Two young women took centre stage as the shining lights of our Young Stars webinar held Feb.9 with our friends at Generation Unlimited. This comes on Canada’s #InternationalDevelopmentWeek, which is, this year, spotlighting the globally recognized Sustainable Development Goals to make a better world.
Two of those goals apply here, as Amélie Bordeleau, counsellor (development) and head of office at Embassy of Canada in Nicaragua, noted. They are: Decent Work and Economic Growth and Gender Equality.
Jasleydi Domínguez and Karina Manzanares spoke of their involvement in Empuje (Closing the Gender Gap in Youth Employment in Nicaragua), Children Believe’s five-year youth employability project in Nicaragua, supported by Global Affairs Canada. They said Empuje has given them the skills and connections to thrive and build their own futures through professional and life-skills training.
“This project is supporting youth, especially young women, to access education and training opportunities by creating sustainable gender-sensitive youth employment networks and collaborative mechanisms,” explained Fred Witteveen, CEO of Children Believe. The initiative’s target is to support 12,000 youth, particularity 7,200 young women in nine major areas across Nicaragua.
Why is Empuje so necessary? The girls shared their challenges overcoming discrimination, local stereotypes of gender roles and access to information as key barriers to employability and success.
“I suffered from gender discrimination and also because my body image doesn’t comply with beauty standards. I also suffered class discrimination, because most of my classmates were from more solid economic households,” explained Karina, 26, a trained psychologist and entrepreneur who had support from Empuje to grow her confidence and online business through skills-training.
Jasleydi, 22, came from a conservative family and had to overcome stereotypes. “[I was told] I had to learn homemaking skills, because my future was to get married and be a homemaker and take care of my husband, rather than learn skills for my own survival. I would have to rely on a man,” she said.
But, today, Jasleydi has a bright future. Thanks to training and support through Empuje, she landed a temporary job at a bookstore that helped her cover expenses so she can complete her university scholarship in communications.
The project’s goal is to help more young women access support. Dr. Kevin Frey, CEO of Generation Unlimited, shared that 282-million young people worldwide are not in education, employment or training (NEET), and young women are twice as likely to have NEET status than men.
Youth unemployment is a global problem, due to the changing dynamics of the workforce, but change is possible if we work together.
“With the extraordinary challenges youth are facing — we need to increase the urgency and enhance the speed of reform. And — most importantly — we need to keep young people at the centre of it all!” Kevin said.
Panellists agreed the answer is working together with governments, the private and public sector and, most importantly, youth. It isn’t easy, but progress is underway thanks to projects like Empuje.
“We need to share these examples that we can work together,” began Fred. “If we’ve done it here, where can we do it next? Those conversations are starting.”
And, private-sector organizations like Gildan Activewear are helping spur that change. “We believe as a member of the private sector we have a strong influence on the change we want to see and be part of it,” noted Alis del Carmen Perdomo Salgado, sustainability coordinator at the brand’s social compliance division in Central America.
And, youth themselves are the answers to lasting change. Both of the young stars on the panel are already role models with words of inspiration for their peers.
“My principal message for all women in Nicaragua and around the world is to study, because education is the foundation for progress… It opens your mind. Do your research, get informed. Apply for scholarships. Don’t let fear enclose you…. Be daring,” said Jasleydi.
Karina had advice, too. “The first thing I’d say is we should develop resilience based on self-confidence as women. We should learn to love ourselves as we are, and we should learn to love our differences,” she said, noting why it’s so important to develop skills. “Through financial empowerment we can be free.”
Fred closed by reminding attendees to create motivation so others can take action. “Great things can happen but only if we don’t leave the conversation here. I encourage you all to convert thoughts to action. This is a global issue.”
You can start by reading more about how to speak up for change or by sponsoring a child who you can encourage in their education through letters. Be the change.
Watch the complete webinar now.