Africa | Young and unemployed: A time-bomb

The highest percentage of the unemployed masses is youths. According to the Africa Development Indicators report released by the World Bank, youth unemployment is at 83 percent in Uganda. About 256,700 youths can’t find jobs every year in Uganda.

Sacrifices made behind the scenes

Many parents have paid the price. In the past, most felt assured investing in their child’s education is a worthwhile cause, and even end up using their retirement packages in a bid to see their children through school. These include selling off plots of land, houses and other investments, largely on faith their children will be able to take care of them in the future.

Christine Nabadda, another unemployed graduate, tells of how her father had to take a number of soft loans in order to pay her way through university – and that he still hasn’t seen any results.

“We were nine children at home and we were all in school at the same time so it was financially straining for my father. I remember he would take loans in order to pay my tuition and when it wasn’t possible, I would talk to my uncle who would also usually get advances at work,” she narrates.

“My father had to sell off his land in order to educate my brother and I. We thought we would be able to get the government quota scholarship but we didn’t make it so our father had to sell land for us to go to Makerere. I would like to be in position to buy him land in payment for the one he sold but I can’t because I do not have a job after graduating three years ago,” she says.

The traditional perception that society holds the formal white-collar job to be the ultimate form of employment is being challenged, as Ugandans are being pressured to fall into a specific type of job that the country cannot offer…

Source:

via Young and unemployed: the time-bomb bound to explode – Reviews & Profiles |monitor.co.ug.

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