MINISTRY OF YOUTH AND SPORTS

MINISTRY OF YOUTH AND SPORTS YOUTH AND EMPLOYMENT: A SECURITY ISSUE IN SIERRA LEONE MoYS DEPAC PRESENTATION 13/01/05 1 BACKGROUND • The single most important threat to security in post-war Sierra Leone is youth unemployment. After successful D.D.R., former combatants have joined large number of other young, unemployed and visibly disenchanted and frustrated youth in mainstream society. The economy has not absorbed them yet into formal employment. MoYS DEPAC PRESENTATION 13/01/05 2 • Due to rebel war, frustrated youths are prone to violence more than ever. Example: • Schools sports competitions involving violent clashes, death and destruction of public and private property. • Recent Labour Congress sit-down strike action- some unemployed youths mounting roadblocks and burning tyres. MoYS DEPAC PRESENTATION 13/01/05 3 • Youth unemployment particularly visible and acute in Freetown and some other big towns where the war attracted large numbers of youth. • City life? A nightmare of idleness, misery and hopelessness and unfulfilled dreams. • Consequences: anger, accusation, violence and lawlessness. • These can compromise gains in security and democracy. MoYS DEPAC PRESENTATION 13/01/05 4 • HIV/AIDS- a real and present danger especially for idle /engaged youth • A Threat to economic development and social stability – • Therefore, youth engagement through job creation is a matter of extreme urgency and factor of national security MoYS DEPAC PRESENTATION 13/01/05 5 CURRENT EFFORTS • Some initiatives already taken by Government institutions, Local Councils, UN agencies, NGOs, Youth-Serving agencies and youth organizations to address the youth unemployment problem. E.g. SABABU Education project; UNDP supported youth projects: girls-off-the-street project,etc; FAO supported rice/groundnut cultivation and fisheries project; UNFPA support with transport and equipment. However, efforts hardly visible/grossly insufficient and uncoordinated. • • MoYS DEPAC PRESENTATION 13/01/05 6 RECOMMENDED APPROACH/STRATEGY • Distinction between urban and rural youth • Special priority to job creation for youth in Freetown (Western Area). • The projects must be youth specific, conceived, and delivered to them with their participation. • MoYS- central and visible actor during implementation of youth projects. • A special unit, under the Directorate of Youth within the Ministry to coordinate and supervise the implementation of youth projects. MoYS DEPAC PRESENTATION 13/01/05 7 • Specific targets and timelines. • Bureaucratic delays and bottlenecks can lead to lack of trust among the youth. • Although the target is job creation, equal emphasis to be laid on vocational, technical and business training. • Job/ Information kiosks or centres for youth in depressed communities for greater visibility of the projects and easy, direct access to the opportunities offered MoYS DEPAC PRESENTATION 13/01/05 8 • Initiatives attracting youth from the urban to the rural areas needed. • Emphasis on agriculture and related activities in line with Food Security agenda, but also on business/enterprise. • Recreational /sporting activities. • Life skills/ HIV/AIDS and literacy/numeracy packages. • Volunteerism, responsibility and ownership MoYS DEPAC PRESENTATION 13/01/05 9 YOUTH BUSINESS SCHEME (YBS) • The Ministry of Youth and Sports proposes a Youth Business Scheme (YBS) - strategy for youth employment and poverty alleviation specifically in Freetown and other urban areas. • Aim: Empower young people through enterprise to become business creators rather than simply job seekers. The YBS will promote hope and selfsufficiency in our young people. MoYS DEPAC PRESENTATION 13/01/05 10 General Principles • Enterprise development - a viable and attractive option for youth employment. • Exposure to entrepreneurship can enhance their employability even if their initial business fails. • Successful youth enterprises can raise aspirations of young women and men. • Core element of project - teach the importance and means of creating capital ownership and wealth within their community. MoYS DEPAC PRESENTATION 13/01/05 11 Strategies • Basic training in business skills and management including bookkeeping, pricing and stock control; • The development of a business plan at the end of the training by trainees; • Provision of reasonable start-up capital (small grants) for the proposed activities/business plans; • Orientation of youth on all appropriate laws and regulations relating to enterprise development; • Establishment of a support network involving established businesses/mentors and counterpart start-up enterprises; • A Business Advisory Support System. MoYS DEPAC PRESENTATION 13/01/05 12 • Use of existing public buildings (schools/halls/community centres,etc.) for the training • Involvement of local businesspersons, educators, community leaders and young people. • Set up a management structure for coordination and monitoring • Integration of life skills education in the training package MoYS DEPAC PRESENTATION 13/01/05 13 Implementation • Establishment of six (6) training locations in Freetown • One hundred (100) trainees per location • Course duration- three (3) months • 2,400 beneficiaries per annum • Project duration:- 3 years • Total number of beneficiaries:- 7,200 • Adaptation to various levels of literacy • Costing:- to be developed in collaboration with donors and partnersDEPAC PRESENTATION MoYS 14 13/01/05 PROPOSED ACTIVITY OPTIONS  Micro-enterprise support / Transport business (cabs and trucks hire/motorbikes/bicycles/push cartsomolankaye/wheelbarrows). Tailoring (sports gear and equipment production) Small catering (foods and beverages)   Food processing (garri, foofoo etc)/Fruit processing (jam, juice etc)/Packaging (of foodstuff, other items) >Horticulture (terracing, gardening, manure production and distribution)  Buyers’ cooperatives, (especially for young traders ) Mobile cinema business (especially for remote areas)  Music and entertainment (recording albums, D.J services for weddings and parties, sale of cassettes, cultural dance troupes etc)   Arts and Crafts/ Weaving/ Basket making, cane chairs, tables and stools production   Car wash Hairdressing MoYS DEPAC PRESENTATION 13/01/05 15   Tinsmithery ( Pots, pans and other utensils production/Blacksmithery (Agricultural tools production) Bakery Maintenance and cleaning services Housekeeping agencies Electrical, electronics, watch repairs etc.  Labour intensive small road works (village and small town link roads) Vegetable cultivation/Tubers cultivation   Pig and poultry Fishing, Fish preservation and distribution   Tele-centre communications business/secretarial services, photocopy, fax, typing etc) Photography • Some options are more practicable and lucrative in the urban areas, others in the rural. • Business/project ideas chosen by trained youth will be assessed with this in mind. • Vast range of micro-enterprise activities will engage both skilled youth (technically trained, managers etc) and the MoYS DEPAC PRESENTATION unskilled ( labourers, car wash boys/girls, cleaners etc). 16 13/01/05 CONCLUSION • Youth unemployment results in serious consequences for the individual, the family, the community and the nation. • It contributes to crime, violence and risky behaviours (drug abuse, prostitution,etc.). • It can lead to marginalization, exclusion and frustration, low self-esteem and acts that create insecurity and instability. • Collective responsibility:- success of the youth employment programme will depend on efforts by government, young people, partners and other key stakeholders. MoYS DEPAC PRESENTATION 13/01/05 17 CONCLUSION • Only way out – support youth projects for peace and security • Also, – inclusion in decision-making processes to improve confidence and sense of belonging • We have no other choice in this post conflict period. • Thank You MoYS DEPAC PRESENTATION 13/01/05 18