September 22, 2010 New York, New York

 Ron Bruder, Founder & CEO of Education For Employment (EFE); Reeta Roy, President and CEO of the MasterCard Foundation; António Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR, and former Prime Minister of Portugal; and Nkululeko “Ziggy” Yeni, Yale student and graduate of the African Leadership Academy participated in the panel moderated by Ambassador Melanne Verveer, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues. 

With nearly 300 people in the audience, the panel explored how new methods of education, technology, entrepreneurship, and public-private partnerships can address what is both an unprecedented job creation challenge as well as an historic opportunity to harness human potential.  While touching on high-level strategic issues, the panel focused on practical lessons and experiences that can be used to develop innovative solutions. 

Mr. Bruder shared insights into how EFE’s partnerships are successfully addressing youth unemployment through market-driven training.  He noted that while EFE programs do not specifically offer entrepreneurial training, they provide a solid base for future entrepreneurs by giving youth the tools they need to thrive in the workplace and by placing them in jobs. A recent Gallup poll indicates that youth in the MENA region who have worked are more likely to set up their own businesses, as they have acquired skills, know-how, contacts and confidence.  Ziggy noted that in townships across Africa, the root underlying cause of so many afflictions, such as HIV/Aids, gangs and teen pregnancies, is actually joblessness.  He noted that education systems need to prepare youth for jobs so that graduates are not left with bleak prospects. Ms. Roy commented that there must be a youth voice in decision-making: we must make sure that youth are involved in designing, delivering and evaluating programs, that they feel they are leaders.  She also noted that we have an incredible opportunity before us: if we make the right investments now, the youth bulge could be the most promising economic dividend.

Commissioner Guterres remarked that youth unemployment is a terrible frustration, a great loss for countries, and the biggest source of instability in the world.  He warned that the international community will pay an enormous price if we do not address youth unemployment, making it in everyone’s enlightened self-interest to do so. 

Zoe Damacela, a young entrepreneur in the audience, shared her personal story of entrepreneurial success. Zoe grew up moving from shelters to group homes until enrolling in a course on entrepreneurship that gave her the skills needed to develop and grow her own business. Zoe now knows what it is like to have money in her pocket and encourages more programs like the one who helped her step out of poverty. She is currently a student at Northwestern University where she was
awarded a full-scholarship.

Economic opportunities can transform individuals, communities and entire nations. These individuals and the organizations they lead are creating these opportunities.

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