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Navigating a Future of Uncertainty | Madelle Kangha | TEDxALC


[Applause]

[Applause] there is a photograph which shows an EMR

there is a photograph which shows an EMR

there is a photograph which shows an EMR one day a chemical engineering graduate

one day a chemical engineering graduate

one day a chemical engineering graduate holding a placard and looking for work

holding a placard and looking for work

holding a placard and looking for work on the streets of Johannesburg South

on the streets of Johannesburg South

on the streets of Johannesburg South Africa which is arguably one of the most

Africa which is arguably one of the most

Africa which is arguably one of the most advanced economies across the African

advanced economies across the African

advanced economies across the African continent now I see arguably because I’m

continent now I see arguably because I’m

continent now I see arguably because I’m aware that they are Nigerians in the

aware that they are Nigerians in the

aware that they are Nigerians in the audience across the African continent

audience across the African continent

audience across the African continent there are millions of young people like

there are millions of young people like

there are millions of young people like Anthea who face a future of uncertainty

Anthea who face a future of uncertainty

Anthea who face a future of uncertainty and uncertainty that is compounded by

and uncertainty that is compounded by

and uncertainty that is compounded by technological advancements like

technological advancements like

technological advancements like automation and robotics which will

automation and robotics which will

automation and robotics which will further reduce the number of jobs

further reduce the number of jobs

further reduce the number of jobs available

growing up in Cameroon I was very

growing up in Cameroon I was very familiar with that abyss of despair

familiar with that abyss of despair

familiar with that abyss of despair created by youth unemployment year after

created by youth unemployment year after

created by youth unemployment year after year I worked thousands of young people

year I worked thousands of young people

year I worked thousands of young people Corral from universities only to join a

Corral from universities only to join a

Corral from universities only to join a green pool of unemployed graduates when

green pool of unemployed graduates when

green pool of unemployed graduates when I was 11 years old and my very first

I was 11 years old and my very first

I was 11 years old and my very first year at secondary school my older

year at secondary school my older

year at secondary school my older brother was one of my greatest role

brother was one of my greatest role

brother was one of my greatest role models they graduated from the

models they graduated from the

models they graduated from the University of voya in Cameroon flying

University of voya in Cameroon flying

University of voya in Cameroon flying colors I could not be at his graduation

colors I could not be at his graduation

colors I could not be at his graduation but being a typical last child I made

but being a typical last child I made

but being a typical last child I made sure I sent him a very long list of all

sure I sent him a very long list of all

sure I sent him a very long list of all the things he was going to buy for me

the things he was going to buy for me

the things he was going to buy for me when he got his first paycheck

when he got his first paycheck

when he got his first paycheck yet months of the month and day after

yet months of the month and day after

yet months of the month and day after day I watched my brother full of so much

day I watched my brother full of so much

day I watched my brother full of so much ambition go out in search of a job only

ambition go out in search of a job only

ambition go out in search of a job only to be told that there were no job like

to be told that there were no job like

to be told that there were no job like many African youths

many African youths

many African youths my older brother had spent 17 years of

my older brother had spent 17 years of

my older brother had spent 17 years of his life in school preparing for a job

his life in school preparing for a job

his life in school preparing for a job that seemed did not exist

that seemed did not exist

that seemed did not exist I recall when I was fifteen years old

I recall when I was fifteen years old

I recall when I was fifteen years old sitting in class in geography class and

sitting in class in geography class and

sitting in class in geography class and learning about fishing in Norway now I

learning about fishing in Norway now I

learning about fishing in Norway now I have nothing against nori or nothing I

have nothing against nori or nothing I

have nothing against nori or nothing I didn’t unlock Indian fishing but I

didn’t unlock Indian fishing but I

didn’t unlock Indian fishing but I wondered how this was relevant the

wondered how this was relevant the

wondered how this was relevant the realities after graduation and how this

realities after graduation and how this

realities after graduation and how this was preparing me for the real war in my

was preparing me for the real war in my

was preparing me for the real war in my brother’s case he decided to take the

brother’s case he decided to take the

brother’s case he decided to take the future in his hand and started a small

future in his hand and started a small

future in his hand and started a small business fast forward to today he is

business fast forward to today he is

business fast forward to today he is currently the director of the largest

currently the director of the largest

currently the director of the largest national companies in Cameroon so I

national companies in Cameroon so I

national companies in Cameroon so I eventually got everything I wanted on my

eventually got everything I wanted on my

eventually got everything I wanted on my list but more so watching my elder

list but more so watching my elder

list but more so watching my elder brother navigate this future of

brother navigate this future of

brother navigate this future of uncertainty got me thinking about youth

uncertainty got me thinking about youth

uncertainty got me thinking about youth entrepreneurship and about the education

entrepreneurship and about the education

entrepreneurship and about the education system in Cameroon and it made me ask

system in Cameroon and it made me ask

system in Cameroon and it made me ask this question what is entrepreneurship

this question what is entrepreneurship

this question what is entrepreneurship were embedded in the education system

with this question in mind

with this question in mind I left Cameroon in 2008 to study at the

I left Cameroon in 2008 to study at the

I left Cameroon in 2008 to study at the African Leadership Academy or le now

African Leadership Academy or le now

African Leadership Academy or le now this is my very first time out of

this is my very first time out of

this is my very first time out of Cameroon slice if you imagine how

Cameroon slice if you imagine how

Cameroon slice if you imagine how excited I was in the land of Mandela the

excited I was in the land of Mandela the

excited I was in the land of Mandela the land of a beauty but more still I was

land of a beauty but more still I was

land of a beauty but more still I was curious

curious

curious here’s the sea the youth unemployment

here’s the sea the youth unemployment

here’s the sea the youth unemployment crisis in Cameroon was the same in other

crisis in Cameroon was the same in other

crisis in Cameroon was the same in other parts of the continent and it didn’t

parts of the continent and it didn’t

parts of the continent and it didn’t take very long for me to find an answer

take very long for me to find an answer

take very long for me to find an answer in fact asked only three months of

in fact asked only three months of

in fact asked only three months of living inside and studying with young

living inside and studying with young

living inside and studying with young people from many countries across the

people from many countries across the

people from many countries across the continent it became apparent that some

continent it became apparent that some

continent it became apparent that some Harare to prod Elizabeth from Dar es

Harare to prod Elizabeth from Dar es

Harare to prod Elizabeth from Dar es Salaam to Monrovia and from Mendes

Salaam to Monrovia and from Mendes

Salaam to Monrovia and from Mendes Casablanca youth unemployment was

Casablanca youth unemployment was

Casablanca youth unemployment was sweeping across the African continent

sweeping across the African continent

sweeping across the African continent like a whirlwind in 2009 after being

like a whirlwind in 2009 after being

like a whirlwind in 2009 after being immersed in an entrepreneurial

immersed in an entrepreneurial

immersed in an entrepreneurial curriculum at Ealing I moved to the

curriculum at Ealing I moved to the

curriculum at Ealing I moved to the United Kingdom Kaname

United Kingdom Kaname

United Kingdom Kaname now my dream at the time was to become a

now my dream at the time was to become a

now my dream at the time was to become a lawyer so I studied at all the green

lawyer so I studied at all the green

lawyer so I studied at all the green anthropology and law in 2012 I graduated

anthropology and law in 2012 I graduated

anthropology and law in 2012 I graduated from Ellis II and like many African

from Ellis II and like many African

from Ellis II and like many African youth who study abroad far removed from

youth who study abroad far removed from

youth who study abroad far removed from the realities of the continent all I

the realities of the continent all I

the realities of the continent all I could think of was starting a career as

could think of was starting a career as

could think of was starting a career as a lawyer and any thousands of pounds at

a lawyer and any thousands of pounds at

a lawyer and any thousands of pounds at that time McKinsey Global Institute had

that time McKinsey Global Institute had

that time McKinsey Global Institute had published a report called Africa at work

published a report called Africa at work

published a report called Africa at work job creation and inclusive growth the

job creation and inclusive growth the

job creation and inclusive growth the report showed that despite the creation

report showed that despite the creation

report showed that despite the creation of 37 million new jobs over the past

of 37 million new jobs over the past

of 37 million new jobs over the past decade only 28 percent of Africa’s labor

decade only 28 percent of Africa’s labor

decade only 28 percent of Africa’s labor force had held those jobs

force had held those jobs

force had held those jobs the report also showed that in the next

the report also showed that in the next

the report also showed that in the next 10 years Africa would need to create 54

10 years Africa would need to create 54

10 years Africa would need to create 54 million new jobs and yet in the same

million new jobs and yet in the same

million new jobs and yet in the same period about 122 million young people

period about 122 million young people

period about 122 million young people across the continent entered the liberal

across the continent entered the liberal

across the continent entered the liberal so there’s a huge gap and this got me

so there’s a huge gap and this got me

so there’s a huge gap and this got me thinking the time one of the loving at

thinking the time one of the loving at

thinking the time one of the loving at all and the time one of ten years old

all and the time one of ten years old

all and the time one of ten years old and the question I’d asked myself what

and the question I’d asked myself what

and the question I’d asked myself what if entrepreneurship was embedded in the

if entrepreneurship was embedded in the

if entrepreneurship was embedded in the education system it was then that I need

education system it was then that I need

education system it was then that I need the decision to work towards actualizing

the decision to work towards actualizing

the decision to work towards actualizing this possibility of actual of embedding

this possibility of actual of embedding

this possibility of actual of embedding entrepreneurship in the education system

entrepreneurship in the education system

entrepreneurship in the education system across the continent with the help of an

across the continent with the help of an

across the continent with the help of an incubator program Pub Watson University

incubator program Pub Watson University

incubator program Pub Watson University and supporters such as Amy and Ed

and supporters such as Amy and Ed

and supporters such as Amy and Ed brakeman I started John Studd Academy

brakeman I started John Studd Academy

brakeman I started John Studd Academy Africa in Cameroon in 2014 so thank you

Africa in Cameroon in 2014 so thank you

Africa in Cameroon in 2014 so thank you my king see now my parents know her

my king see now my parents know her

my king see now my parents know her responsible for my decisions with my

responsible for my decisions with my

responsible for my decisions with my career the violin Howe at Olmstead

career the violin Howe at Olmstead

career the violin Howe at Olmstead Academy Africa we use an interactive and

Academy Africa we use an interactive and

Academy Africa we use an interactive and a practical approach to learning in

a practical approach to learning in

a practical approach to learning in order to create and cultivate critical

order to create and cultivate critical

order to create and cultivate critical thinking skills and an entrepreneurial

thinking skills and an entrepreneurial

thinking skills and an entrepreneurial approach to problem-solving and in doing

approach to problem-solving and in doing

approach to problem-solving and in doing so we help thousands of young people

so we help thousands of young people

so we help thousands of young people across Cameron become valued

across Cameron become valued

across Cameron become valued contributors in the job market in the

contributors in the job market in the

contributors in the job market in the words of Tony aluminum I’m trippin

words of Tony aluminum I’m trippin

words of Tony aluminum I’m trippin airship means African youth no longer

airship means African youth no longer

airship means African youth no longer have to find a job or between to become

have to find a job or between to become

have to find a job or between to become employees instead African users can

employees instead African users can

employees instead African users can create their own jobs become employers

create their own jobs become employers

create their own jobs become employers and take the future into their hand just

and take the future into their hand just

and take the future into their hand just like my brother did instead of sitting

like my brother did instead of sitting

like my brother did instead of sitting and lesson the future happen to them

and lesson the future happen to them

now I realize that there’s so much hype

now I realize that there’s so much hype about the term entrepreneurship and it’s

about the term entrepreneurship and it’s

about the term entrepreneurship and it’s become sort of a buzzword this day you

become sort of a buzzword this day you

become sort of a buzzword this day you know the mini buzzword these days

know the mini buzzword these days

know the mini buzzword these days recently someone told me my eyebrows

recently someone told me my eyebrows

recently someone told me my eyebrows rhyme sweet that was the first time I

rhyme sweet that was the first time I

rhyme sweet that was the first time I had the word so there are many buzzwords

had the word so there are many buzzwords

had the word so there are many buzzwords and I feel entrepreneurship has a

and I feel entrepreneurship has a

and I feel entrepreneurship has a tendency to become one of those both

tendency to become one of those both

tendency to become one of those both worlds and there has been a paradigm

worlds and there has been a paradigm

worlds and there has been a paradigm shift where by entrepreneurs are now

shift where by entrepreneurs are now

shift where by entrepreneurs are now seen as magicians creating magic as

seen as magicians creating magic as

seen as magicians creating magic as celebrities as rock stars as people

celebrities as rock stars as people

celebrities as rock stars as people creating the latest app and earning

creating the latest app and earning

creating the latest app and earning billions of dollars now there’s nothing

billions of dollars now there’s nothing

billions of dollars now there’s nothing wrong with that but that is not the kind

wrong with that but that is not the kind

wrong with that but that is not the kind of entrepreneurship and referring to the

of entrepreneurship and referring to the

of entrepreneurship and referring to the kind of entrepreneurship and advocates

kind of entrepreneurship and advocates

kind of entrepreneurship and advocates before today it won’t it’s one that

before today it won’t it’s one that

before today it won’t it’s one that centers around enabling young people

centers around enabling young people

centers around enabling young people especially in the African continent

especially in the African continent

especially in the African continent navigate a future of uncertainty in two

navigate a future of uncertainty in two

navigate a future of uncertainty in two main ways

main ways

main ways the first is by training and retraining

the first is by training and retraining

the first is by training and retraining young people with 21st century skill and

young people with 21st century skill and

young people with 21st century skill and the second is by enabling these young

the second is by enabling these young

the second is by enabling these young people to create value and not just any

people to create value and not just any

people to create value and not just any kind of value but long-term and

kind of value but long-term and

kind of value but long-term and sustainable value over the last three

sustainable value over the last three

sustainable value over the last three years at John Studd Academy Africa we

years at John Studd Academy Africa we

years at John Studd Academy Africa we have enabled young people over 350 of

have enabled young people over 350 of

have enabled young people over 350 of them create long-term value in rural

them create long-term value in rural

them create long-term value in rural areas and cities alike this includes

areas and cities alike this includes

areas and cities alike this includes young people like Joyce bucolic II a

young people like Joyce bucolic II a

young people like Joyce bucolic II a young woman from Berman de Cameroon

young woman from Berman de Cameroon

young woman from Berman de Cameroon Joyce was part of our inaugural class in

Joyce was part of our inaugural class in

Joyce was part of our inaugural class in 2014 and using the entrepreneurial

2014 and using the entrepreneurial

2014 and using the entrepreneurial skills she learned at the Academy she

skills she learned at the Academy she

skills she learned at the Academy she started a catering business called wind

started a catering business called wind

started a catering business called wind lights today

lights today

lights today Joyce employs three other young people

Joyce employs three other young people

Joyce employs three other young people and to the profits she makes is able to

and to the profits she makes is able to

and to the profits she makes is able to cover the cost of her university

cover the cost of her university

cover the cost of her university education it also includes young people

education it also includes young people

education it also includes young people like Steve Young Misaki who is actually

like Steve Young Misaki who is actually

like Steve Young Misaki who is actually seated in the audience today

CVL is a young woman from rural area

CVL is a young woman from rural area called ndu in cameroon and she was also

called ndu in cameroon and she was also

called ndu in cameroon and she was also part of our inaugural class in 2014

part of our inaugural class in 2014

part of our inaugural class in 2014 using the entrepreneurial training she

using the entrepreneurial training she

using the entrepreneurial training she received she started a radio program in

received she started a radio program in

received she started a radio program in her local community to sensitize the

her local community to sensitize the

her local community to sensitize the local population such as malaria and

local population such as malaria and

local population such as malaria and hiv/aids she also became one of the 50

hiv/aids she also became one of the 50

hiv/aids she also became one of the 50 young people that was selected to join

young people that was selected to join

young people that was selected to join the inaugural class of the year young

the inaugural class of the year young

the inaugural class of the year young Africa Scholars Program and there’s more

Africa Scholars Program and there’s more

Africa Scholars Program and there’s more she also won a scholarship and joined

she also won a scholarship and joined

she also won a scholarship and joined the inaugural class of the African

the inaugural class of the African

the inaugural class of the African Leadership College here in Mauritius but

Leadership College here in Mauritius but

Leadership College here in Mauritius but she studies electrical engineering and

she studies electrical engineering and

she studies electrical engineering and there’s two more she now runs a

there’s two more she now runs a

there’s two more she now runs a nonprofit organization in Cameron which

nonprofit organization in Cameron which

nonprofit organization in Cameron which empowers orphans and vulnerable children

empowers orphans and vulnerable children

empowers orphans and vulnerable children I believe she deserves

like joys and like CBN there are

like joys and like CBN there are millions of young people across the

millions of young people across the

millions of young people across the African continent with the potential to

African continent with the potential to

African continent with the potential to create value for themselves and in their

create value for themselves and in their

create value for themselves and in their communities what they need is training

communities what they need is training

communities what they need is training and mentorship that will break the

and mentorship that will break the

and mentorship that will break the barriers disease and ignite their

barriers disease and ignite their

barriers disease and ignite their possibilities now there are other

possibilities now there are other

possibilities now there are other initiatives and other institutions doing

initiatives and other institutions doing

initiatives and other institutions doing fantastic work in this area of youth

fantastic work in this area of youth

fantastic work in this area of youth entrepreneurship across the continent

entrepreneurship across the continent

entrepreneurship across the continent institutions like with Rick wars in

institutions like with Rick wars in

institutions like with Rick wars in Zimbabwe and natural comprehensive

Zimbabwe and natural comprehensive

Zimbabwe and natural comprehensive college in Cameroon however and this is

college in Cameroon however and this is

college in Cameroon however and this is a huge however by 2050 we need to create

a huge however by 2050 we need to create

a huge however by 2050 we need to create jobs for an extra 1 billion people on

jobs for an extra 1 billion people on

jobs for an extra 1 billion people on the continent now think about that

the continent now think about that

the continent now think about that number 1 billion people or as a young

number 1 billion people or as a young

number 1 billion people or as a young man I know coffret spanakopita if we do

man I know coffret spanakopita if we do

man I know coffret spanakopita if we do not create jobs for an extra 1 billion

not create jobs for an extra 1 billion

not create jobs for an extra 1 billion people on the continent by 2050 then we

people on the continent by 2050 then we

people on the continent by 2050 then we are sitting on a ticking time bomb you

are sitting on a ticking time bomb you

are sitting on a ticking time bomb you know I never imagined that quoting for a

know I never imagined that quoting for a

know I never imagined that quoting for a 20-car poor people ever going to get me

20-car poor people ever going to get me

20-car poor people ever going to get me in trouble until two days ago when I was

in trouble until two days ago when I was

in trouble until two days ago when I was on my strike to Mauritius and I was

on my strike to Mauritius and I was

on my strike to Mauritius and I was rehearsing my speech to myself I was

rehearsing my speech to myself I was

rehearsing my speech to myself I was talking out loud and I put in my

talking out loud and I put in my

talking out loud and I put in my headphones and I got to this slide and I

headphones and I got to this slide and I

headphones and I got to this slide and I said the words ticking time-bomb on an

said the words ticking time-bomb on an

said the words ticking time-bomb on an airplane but it all seriousness I

airplane but it all seriousness I

airplane but it all seriousness I believe the ticking time bomb metaphor

believe the ticking time bomb metaphor

believe the ticking time bomb metaphor Fred use this demonstrate that dividend

Fred use this demonstrate that dividend

Fred use this demonstrate that dividend of Africa’s youthful population is not a

of Africa’s youthful population is not a

of Africa’s youthful population is not a given

given

given in fact it requires urgent and

in fact it requires urgent and

in fact it requires urgent and substantial investment

substantial investment

substantial investment it also requires macroeconomic as well

it also requires macroeconomic as well

it also requires macroeconomic as well as fiscal policies therefore I invite

as fiscal policies therefore I invite

as fiscal policies therefore I invite all of you here today to think of the

all of you here today to think of the

all of you here today to think of the different ways in which you can enable

different ways in which you can enable

different ways in which you can enable entrepreneurship in your respective

entrepreneurship in your respective

entrepreneurship in your respective communities and countries whether you’re

communities and countries whether you’re

communities and countries whether you’re a student a teacher a lawyer a doctor

a student a teacher a lawyer a doctor

a student a teacher a lawyer a doctor an accountant we all have an important

an accountant we all have an important

an accountant we all have an important role to play in this full of youth

role to play in this full of youth

role to play in this full of youth entrepreneurship across the continent

entrepreneurship across the continent

entrepreneurship across the continent I believe Africa’s future lies with this

I believe Africa’s future lies with this

I believe Africa’s future lies with this generation who will capture value

generation who will capture value

generation who will capture value generate growth and create sustainable

generate growth and create sustainable

generate growth and create sustainable development across the continent by

development across the continent by

development across the continent by enabling African youth to navigate a

enabling African youth to navigate a

enabling African youth to navigate a future of uncertainty we can and we will

future of uncertainty we can and we will

future of uncertainty we can and we will empower the next generation and the

empower the next generation and the

empower the next generation and the economic drivers of the future thank you

economic drivers of the future thank you

economic drivers of the future thank you [Applause]

”

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