We are a collective of young unemployed rural men and women with varying tertiary qualifications. The issue of youth unemployment has become the major stumbling block that continues to be the demand by prospective employers for “work experience” which newly qualified youth do not have. It goes without saying that this condition places young people in a “catch 22” situation. We intend to subscribe
to any development effort that stimulates, empowers, and promotes joint action amongst socially dislocated unemployed graduates (and addressing issues of post-schooling). Hence, our philosophy is premised in the belief that strategic partnerships that engage in human resource development, in order to promote the leadership, technical expertise, and management capabilities that will ensure the efficient solution of our rural development problems and in turn promotes self sufficiency and progress. Mindful that the government periodically introduces measures aimed at assisting the despondent youth, such efforts have been found to be wanting. Consequently, signatories of the “Youth Employment Accord” advocate for a youth development strategy that would involve youth brigade in order to give youth “ a chance to serve their communities, provide work experience and training, integrate into a social movement, build social cohesion and earn a stipend” (ibid Pg 18). It is against this background that the idea of founding a youth brigade is based. The envisaged unit acknowledges the skills, assets and capabilities of young people as basis for their transformation and development hence we put premium on young people acting upon themselves, rather than being acted upon. Put briefly, the main objective in this regard is to establish an association that would initially facilitate moral regeneration and ultimately foster job creation. We hereby posit that while there seems to be an over-abundance of unskilled (and consequently) unemployed labour force in our country, there is a relative poverty in respect of the “intangible asset” (skilled labour) without which the much desired economic expansion and increased productivity cannot be attained.
