more in Africa’s young people.
Our Solution
Educate! has created a core learning experience that delivers the most essential skills youth need to transition to work. This combines skills training, mentorship, and practical experience starting a business.
Our model teaches hard skills including planning, budgeting, saving, and market research. We complement these with soft skills like communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity – all crucial for securing a livelihood or, as is the reality for many young people in Africa, starting a small enterprise.
We deliver this experience to youth both in and out of schools by:
1.) Introducing an employment-focused school subject in secondary
2.) Delivering livelihood bootcamps for out-of-school youth, with a focus on marginalized rural girls and young women
Educate! believes young people have immense potential to transform their communities, if given access to an education directly applicable to today's labor market. We're committed to equipping youth with the skills to build dignified livelihoods and shape the planet’s future.
