Under this thematic area, six (6) major initiatives were implemented:

 

 

1.Online Digital Marketing & Entrepreneurship Training

With the fast growth in digital marketing, the Authority deemed it fit to introduce young people’s businesses to the digital world. Close to 3000 youth were trained in the Online Digital Marketing and Entrepreneurship programme across the country and were presented with a tablet each as a start-up tool. The training also provided some with the opportunity to start their own businesses.

2. Apps Development Training

With the crucial role of technology in today’s dispensation, a four-week Mobile Apps Development Training Programme was organized for 300 young people to use technology as a means to solve local problems. This also aimed at promoting digital occupations for young people.

3. Youth Innovation for Sustainable Development Challenge (YISDC).

Through the NYA/UNDP YouthConnekt Platform, 16 young people with innovative business ideas were supported with a total of $80,000.00 to start their businesses. These beneficiaries were also taken through a 3-month business incubation training which greatly enhanced their entrepreneurial skills and also boosted their business acumen.

4. Training on Streetlights Installation and Repairs

One Hundred (100) youth across the country have been trained in streetlight repairs, maintenance and installation and provided with start-up tools. The training imparted beneficiaries with skills to install and service streetlights in various districts across the country. These young people are back to their respective districts, and helping to keep their communities lighted.

5. Youth Livelihood Farms

This is an agriculture initiative designed for the youth with a purpose of motivating and encouraging them to accept and appreciate farming/food production as a viable commercial venture. The project, also aimed at complementing government’s ‘Planting for Food and Jobs’ flagship initiative.

Towards this end, the Authority mobilized some young people to cultivate 500 acres of land for maize, oil palm plantation, plantain, rice, cassava and onions. These farms are located in the Upper West, Ashanti and Eastern Regions.

Also, in response to H.E the President’s call for Ghanaians to add more vegetables to their diet, the Nkoranza South Directorate of the Bono East Region, also cultivated 10 acres of land for cucumbers, carrots and green peppers.

A 50-acre land has also been secured from the Akwamuman Traditional Council in the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern Region for the cultivation of mangoes.

The Ten Youth Leadership and Skills Training Institutes which the Authority operates, also run agriculture-based programmes for the trainees. This is intended to whip up interest in agriculture amongst the trainees.

6. Skills Toward Employment and Productivity Programme (STEP)

This project focuses on providing young people with artisanal trade and vocational skills to equip them to gain employment and exploit entrepreneurial opportunities in response to reducing the rising youth unemployment challenge.

It targets semi-skilled and skilled youth in the informal sector and also aims at imparting financial literacy, marketing & branding, leadership, cooperative, entrepreneurship skills and team work to beneficiaries, whilst demystifying negative stereotypes in vocational and technical training.

Recruitment for the programme will start soon with 10,000 young persons expected to benefit from this initiative.