On July 14, 2023, in Antananarivo, Madagascar, the first edition of the Youth Inclusion International Forum (#YIIF), developed by Life Project 4 Youth (LP4Y) in collaboration with YIN and Y4CN, successfully took place. This innovative event format aimed to unite corporations, institutions, and NGOs to foster connections among these diverse inclusion actors and develop concrete solutions. The central theme of this edition was to address the specific challenges faced by Antananarivo's marginalized youth in their pursuit of decent employment and explore strategies to overcome them.
Two main challenges face by Youth in Tana
Lack of educational structures
The integration of vulnerable young adults into the workforce in Antananarivo is confronted with complex challenges, particularly due to the glaring lack of formal education and skills. This reality significantly hampers the ability of young people to access viable job opportunities and contribute meaningfully to the economic growth of the region. This educational gap, along with the lack of necessary skills, translates into a deficit in technical knowledge, communication skills, and problem-solving abilities, reducing the prospects for stable employment and personal development for these young adults.
For example, solar energy is a sector currently flourishing in Madagascar but barely any school offers training in the country. There are more demands than offers when it comes to talent recruitment. Some companies, like Axian have decided to create their own university to train their future employees.
Economical barriers
Young people from disadvantaged backgrounds or with limited resources often face major obstacles in pursuing higher education due to the high costs associated with education. This reality creates a profound imbalance in terms of opportunities, unfairly excluding some talented young individuals from accessing jobs that could perfectly match their skills and aspirations.
This event brought together over 20 dedicated young volunteers, 47 representatives from local NGOs and associations, 16 corporate representatives, and 2 institutional representatives. The forum served as a platform for sharing best practices and making commitments, thus creating a dynamic multi-stakeholder community that facilitated collaborations between companies and NGOs. Thanks to this event, a productive collaboration emerged between NewPack, a packaging company working for the Indian Ocean, and Graine de Bitume and Titanium, two local associations dedicated to the inclusion of young adults.
What happened exactly during the Youth Inclusion International Forum in Madagascar?
The event's agenda featured:
Inspirational testimonies from Falitiana and Sanah, two young beneficiaries of associations who shared their life journeys, from social and professional exclusion to successful integration.
Insights from two corporate representatives, including the Head of CSR at DHL and an employee from La Gastronomie Pizza, a restaurant chain in Madagascar, who discussed the initiatives and policies implemented to include Antananarivo's vulnerable youth.
An expert panel bringing together diverse expertise, including Cedric Rakoto, Webhelp's Head of External Communication, a representative from an international NGO, Jean Ousmane Camara, Harisoa RAHANITRINIAINA, an educator working closely with beneficiaries at Graine de Bitume, and Sanah, a former beneficiary of the initial program by Passerelles Numériques Madagascar.
Workshops focusing on concrete actions to address the challenges faced by excluded youth and raise awareness among businesses.
The Youth Inclusion International Forum eloquently reaffirmed the crucial importance of including Antananarivo's vulnerable youth in the workforce. The energizing involvement of young volunteers, stimulating discussions and reactions from participants, and the sincere and inspirational testimonies of the youth highlighted their untapped potential and their capacity to make significant contributions to both businesses and society as a whole. A follow-up event is being planned to assess the commitments made by participants during and after the forum.
