In yet another exciting initiative, the MTN Foundation Uganda has launched its Youth Empowerment skilling program under foundation arm of youth empowerment that is set to benefit at least 100 youths in preparation for the evolving digital world.
The program will focus on skills that will drive co-creation of innovative digital products and solutions to solve Uganda’s biggest problems in Education, Youth Empowerment, Health and Agriculture. It will be implemented in partnership with Ubunifu systems, a software development and ICT innovation firm.
The MTN Foundation Youth skilling Program will be implemented in partnership with Ubunifu systems, a software development firm based in Uganda. Ubunifu systems has cut its niche in professional mobile and web development with a focus on innovative, personalized, and fully functional solutions that deliver value and satisfaction.
The MTN Foundation Youth skilling Program will focus on skills that will drive co-creation of innovative digital products and solutions to solve Uganda’s biggest problems in Education, Youth Empowerment, Health and Agriculture. This comes at a backdrop of the COVID19 pandemic that has demonstrated the immense need of digitalized systems to keep businesses and communities afloat in times of catastrophic circumstances.
While addressing the press at the launch of the Program today, Wim Vanhelleputte, the MTN Chief Executive Officer said that this is one of the many initiatives that MTN Uganda has put in place to enable the youth tap into the limitless possibilities of the Fourth industrial revolution.
“Since they are the majority, the youth are a big and essential component in the country’s growth and development. That is why we as MTN have chosen to involve them to stimulate local innovation, which in turn will help youth create gainful employment opportunities through community transforming innovations as we enter the new era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” said Vanhelleputte.
The team lead At Ubunifu systems MTN’s implementing partner, Brian Ssennoga commended MTN Uganda for starting such an initiative and reaffirmed that the program would be transformational.
“This is a great initiative, we a thankful to be partnering on with MTN on this great initiative. The program will powersport a new way to innovate especially the commitment to prioritize Digital for Good and access to ICT for Good Knowledge. This program will tailor to a diverse youthful audience providing them with knowledge, skills, and experiences to support building collaborative local solutions that align to the Foundation’s work in Uganda.” Said Brian Ssennoga the Team lead Ubunifu systems.
The youth account for the largest share of Uganda’s population, with 77% of the citizens aged below 25 years of age, with a vast majority of them unemployed.
MTN Uganda through the Youth Empowerment Program is therefore targeting a group of 100 beneficiaries ranging from university graduates, innovators and those engaged in Small and Medium with a mission of inspiring and empowering them towards harnessing the practical application of innovative ICT solutions to solve their communities’ most pressing challenges. The MTN Foundation will invite applications from young innovators in Uganda. Training will commence early next year.
MTN is committed to integrating the youth in its programs. Last year, MTN invited the youth to develop applications that use MTN MoMo APIs, to monetize both consumer and business opportunities digitally, a task many of them executed successfully and early this year, MTN and Ericsson awarded winners of the MTN Mobile Money Open API challenge.
How will the program work?
- A call for application will be put out via MTN digital channels and100 successful applicants will be selected to join the program for each cycle.
- The chosen 100 will be paid for to study and acquire the International Computer Driver’s License (ICDL) certificate and only those that will have successfully acquired this certificate will proceed to the next level.
- The next level will bring the successful candidates together into a 10-week session that will provide hands on training in technical and business skills that will support them identify and define community challenges in the areas of Education, Agriculture, Health and Youth Empowerment.
- The most successful ideas/ solutions to the identified problems will be escalated to the MTN Incubation program where they will receive mentorship and support to deliver a public good ICT solution designed for their community.
On How one can apply for the MTN Youth Skilling Program?
This program is for young innovators, youth employed in SMEs, University graduates and youth who are interested in technology for the improvement of their communities across Uganda.
Requirements and Eligibility
One must be of the age between 20 – 35 years; and hold an Advanced level education certificate (UACE), National Identification Card (ID), Possess a working/ active email address and a registered MTN SIM Card.
Key Dates to take into consideration
- Launch program Dec 8, 2020 – Noon
- Applications open Dec 8, 2020
- Applications close Dec 22nd, 2020 6:00PM EAT
- Announcement of participants, 15th January 2021
- The program kicks off 1st February 2021
Successful candidates at each step will be posted on the MTN Uganda website and be contacted via email.
Got what it takes, shoot & Apply here.
This article first appeared on the MTN Uganda Website.
