African Diaspora Youth Forum in Europe 2015 by Orange Magazine

MAGAZINE

ADYFE - African Diaspora Youth Forum in Europe

8-11 June 2015 in VIC Austria

Unlocking Youth Potential: EMPLOYABILITY &

ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

YOUTH IN DIASPORA, A MEANS TO SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT

MAGAZINE EUROPEAN YOUTH PRESS European Youth Press is an umbrella association of young journalists in Europe. It involves more than 50,000 journalists working for university magazines, Internet projects, radio and video productions, or are interns in editor-rooms, freelance journalists, journalism students or trainees. With p r i n t m a g a z i n e s o r b l o g s, p o d c a s t s and v-casts, the association wants to give young media makers from all over Europe the oppor tunity to cooperate directly with each other. Above all, the aim of all member associations and the umbrella structure is to inspire young people to deal with media and take an active par t in society by fostering objective and independent journalism. ORANGE MAGAZINE Fresh. Vibrant. Creative. Orange is a youth- driven magazine dedicated to tack ling urgent inter national issues. Writers and photographers from different countries with diverse backgrounds make this magazine unique. They create multi-faced magazines with new and interesting c o n t e n t s. C re a t i n g i t m e a n s h a v i n g an exciting time in a quite un u s u a l environment. Reading it means getting facts and opinions directly from young and innovative journalists.

WITH SUPPORT OF

IMPRINT Publishers line: Orange Magazine European Youth Press, Square de Meeus 25, B-1000, Brussels, Belgium Contributors: Milena Stosic Katarzyna Morton, Dmitri Romanovski Lisa Zeller Sanaa Afouaiz Amina-Maria Aidi

VAS The organization Verein Afrikanischer Studentinnen Und Studenten (VAS) is an association of African Students in Austria, whose mission is to create a suitable environment for academic success, promotion of culture, encourage entrepreneurship and solidarity for positive change in society. The associationsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; orientation is non-political, non-discriminatory and non-lucrative. The organization is gathering members origin from different African countries as well as members with no African background, interested in synergy and cooperation between continents and young people. The aim of the organization is to engage and empower African youth in Africa and in Diaspora by creating opportunities and services that ensure their social inclusion.

Photos by: Fabian Eberle Dmitri Romanovski Richmond Ojobor Wallace Pixmix Mayeul Akpovi Mohamed Ali Impact hub vienna Nanawax Layout: Alonge Olalekan Adelana Ayoola Read more about our team at: orange.youtpress.org and orangemagazine. eu All articles do not necessarily represent the opinions of the magazine.

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Editorial

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in his remarks to the ‚‘Entrepreneurship for Development ‚‘General Assembly Thematic Debate on 26 June 2013 said that an estimated 425 million young women and men would join the labour force between 2016 and 2030. He also underlined that in 2013 itself some 73 million young people would be unemployed - ‚‘that means the world will need about half a billion jobs by then‘‘- he commented. Yet, it is crucial to remember that the importance of access to jobs goes far beyond numbers and eco!"#$%&'()*&+,-*./($+(0*1!*.(2,#&!(0$3!$+4( and impacts on how people perceive them.*'5*.6( 2"7( %"!10*!+( +2*4( 8*%"#*6( 2"7( motivated they are to develop their skills &!0( 1!&''4( &-*( +2*4( 7$''$!3( +"( &..*-+$5*'4( overcome various crises they face. Wellbeing of youth impacts directly a condition of societies. Therefore discussing topics as access to quality jobs, entrepreneurship, economic development and investments as well as gender perspective, seem crucial

- especially - when it concerns vulnerable and disadvantaged groups as African Diaspora in Europe. Fully aware of the gravity of that issue, Association of African Students in Austria (VAS Österreich) organised two-days large scale event in the UN Vienna on 9-10 June, which gathered around 200 youth representatives, decision makers, entrepreneurs and activists around the biggest event of the sort in Europe African Diaspora Youth Forum in Europe (ADYFE), in its second edition “Unlocking Youth Potential: Employability and Entrepreneurial Skills Development”. “I strongly believe that the African Diaspora’s youth contribution should be measured as inputs of skilled labour and by its ability to build bridges between countries of origin and destination which help stimulate not only economic activity, but transfers of knowledge and cultural and social norms” said co-project manger Ibrahima Djiguine. To see young people taking various initi-

atives to tackle the most urgent challenges of nowadays global world helps to look at the future with a hope. Yet their actions can bring even more impact if they are voiced loudly and widely promoted. As the European Youth Press believes in a free and inclusive society that upholds human rights and strives to inspire the engagement of well-informed citizens we are glad to contribute to a process of empowering youth. By bringing more visibility to the event like ADYFE we are hoping to inspire more people to take an action upon their own future and send a message to youngsters that their pro-activeness and motivation is a part of a solution.

MAGAZINE

ALONE WE CAN GO FAST, BUT TOGETHER WE CAN GO FURTHER By: Dmitri Romanovski (Moldova)

„We can do it only as a network!’, - said Diakite. The African Diaspora Youth Forum in Europe 2015 “Unlocking Youth Potential: Employability and Entrepreneurial Skills Development” has kicked-off on Monday evening in Vienna. The event is going to last for two days and will gather around 200 youth representatives, decision makers, entrepreneurs and activists from Africa and beyond. The Forum will follow the Erasmus + workshop ‘Social Project Management for Youth Inclusion’, which took place last week and brought together 40 young people from 20 African nations from all 15*(-*3$"!.(") (+2*(%"!+$!*!+(&!0(0"9*!(") (:,-";*&!(;&-+$%$;&!+.< The opening ceremony started with the speech by the Youssouf Simbo Diakite, President of the Association of African students in Austria (VAS). He highlighted that the only way to empower communities in African and around the world is to work together. He mentioned that the role of African Diaspora is to take part in the work on different developments in Africa, ‘not only sending money back home, but also in the political sense’.

Partners Award Wesely one of the facilitators of the workshop that took place last week. Minister of youth and Civic Education of Republic of Congo E. Anatole Collinet Makosso, underlined that the work VAS is doing by training and bringing together young activists is the gift for the governments all over the world. One of the outcomes of the Erasmus+ workshop presented by two participants Zamiya Mooge and Irene Najjemba were proposals, which young people developed for the decision-makers. These proposals were aimed to enhance life-conditions in Africa. Among many others, there was an idea of campaign aimed at reducing immigration from Africa, which would show the advantages of staying home. ‘We see the rise of migration. People leave their home countries because they think that the life in Europe is much better. They see it as a paradise. We propose the campaign to show that the life in Africa also can be good’, - said Najjemba.

=*+*-(>*.*'4(") (?&$))*$.*!(@&!A(+""A(+2*(B""-(84(+*''$!3(&(.+"-4( of the Bank empowering peasants in Austria through developing She mentioned that it takes both immigrant and local African agriculture. communities to work together to achieve results. C2*(%*-*#"!4(1!$.2*0(7$+2(0$.+-$8,+$"!(") (2"!",-&8'*(&7&-0.( He encouraged VAS to strengthen their networks and to share to the people who supported the event, speeches of partners and their connections. dance performance by the Black Queenz duo. ‘Alone you can go far, but together we can go further’, - quoted

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‘Charity is not the way to empower people’,

‘Youth is our social security’, - said Makoso.

‘It takes two to tango - said Najjemba

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TO LINK DEVELOPMENT

WITH MIGRATION

By Lisa Zeller

‘I DO NOT PRETEND TO KNOW ALL ABOUT EUROPE OR AFRICA’, – PETER LAUNSKYTIEFENTHAL STARTED HIS KEY NOTE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF AFRICAN DIASPORA YOUTH FORUM IN EUROPE 2015 WITH HUMBLENESS. THE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION AT THE AUSTRIAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

HAD TIME TO SPEAK TO SOME OF THE PARTICIPANTS OF ADYFE IN PERSON BEFORE HIS SPEECH. ‘ I learned a lot from you during those conversations. You know what makes Europe tick and you know what makes Africa tick’, - said Launsky-Tiefenthal.

Med Yassine Ennaem´s

remark was in line with that statement: ‘The role of ADYNE is to be the middle man between both sides, Africa and Europe’, - the President

of the African Diaspora Youth Network said. In his speech, he called for actions regarding the bureaucratic process for start-ups that African youth face after migration. DC2*(1-.+(.$E(#"!+2.(") (.+&-+$!3(&( 8,.$!*..( .2",'0( 8*( +&E( )-**FG6( H( .&$0( Ennaem and got a round of applause for this statement.

Gibril Faal, speaker for the Africa Europe Development Platform had a different focus. ‘What is the most revolutionising

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tion from the Republic of Congo, Anatole Collinet Makosse. He spoke &8",+(+2*(*E%2&!3*(") (%,'+,-&'($0*!tity through migration, something the audience could relate to. ‘YOU DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTE TO DEVELOPMENT’, - ADDRESSED MAKOSSE THE AUDIENCE. Then he used a term to describe what all this may lead to: ‘the African Renaissance’. ‘How long do we have to talk about unlocking youth potential? We know 7*(2&5*(;"+*!+$&'FG6(H(:0$"'&(=&.2"'lari, the Secretary General from the World Assembly of Youth, provocatively asked the audience that showed their agreement with applause. More than 70 million youth are unemployed worldwide. This number is overshadowing global adult unemployment. Her solution to the problem lies within the support of youth work. ‘We need to equip every youth with knowledge to get jobs that create more jobs’, - said Pashollari. And she urged the participants to ‘bridge that gap and make that bridge’.

thing that contributed to development in Africa in the last 20 years?’, - Faal asks the audience.

‘Telecommunications!’, - was the rapid response of a participant. Faal agrees: ‘Mobile phones have contributed to the creation of jobs. African entrepreneurs add to development’, - and he adds - ‘You, as members of the African Diaspora, have a direct input into development’. One of the special guests was the Minister of Youth and Civic Educa-

The fact that remittances by African Youth Diaspora to countries of origin are very important for the development of African countries was raised by merely all speakers. But most of them share the opinion that economic change is not the only thing that should be happening in the area of development. DI+(3"*.(8*4"!0(1!&!%$&'(.,;;"-+6( it goes beyond remittances. It includes also human and social capital’, - Ennaem stated. Pashollari also concluded in her speech: ‘We have to look at mental, physical and emotional support, !"#$%&'#$(!)!*+),$'&--".#/0 Launsky-Tiefenthal added a new perspective and may have addressed a missing aspect in all conversation: D>*(%&!!"+("!'4(.**(84(+2*(*E&#;'*(

of remittances, but we can see by what happened on the seaway to Europe that it is important to link development with migration’. He sees that this can be achieved by supporting and empowering *E;&+-$&+*( !*+7"-A.6( .2"-+*!$!3( +2*( application process for African youth to apply for student visas in Austria. ‘It is important for us that you feel welcome in Austria and in Europe as a whole’, - concluded LaunskyTiefenthal.

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#ADYFE OPENING IN SOCIAL MEDIA

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MAGAZINE

INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP FOR ALL? „TODAY, YOUTH IS THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE UNEMPLOYED THAN THE OLDER GENERATIONS,“ UNIDO REPRESENTATIVE ABDEL KADI BEGAN HIS SPEECH. INPUT ON THE POSSIBILITIES FOR YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS WAS GIVEN BY HIM MAINLY FOR LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES – COUNTRIES THAT ARE MAINLY AFFECTED BY CRISIS, WAR AND CONFLICT. „

This can be addressed with youth employment and social cohesion“. He went on to introduce the UNIDO program IDEA (Inclusive Development Entrepreneurship for all). The program aims to tackle the informal working sector by accompanying young people to turn informal work into a formal one. They see their role not as intervening, but as assisting: “We are not trying to reinvent the wheel.

for yourself“ In Armenia, they supported a 25-year old female entrepreneur in starting her business of making salted nuts. Concrete actions they took were to help professionalise her abilities and give her technical assistance to start her business. She sees the chances of creating jobs in the impact this has on a state level:

“The minute you create new jobs you create more state revenue“, but she We are trying to give a frame” Accor- also recognizes that the approach to ding to Kadi, in order to achieve this, increase and support entrepreneurship !"#$ %&'(&)**#$ ")+$ !'$ ,#$ -#./,0#$ !'$ is not the only way for development: any country and also not only address “Entrepreneurship is not the one soluyoung people, but also “people with tion. It is one way,“ she achknowledges. an anchor” to employ and train young people. Panel moderator from European Youth Press, Milena Stosic, asks a queAnother panelist, Somaya Moll, stion that popped up on twitter: “What also works for UNIDO. She has been skills are needed to be eligible for the involved in projects in various African program?“ Moll responds clearly: countries, but she highlights a success story on non-African grounds, namely “First, it is about awareness raising. Armenia. Why this? “ It sometimes is 6'4$ 7)33'!$ #.%#7!$ %#'%0#$ !'$ 83'9$ good to look at similar problems in a what skills they need in advance. You 1/22#&#3!$+4&&'431/3($!'$531$+'04!/'3+$ should be willing to take a risk and

THE FIRST ONE TO BRING UP A GENDER PERSPECTIVE IS SANAA AFOUAIZ, WOMEN ADVOCATE AND YOUTH ACITIVIST.

"):#$ 7'351#37#$ /3$ ;'4&+#02<=$ >!$ ")+$ also proven to be successful if you have done the activity for a while. Moll adds: “What is lacking in developing countries often is a role model. Fill the social gap, not only the economic gap.“ ?"#$5&+!$'3#$!'$,&/3($4%$)$(#31#&$ perspective is Sanaa Afouaiz, women advocate and youth acitivist. “Today 9#$0/:#$/3$)$9'&01$'2 $#.!&#*#$@$#.!&#*#$ %':#&!;A$#.!&#*#$2''1$/++4#+A$#.!&#*#$ health issues,“ she says an continues: “With being more than 50% of the world´s population, women cannot be taken out!“ She stresses that still often today a woman is working in a job, on farms and various professions plus also working at home.

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B2'4)/C$ (/:#+$ )$ 7'37&#!#$ #.)*%0#$ '2 $ )$ woman she met that worked on a farm and at home and on top of that , she had to give her money to her husband at the end of the day. When she stood up for her right to her wage, her husband divorced her. But what struck her more than the divorce, according to Afouaiz, is that she “found all the doors shut down at the government when she )+8#1$ 2'&$ 0#()0$ )++/+!)37#$ !'$ 5("!$ 2'&$ "#&$ right“. Not a big effort was given in the infor*)0$+#7!'&A$B2'4)/C$531+<$D'*#3$)0+'$"):#$ less access to entrepreneusrship. Afouaiz is sure: “When we have equal rights, there will be less war, less violence, and more food in developing countries“ Chantal Afou Bengaly from the International Movement of Catholic Students focuses on the concept of development aid: „Africa does not need help but job creation“. This, to her, is sustainable development. “We need to be part of the change and we should be the

engine of the change“, and wonders: “Are we preparing young people for the future or for the present? We say young people are the future, are we the future?“ She concludes that participatory action is key in development, but that investment in young people through educational trainings, informal education is also crucial. “Remittances contribute to development, but the institutional level is )0+'$ 3##1#1A=$ +"#$ 531+$ ,#7)4+#$ 2)*/0/#+$ that receive remittances often did not know how to use the money and how to invest it..

accessibility for disabled people in your organisation?“, was asked by VAS member E)&/)*$E)*/)3$F/)8/!G<$H"#$+%#7/57)00;$ addressed Sanaa Afouaiz and Chantal Afou Bengaly. Sanaa responded that she worked with disabled women and women with special needs. Chantal admitted that they do not have disabled people in their organisation, but that they are working with communities, child adoption programmes and support orphanage kids and that they offer equal treatment regardless of disabilities or non-disabilities. B2!#&$ !"#$ &'431$ '2 $ +%#)8#&+$ !"#$ -''&$ At the end, the moderator Stosic concluwas opened to the audience for que- ded that multisectoral cooperation should stions. Several questions were asked to be the key in all aspects of the work. She both UNIDO representatives about what also mentioned the gender relation on the opportunities they give and the selection panel: „We have been talking about repreand application process. One very different sentation of women. I think that in this question to other two of the panelists panel, we did quite a good job regarding certainly remained in everyone´s memory: this, and hopefully this will soon be the „We always talk about inclusiveness and case for the rest of the world, too“ forget women with disabilities. How is

MAGAZINE

Credit - WALLACE PIXMIX

NANAWAX BRINGING SPIRIT OF AFRICA INTO MORDERN FASHION

„Where there is love and inspiration, you can’t go wrong’, this quote, which belongs to the ‘Queen of Jazz’ Ella Fitzgerald perfectly reflects the life credo of Ayite Maureen, a young designer from France, who embodies her passion for traditional African style in modern fashion“

HOBBY THAT BECAME A BUSINESS

Being of Beninese origin, her mind and soul imbibed the love for traditional colours, patterns and materials while she was growing up between her home in France, Benin and Côte d‘Ivoire.

‘J‘aime le pagne de chez moi’, where I published photos of clothes, bags and accessories that I made for myself. I did it for the pleasure '2 $+")&/3($*;$0':#$2'&$!"#$9).$)31$)0+'$!"#$ works of other designers I liked”, - says Ayite.

However, quite soon it became obvious that the rapidly growing number of her Facebook Without any training in fashion, she began fans wish not only to admire Ayite’s acces!'$*)8#$"#&$5&+!$)77#++'&/#+$9"/0#$+"#$9)+$ sories online, but also to buy them. This is studying linguistics at the university. What when Ayite made a life-changing decision to started as a hobby soon became a business. %'+!%'3#$"#&$/3!#&3+"/%$)31$)&&)3(#$"#&$5&+!$ private sale in Paris. It was a huge success with “In 2008 I created a Facebook group called: hundreds of customers attending the event.

All her supplies where sold off that day. ‘This is when I understood the size of the market and of the demand for my products’, - says Ayite. GOING WORLDWIDE

Ayite says NANAWAX products are primarily targeting costumers from African Diaspora in Europe and Americas who want to wear traditional African prints and at the same time be up to date with the latest fashion trends. Another market is the African

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continent, which, according to Ayite, grows rapidly in recent years and becomes more and more important. ‘I imagine that in the future my brand will develop into the chain of stores set up in Africa and around the world. Brands like Asos and Zara are my main sources of inspiration because !"#;$ )&#$ #.)7!0;$ 9")!$ >$ )%%&#7/)!#$ /3$ !#&*+$ '2 $ *)&8#!/3($ strategy’, - says Ayite. However, the main obstacle on the way towards this goal for IBIBDBJ$/+$!"#$+)*#$)+$)!$!"#$5&+!$+)0#$/3$K)&/+L$!"#$1#*)31$ is much higher than the enterprise’s production capacities. ‘We have managed to multiply the production by 100 per cent in the last 14 months. With my team, we work all days of the week to make products but our production levels still come short to satisfying the demand, - says Ayite. COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT

Ayite underlines the inestimable contribution that the African Diaspora in Europe and other parts of the world made to help NANAWAX to become a recognizable brand.

She believes that young Africans have a lot to offer globally and should take more advantage of their multiculturalism and open-mildness.

Credit - MAYEUL AKPOVI

‘These qualities make a huge difference in learning and making career and they are the biggest advantages young Africans have on the global market. Young Africans are very talented, they are hungry for progress and most of the ones I have met want to prove to the world that Africa is an important part of this world and needs to be looked at in a special way’, - says Ayite.

Credit - WALLACE PIXMIX

‘My Facebook page has been strongly supported by the people from Diaspora and they represent a very strong customer base. In other words, I feel that the Diaspora has been very supportive and has somehow empowered me. In addition to that many people from the Diaspora have been :#&;$"#0%240$)31$2'&$!"/+$>$9)3!$!'$#.%&#++$*;$(&)!/!41#$!'$ all of them’, - says Ayite.

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YOUTH IN DIASPORA AS A KEY FOR DEVELOPMENT

YOUTH IN DIASPORA AS A KEY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT

THE FIRST DAY OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA YOUTH FORUM IN EUROPE 2015 ‘UNLOCKING YOUTH POTENTIAL: EMPLOYABILITY AND ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT’ FINALISED WITH THE PANEL DISCUSSING THE ROLE OF YOUTH IN DIASPORA AS A KEY FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF AFRICA. THE KEY SPEAKERS WHERE QUITE OUTSPOKEN REGARDING THE NEED TO RETHINK THE WAYS AFRICAN YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS WORK AND YOUTH FROM AFRICAN DIASPORA IS INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR HOME COUNTRIES.

IDENTITY ISSUES AND ENGAGEMENT IN POLITICS African writer Sarah Udoh Grossfutner highlighted the issue of identity that the second-generation of migrants acquire in Europe. According to her youth from Diaspora can be a key developer, but this could happen only if they would become stakeholders in their home countries in Africa, because youth tend to contribute to the country they feel they belong to.

most important component is the political involvement of youth from Diaspora in the policy-making in Africa. This is, according to JESSE, is the only way to create an environment advantageous for the development of entrepreneur ideas.

Someone will have to create these jobs in the future and if it would not be you, young people, then we are doomed’, said Fall.

He mentioned that for the development it is very important to differentiate ‘If you are not involved in policies between knowledge and skills, which is and politics you will not succeed in your often not a case for Africans, especially ,4+/3#++<$?"#+#$%'0/7/#+$+"'401$5!$;'4&$ of his generation. dreams. If you say: ‘I do not want to be involved in politics since it is all lies’, you ‘Some Africans, even if they work as are making a big mistake. We should take !)./$1&/:#&+A$7)3$"):#$+#:#&)0$1#(&##+<$M4!$ part in these processes, because we need if you can not tie your own laces, you are ‘More and more young people have good governance’, - said Ojobor. not that important to the society, regar)253/!;$!'$!"#$7'43!&;$'2 $!"#/&$&#+/1#37#<$ dless how many degrees you have. You T H E D I F F E R E N C E B E T- need skills to make a change’, - said Faal. If I would be born in Austria, I am going to think about Austria and contribute to WEEN SKILLS AND KNOW‘WHYS’ AND ‘HOWS’ OF the development of Austria, not Algeria. LEDGE YOUTH INVOLVEMENT How many young people feel they are Spokesperson of Africa-Europe Devefrom these African countries they parents lopment Platfor m and Founder of President of UNESCO’s Pan African came from?’, - asked Grossfutner. She believes answer to this question AFFORD Gibril Faal believes that the Youth Network on the Culture and would determine how much these young- solution is in ‘enterprising’ young people. Peace Lawrence Muli sees the problem In ideal world it means that young people in framing youth involvement. He mensters will be willing to contribute. will create new jobs for other youngsters. tioned that today the engagement is quite Jesse Ojobor of UNIDO pre+4%#&57/)0$+/3#$2'&$!"#$0)+!$NO$;#)&+$;'4!"$ sented another perspective on the issue ‘You should not say: ‘Give me a job’. organizations were discussing the same of youth involvement. In his view, the You should say: ‘Here is the job for you!’. things and tackling the same lofty matters.

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YOUTH IN DIASPORA AS A

KEY FOR DEVELOPMENT ‘A lot has been down in policy space in terms of plans, strategies and opportunities for the youth from Diaspora. There was a lot of talking about ‘why’. But we are not talking about ‘how’. How practically we transform all these plans and information into tangible tools.’, said Muli.

should stop asking governments for support, (which has been done for too long) )31$ +!)&!$ 7'33#7!/3($ !"#/&$ ,#3#57/)&/#+$ with the people who have money, convincing them to invest in youth projects.

In this work of shifting from ‘talking’ to ‘doing’ all African youth organizations should synergize their efforts and stop working on ad-hoc basis, believes Muli.

Senior Advisor to Prime Minister of Federal Republic of Somalia Muna Mohamud Mohamed shared personal #.%#&/#37#$'2 $#3()(/3($/3$1#:#0'%*#3!$ of her home country Somalia, where she returned from London.

‘KNOW-HOWS’ OF ENGAGING IN DEVELOPMENT

B3'!"#&$)1:/7#$9)+$!'$,#$-#./,0#$)31$ realise that your way is not the only one. Together with this, she mentioned that it is important to be mindful and not alienate locals by taking the best opportunities taking advantage of the fact that you came from abroad. On the opposite, nurturing local talents and transferring skills is the away to establish continuity of your work. Otherwise, it will have only individual impact and will be lost in case you will leave.

‘There are so many institutions, which ‘Lastly, do not get frustrated when are doing same things, do not talk to each facing many obstacles you will meet on Mohamed highlighted that it is impor- your way. It is a long process, so do not other and have same partners. So much *4!4)00;$#.704+/:#$9'&8A$3'!$!'$*#3!/'3$ !)3!$!'$0#:#0$1'93$!"#$+4%#&/'&/!;$7'*%0#.$ give up hope. If you are patience and stay that it confuses those partners’, - said that many members of Diaspora have persistent in time you will see the positive and engage in the mutual learning with consequences of your actions’, - concluMuli. local activists. ded Mohamed. He believes that youth organizations

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ENTREPRENEURSHIP: IT IS ALL ABOUT THE RIGHT BALANCE THE ENTREPRENEURIAL PROCESS AND THINKING ENTREPRENEURIALLY IS NOT JUST ABOUT STARTING COMPANIES AND VENTURES. IT IS A FRAMEWORK FOR PROBLEM SOLVING IN MANY AREAS. ENTREPRENEURIAL THINKING IS EVERYWHERE: FROM SOCIAL INNOVATION, SOCIAL OR CONVENTIONAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP TO NGO WORK, GOVERNMENT AND CORPORATE SETTINGS. ORANGE MAGAZINE TALKED AT AFRICAN DIASPORA YOUTH FORUM IN EUROPE 2015 IN VIENNA WITH ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF MANAGEMENT AND STRATEGY AT PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY THEODORE A. KHOURY TO GET A GLIMPSE ON HOW THIS THINKING WORKS, WHAT ARE THE MILESTONES FOR BUILDING YOUR VENTURE, HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT BALANCE AND WHY FAILING IS A GOOD THING. WHAT IS THE STARTING POINT FOR A YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR?

to decisions’.

How There are many journeys in entrepreneurship. There is a theory, which says that you begin with recognizing grand opportunities and then you look how to mobilize resources to support it. However, in reality you usually say: ‘What do I have in my pocket? What kind of resources?’ Yet, these are the !9'$#.!&#*#+<$D")!$>$!&;$!'$!#)7"$/+$!'$ blend these approaches to understand what is the realisable and important.

WHAT DISTINGUISH THE CONTEXT IN WHICH YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS FROM AFRICAN DIASPORA ARE STARTING THEIR VENTURES?

There is a lot of culture that they bring to the table in their home countries alone just because Africa is so diverse. It is even more when you consider them in new settings, trying to assimilate and understand how to work within the new system, to retain their culture and what they know, but also P'9$ ;'4$ 531$ '%%'&!43/!/#+$ 7)3$ ,#$ be productive in this new environment. a very personal process. When you recognize what kind of resources you There is a lot of baggage that they have and what is you main objectives have, so if they fail it is very hard to ;'4$ 500$ !"#$ ()%$ ,#!9##3$ !"#*<$ 6'4$ try to pursue entrepreneurship again. can scale back the ambition of what You must go back home or to convenyou want to do to accommodate your tional job, etc. However, if we provide resources, with keeping the big picture them with the understanding of the /3$ */31<$ 6'4$ 7)3$ +7)0#$ 4%$ )31$ 531$ processes within the new system there more resources, stronger networks, etc. is more chance they will succeed. Or you can abandon your idea, saying it is unrealistic for what I want to do I think all starts with recognizing ;'4&+#02 $ 9/!"/3$ !"#$ 7'3!#.!<$ Q'&$ )31$0)!#&$&#53/3($/!<$ B2&/7)3$ F/)+%'&)$ ;'4!"$ !"/+$ 7'3!#.!$ My aspiration is to empower indivi- is between their new home and their duals with the ability to make choices. home country. The opportunities It is not like a Trade School concept and challenges you can solve are very ‘Here is how to get rich’. It is more different in Europe and Africa. The like: ‘Here is the process. Here is the resources that they have are different way of thinking about your problems and that means their value is different. and challenges. Here is the way to get Network of friends, political connec-

tions, education - all these capabilities and resources have contingent value 1#%#31/3($'3$!"#$7'3!#.!$!"#;$!&;$!'$ operate in. Recognizing the system, recognizing these assumptions is very important before you begin the journey towards entrepreneurship. WHAT ARE THING TO BE AWARE OF WHEN YOU ARE ALREADY IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING YOUR VENTURE?

I always tell my students to be the harshest critics of their own work and try to be as objective as possible. That would put you on the path of high quality. Yet, you have to stay motivated, positive and determined. At certain point, you have to stop and evaluate the path you are on. Is it a correct one to achieve your goals? Another underappreciated skill is ability to sell. Not you products or services, but your ideas and yourself. The coherent story about you and the opportunities of your venture has :)04#$!'$#.%)31$;'4&$3#!9'&8A$)!!&)7!$ resources and funding. I think it is really important. Communication skills of participants here are phenomenal from what I see. There are some amazing young leaders )31$>$)*$#./!#1$!'$+##$9")!$9/00$7'*#$

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from these individuals. WHAT ARE THING TO BE AWARE OF WHEN YOU ARE ALREADY IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING YOUR VENTURE?

Abandoning is the hardest thing to do, even if it is positive to the individual. In your head you still feel that you failed, that your are unsuccessful. Entrepreneurs are romanticized as heroes through what they overcome, and what they have created.

This brings stigma, at least in the Western cultures. If you talk with any of these successful entrepreneurs, they will always have the story of failure. Every one of them had unsuccessful ideas that they tried to. It’s :#&;$&)&#$!")!$;'4&$5&+!$/1#)$/3$/!+$'&/(/3)0$ form is ‘That Great Idea’. This mentality makes students in their early 20s to come and say: ‘Tell me how to make my millions!’ This kind of thinking is a problem. The assumption that it is a formula, and

THEODORE A. KHOURY

you just have to follow it and here is your pot of gold at the end of it. Therefore, deciding to abandon your idea is really OK. You fall forward and you learn from that. You do a case study on yourself to understand why it was 3'!$ )$ (''1$ 5!<$ >!$ /+$ /*%'&!)3!$ !'$ 0''8$ at any investment you have made in entrepreneurial process as value added to yourself, enriching your won character and your own understanding of how things work.

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CAPITALISM’ SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP: THE DRIVE BEHIND ‘CONSCIOUS‘ By: Dmitri Romanovski (Moldova)

,#!9##3$+'7/)0$,4+/3#++#+$)31$IUS+$'&$3'!V2'&V%&'5!+L$+'7/)00;$ driven mission or a nice idea assumed to create impact does not make a social business. It is an impact story that makes it. The reality is that organizations with a social purpose need to integrate an impact model and a revenue model, both treated with the same iterative rigor. DO YOU THINK SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP CHALLENGE OUR IDEA OF CAPITALISM? I would say that social entrepreneurship does not challenge but it advances the idea of capitalism. One of my favoured coined phrases these days is ‘conscious capitalism’, a capitalism based on conscious leadership and higher purpose. In 2013, I got the chance to visit and work in Uganda and Rwanda where I met businesses run by young people in the region. They were all +'7/)0$ ,4+/3#++A$ 3'$ #.7#%!/'3W$ E)&:#0'4+$ /1#)+A$ "4(#$ /*%)7!A$ proven business model and yet, they were all struggling with understanding the market logic, or putting up a sales plan or attracting foreign investment. In Africa, I understood the huge value of business knowledge and business thinking.

SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP NOWADAYS IS A GROWING TREND IN AFRICA THAT INSPIRES CHANGE ACROSS THE CONTINENT AND IS VIEWED BY SOME EXPERTS AS A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE TO THE FOREIGN AID. ORANGE MAGAZINE MET WITH THE REGIONAL PROGRAM COORDINATOR OF IMPACT HUB VIENNA BISTRA KUMBAROSKA WHO LEADS THE WORKSHOP ON SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AT THE AFRICAN DIASPORA YOUTH FORUM IN EUROPE 2015 TO LEARN WHAT SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS ALL ABOUT AND HOW IT IS CHANGING AFRICA.

WHAT IT TAKES TO BECOME A SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR? Probably what you really need is a deep dive in your core intention, and a long jump into the world of purpose-driven business. In some countries (like Austria), the eco system allows you to get support in every step of your way: from ideation to setting ;'4&$+'7/)0$+!)&!V4%A$!'$531/3($;'4&$'257#$'&$(#!!/3($;'4&$5&+!$ investment. Impact Hub Vienna is a great go-to place in that sense. However, one thing that really makes a social entrepreneur in comparison to traditional entrepreneurship is the solutionoriented innovations. At one of the conferences that I attended in the past month, a keynote speaker said „Many of the biggest business innovation !"#+#$1);+$)&#$+'04!/'3+$0''8/3($2'&$)$%&',0#*<=$P#$():#$!"#$#.)mple of segway, a brilliant innovation that actually does not solve a problem. From what I have observed in social entrepreneurs, !"#$%4&%'+#$7'*#+$5&+!<$?"/+$%4&%'+#$/+$7&#)!#1$,;$1#53/3($)3$ #./+!/3($%&',0#*A$)31$!"#3$7&#)!/3($)$+'04!/'3$2'&$/!<

WHAT MOTIVATES YOUNG PEOPLE TO BECOME ONE? Already in 2013, one of the global reports about youth (‘Truth about youth’) reported that what motivates or drives WHAT IS SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUSHIP? young people around the globe these days is: Community, ?"#&#$)&#$*'&#$!")3$RO$1#53/!/'3+$'2 $9")!$+'7/)0$#3!&#%&#3#4&+"/%$ Authenticity and fairness. These three motivators go very /+<$S3#$!")!$>$531$43/T4#$)31$%/7!4&#+T4#$/+L$9"#3$;'4$7'*,/3#$ the characteristics of Richard Branson and Mother Theresa, you get a social entrepreneur. You need to have two things on board: an impact model and a business model. That sets the core difference

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with what social entrepreneurship stands for! It gives the art of making money )$*#)3/3($!")!$('#+$,#;'31$%&'5!$)31$ individual gain. IS THERE A SPECIFIC CONTEXT FOR SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN AFRICA?

The eco-system for supporting youth businesses or social businesses in Africa is really a matter of a national or regional 7'3!#.!<$ B2&/7)$ /+$ )$ "4(#$ 7'3!/3#3!$ V$ >$ would not be able to comment on all the developments. What I worked with are the countries of Sub-Sahara region and there I have discovered that social innovation is happening among 90% of youth businesses. They just do not call it social business, but simply businesses. This was one of the most striking characteristics of social businesses in Uganda and Rwanda for me. WHAT ARE THE MAIN CHALLENGES AND ADVANTAGES FOR SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS IN AFRICA?

During a workshop we organized in Kabala, one of the attendees shared a story of his personal entrepreneurial jour3#;<$P#$#.%0)/3#1$!")!$9"/0#$"#$9)+$+!4dying in USA he was thinking that maybe it is better to stay in so-called ‘developed’ world and avoid going back to Africa. However, one day he decided to search online which is the richest continent on Earth, and the result was: Africa. This made him change his mind, return and build business in his hometown. Africa is still the richest continent on Earth in natural resources and the poorest in GDP. The main challenges are that the region needs much more support, know0#1(#$ #.7")3(#$ )31$ /3!#&3)!/'3)0$ #.%'sure. The possibilities and advantages are huge, but without a systematic approach to creating long-lasting impact, not much can be achieved. That is why the progress of many developing or under-developed countries are based upon the efforts to bring to live an ecosystem and not simply support one pillar of it. I believe that all we need is collaboration, international proX#7!+$)31$(&#)!#&$#.7")3(#$'2 $83'90#1(#A$ and I am happy to say that such initiatives are popping up every day and they set a promising future for many Africans. IF YOU COULD GIVE PROSPECTIVE SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS THREE PIECES OF ADVICES, WHAT WOULD

THEY BE?

Answer your why, every day. Collaborate! Remember that every advice you get is autobiographical :)

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SKILLS FOR YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR Second day of ADYFE was oriented toward concrete entrepreneurship skills. Two trainings and six workshops tackled many of them including: strategic thinking, leadership, advocacy, idea branding, protection of intellectual property and many more. Julia Feist, AMSED, France, participant I was participating in a workshop on entrepreneurship and I find it very useful. Important in this

regard is definitely to take enough time for preparation, defining idea, where to implement it, to analyse the market, resources and challenges and to get

familiar with administrative part. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crucial not to give up although you may face rejections!

Somaya Moll, UNIDO It is important to have self-confidence, as well as to take risks. In obtaining of many of those skills civil society organizations and youth organizations can and should have important role.

Sana Afouaiz, women advocate and youth expert If young people are to succeed in the global economy market, they need to grow a stronger focus on entrepreneurial learning, take risks, use available resources and do what you love.

Karim Saafi, ADYNE I believe that some of the skills needed to succeed as an entrepreneur are resiliency, focus, people skills and creativity.

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MENAC IS LOOKING FOR NEW BLOGGERS

Are you interested in the Middle East and North Africa region and Europe? Would you like to write about these regions and are looking for a place to publish you videos, audio pieces or written stories? Menac, the EYP’s Middle East and North Africa Committee, is re-launching its blog and we are looking for new guest authors. Although we are focusing on media issues, your topics

can range from food traditions to politics to street art. Guest )4!"'&+$+"'401$"):#$#.%#&/#37#$/3$X'4&3)0/+*A$(''1$9&/!/3($ +8/00+$)31$#.7#00#3!$Y3(0/+"<$D#$)&#$:#&;$8##3$!'$"#)&$2&'*$ you and your story ideas. Interested? Pitch us your story, including your CV and work samples in English to: menac@youthpress.org

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ADYFE - African Diaspora Youth Forum in Europe

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