MINISTRY OF YOUTH AND SPORTS

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MINISTRY OF YOUTH AND SPORTS

• YOUTH AND EMPLOYMENT
• A SECURITY ISSUE IN SIERRA LEONE

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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.

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• 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.

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• 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.

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• 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

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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.

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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.

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• 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

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• 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

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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
  self-sufficiency in our young people.

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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.

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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.

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• 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

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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 partners

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PROPOSED ACTIVITY OPTIONS

• Ø       Micro-enterprise support /Ø      
  Transport business (cabs and trucks
  hire/motorbikes/bicycles/push carts-
  omolankaye/wheelbarrows).Ø       Tailoring
  (sports gear and equipment production)Ø      
  Small catering (foods and beverages)
• Ø       Food processing (garri, foofoo etc)/Fruit
  processing (jam, juice etc)/Packaging (of
  foodstuff, other items) gtHorticulture (terracing,
  gardening, manure production and distribution)
  Ø       Buyers cooperatives, (especially for
  young traders )Ø       Mobile cinema business
  (especially for remote areas) Ø       Music and
  entertainment (recording albums, D.J services for
  weddings and parties, sale of cassettes, cultural
  dance troupes etc)
• Ø       Arts and Crafts/ Weaving/ Basket making,
  cane chairs, tables and stools production
• Ø       Car washØ       Hairdressing

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• Ø       Tinsmithery ( Pots, pans and other
  utensils production/Blacksmithery (Agricultural
  tools production)Ø       BakeryØ      
  Maintenance and cleaning servicesØ      
  Housekeeping agenciesØ       Electrical,
  electronics, watch repairs etc. Ø       Labour
  intensive small road works (village and small
  town link roads)Ø       Vegetable
  cultivation/Tubers cultivation
• Ø       Pig and poultryØ       Fishing, Fish
  preservation and distribution
• Ø       Tele-centre communications
  business/secretarial services, photocopy, fax,
  typing etc)Ø       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 unskilled ( labourers, car
  wash boys/girls, cleaners etc).

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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.

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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