Supporting Youth at Risk

What's the issue?

Arusha is a large city based in northern Tanzania, with a population of around 1.2 million. It acts as a magnet to young men and women from rural areas seeking employment, most of whom have limited formal education and few skills. For these youths (aged between 15 and 35), the opportunities for employment are still very limited. In Arusha about one third of all active people are unemployed, of which youths make up nearly half, approximately 150,000 individuals.

Most young people end up living in shanty or squatter areas. Some are engaged in dangerous mining activities, but the majority become involved in illegal employment: petty theft, robbery, drug dealing and the sex industry, which often leads to imprisonment, HIV and AIDS and premature death. This situation is compounded by their limited knowledge, formal education, experience and entrepreneurship, as well as a lack of start-up capital to invest in small-scale businesses. Opportunities to find training and education, earn a decent living and improve their own lives are very few, particularly for young people from poor backgrounds. Additionally, education and awareness around issues like HIV and AIDS remains relatively low.

What is African Initiatives doing?

Working with our partners the Community Aid and Small Enterprises Consultancy (CASEC), the 'Youth at Risk' project aims to develop the capacity and skills of disadvantaged youths in Arusha city in order that they may better meet their own needs, claim their rights and increase their wellbeing for a more positive future. This will be achieved by getting young people trained, active, engaged and back into education and employment.

Using a youth centre that we established with CASEC in 2009, we help promote:

Youth empowerment and education - providing academic education to those who want to re-sit their O- and A-level examinations and re-enter the formal state education system; teaching business, marketing and entrepreneurship skills for youths wanting to establish a business; tour guide training; educating young people on copyright and neighbourhood laws, and on small-scale development projects; and offering advice and information on employment and commerce.

Talent development - working with 100 youths to identify specific talents; providing training, coaching and mentoring at the centre based on these talents; encouraging the participation of up to 70 youths in different local and international games and sports, music festivals, and arts and crafts; and linking youths with similar-minded institutions/centres in order to develop their talents.
Networking - helping young people participate in various local and national networks including meetings, forums and workshops; and helping them to take part in various exhibitions including: The Tanzania Agriculture and Trade Exhibition, Tourism Trader Fair, Sauti za Busara and Jahazi Music Festivals.
Awareness creation - targeting 250 youths to increase their awareness of HIV and AIDS, as well as their awareness of issues such as legal rights, gender equality and child protection.