Prime Minister Announces Funding to Increase Opportunities for Youth In Africa

VALLETTA, MALTA--(Marketwired - Nov. 28, 2015) - Prime Minister's Office

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, announced today that Canada is contributing $15.3 million over four years (2015-2019) to improve the lives and futures of young people in Africa. This investment will help offer the training needed to find and keep good jobs, with a focus on reducing poverty and encouraging economic prosperity. The Prime Minister made the announcement while in Valletta, Malta, for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

The Government of Canada is partnering with Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT), a Canadian-based company headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, on a project that will help young women and men develop job and entrepreneurial skills, including in the use of technology. The Digital Livelihoods: Youth and the Future of Work at Scale project is expected to benefit approximately 200,000 youth in Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Morocco, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zambia.

Quotes

"The Government of Canada is committed to helping young people across the country and around the world reach their full potential. We will invest to create more jobs and better opportunities for young people. Today's initiative with the Digital Opportunity Trust will help young women and men in eight African countries develop the skills and technological know-how they need to get jobs and start businesses."

- Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

Quick Facts

- Two thirds of the population in sub-Saharan Africa (where seven of the eight countries for this project are located) is under 25.

- DOT is a leading international social enterprise with local operations around the world. The organization focuses on building global networks of talented young leaders who create real change by educating local communities in applying technology effectively.

Associated Links

- Canada and Sub-Saharan Africa

- CHOGM: Malta 2015

- Digital Opportunity Trust

This document is also available at http://pm.gc.ca

Backgrounder

DIGITAL LIVELIHOODS: YOUTH AND THE FUTURE OF WORK AT SCALE PROJECT

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, announced today that Canada is contributing $15.3 million over four years (2015-2019) to improve the lives and futures of young people in Africa through a project aimed at reducing poverty by encouraging economic prosperity.

The Digital Livelihoods: Youth and the Future of Work at Scale project, being delivered in partnership with Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT), is part of the Government of Canada's commitment to refocusing assistance towards poverty reduction and to creating jobs and business opportunities for unemployed and underemployed youth. This project will focus on youth living in eight African countries (Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Morocco, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zambia), six of which are Commonwealth member countries.

The emphasis will be on equipping young people with the skills and education they need to use information and communications technology to start new businesses, secure jobs, and access financial products and services. Up to 200,000 young people will benefit from the project. This is in line with the digital Commonwealth vision and activities seeking to enhance the capacity of individuals and empower youth through the possession of digital skills.

Key activities of the project include:

- Leadership training for young people;

- Delivery of entrepreneurship, information-communications technology, and workforce readiness programs; and

- Development and curation of self-directed online learning for youth.

DOT, headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, and with local operations around the world, is a leading international social enterprise. The organization focuses on building global networks of talented young leaders who create real change by educating local communities in how to apply technology effectively.

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