Accra, Ghana - Mr. Joseph Zotoo, Project Lead at the Youth Employment Pathway Development Initiative (YEPDI), has advocated for new partnerships to enhance the initiative's reach and impact. His call for collaboration is centered around increasing access to technology and educational opportunities for young people in Ghana.
During his presentation at the International Forum on Youth Entrepreneurship in Dalian, China, Mr. Zotoo emphasized the need for financial and material support from potential partners.
According to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) , this support is crucial to provide more youths with access to technology and educational resources through YEPDI’s Job Centres and online platform.
Mr. Zotoo highlighted YEPDI's commitment to offering training in employability, transferable skills, remote working capabilities, and business development services. The aim is to develop well-rounded individuals proficient in various sectors, including consulting and entrepreneurship. He shared that within a year, YEPDI, supported by the KGL Foundation in Ghana, had trained 225 young people. Moreover, TalentsinAfrica's Internship Academy has trained and placed over 1000 youths in internships since 2019.
Reflecting on his journey, Mr. Zotoo acknowledged how access to technology and internships had significantly shaped his career. He recalled receiving a laptop from his aunt after high school, which was instrumental in learning typing, conducting research, and developing business proposals. He also mentioned his transformative experience with an 'Internship Academy' led by Mr. Emmanuel Leslie Addae, co-founder of TalentsinAfrica, which honed his employability and transferable skills.
These experiences, according to Mr. Zotoo, equipped him with knowledge and skills that made him a successful freelancer and consultant. He has worked with reputable organizations like German Sparkassenstiftung, The Or Foundation, Mastercard Foundation, Making Cents International, Footprints Africa, and Challenges Ghana. His ability to work remotely and his deep understanding of the entrepreneurial ecosystem have been distinguishing factors in his career.
Mr. Zotoo concluded by emphasizing that overcoming poverty-related barriers to privileges is a key solution to youth unemployment. He sees the potential for significant impact through partnerships that enable more youths to access similar opportunities and privileges that helped shape his own career.