WE WANT TO HELP DISADVANTAGED YOUNG TEENS BE EMPLOYABLE AND SET FOR THEIR FUTURE CAREERS THROUGH FREE INTERVENTION PROGRAMS
The future of work is rapidly changing and increasingly becoming competitive. Now more than ever, it is crucial for young people to be versatile and adaptable to stand out and in doing so they require
the right skills which need to be developed early on and to personally and professionally develop themselves towards their career paths. The ones left behind are the bright motivated young people that lack opportunities and support
We believe in Employability Skills! Early Career Reflection and Development! Mentoring! Volunteerism! Value Re-orientation! Collaboration! Innovative Entrepreneurship! Access to business education and seed funding
as the tools required to adequately prepare young people and address youth unemployment as a result.
THE PROJECT
The Selection Process
*** Scoping survey to narrow down interested students
*** Interview interested students based on Commitment, Motivation, Drive and Career Interest
*** Academic Merit: Top 40% of the class
*** Behavioral Report: Recommendations from head teachers
*** Diversity Considerations: Based on sex, gender and geopolitical zone in Nigeria
The Skills Workshops
The Skills Workshops are 2 hour sessions once every 2 weeks conducted with the students via a range of activities to build the 5 core skills delivered by trained facilitators.
The 2014 skills workshops were conducted from February to May 2014 by three trainers in 2 state secondary schools in Abuja, Nigeria (with grades 10 and 11 students).
The Career Mentoring
This involves all participants being assigned mentors based on career of interest and ‘fit’ with each participant keeping a Personal Development Planner to record progress throughout the mentoring session, milestones and areas for improvement. Mentors submit
quarterly reports on mentees progress and feedback sessions are conducted with mentees every week.
The 2014 Career Mentoring Open Day on 28th May 2014 involved 25 professional mentors from law, medicine, creative writing, media, aeronautical engineering, pharmacy and many others interacting with 20 mentees on-on-one and giving advice. Mentees
were given mp3 players with recordings of all 5 skills sessions and certificates of participation were given to mentors.
Some Testimonials from 2014 Career Mentors
“Meeting other professionals and impacting and exchanging various ideas with the students was very interesting” – Maryam Baba Mohammed, a Career Mentor
“Educating the Pupils on the real situation they should expect on their choice of career was the most effective part of the Open Day”
– Charles Nsa, a Career Mentor
“The one-on-one interaction with the students was the most effective part of the Open Day” – Muhammad Dantata, a Career Mentor
Inter-School Competition
The competition on the 25th September 2014 at the School Hall, GSS Jabi provided the participants with the opportunity to demonstrate the 5 skills learnt in the workshops. Each team chose a social challenge and developed a solution to the challenge
which was presented in 10 minutes to a panel of judges.
Teams were judged on completeness, co-ordination, content, feasibility of the project and overall presentation delivery by professionals with expertise in housing, education, entrepreneurship and skill building and education enhancement.
All participant got one year scholarships towards their school fees. In addition, the first place team received:
*** Tablets from Olive Telecommunications
*** 6 month Career development, skills planning and professional mentoring by Career Solutions Africa
*** Scholarship towards remaining school education and WAEC, NECO and JAMB fees
Four teams competed with the following topics:
TEAM 1: Prevalence of Exam Malpractice and how to tackle it
TEAM 2: Achieving Gender parity in Nigeria
TEAM 3: Inadequate reading culture and impractical Educational system: focus on
TEAM 4: Achieving affordable housing and regulated housing market in Abuja
Short term Impact
*** N137,500 ($750) in Scholarships disbursed with a further committment for N284,500 ($1,250)
*** Clarity in Career Choices and hence course choice for university
*** Enhanced support by parents in chosen career path of wards whereas prior to the project, there was lack of understanding and support by parents
*** Greater participation by students in extra-curricular activities in school and leadership roles as a result of enhanced confidence in new skills exposed to
*** Continuity for some participants as funding prior to the project was a challenge
*** Aid in securing scholarship and study opportunities abroad
SHARING CAMPAIGN
1) Twitter:
@sos_foundation1; you can use #sosf #employability #bridge #sosvolunteer #sosmentor #sosmember #sostrainer
2) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skilloutsideschool
3) LinkedIn: goo.gl/zNJcm5
4) Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/107021169790826877476/posts
5) Youtube: goo.gl/x8i3V3
