Volunteerism Positioned as Pathway to Youth Employability

Universities are being urged to strengthen partnerships with government and volunteer organisations to equip young people with practical skills and work experience as they prepare to enter an increasingly competitive job market.

The call was made at Mount Kenya University during a meeting between the university leadership, the Volunteer Involving Organisations of Kenya and officials from the State Department for Social Protection and Senior Citizen Affairs to explore ways of promoting volunteerism among young people.

Volunteer Involving Organisations of Kenya Chairperson Meshack Odede said volunteerism should be viewed not only as a way of giving back to society but also as a pathway through which young people can gain skills, experience and opportunities for employment.

Odede said his organisation was working closely with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection to promote volunteerism, particularly among young people, by reaching them in institutions of higher learning.

“When we engage volunteers in our organisations, we want a volunteer who has the head, the heart and the hands put together. They have knowledge, passion and skills,” said Odede.

He said universities provide an ideal environment for developing such volunteers because they bring together young people with knowledge and skills who can contribute to national and global development.

Odede challenged universities and volunteer organisations to work together in harnessing the potential of young people to address challenges facing Africa while contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

“Africa is dealing with matters of youth while other continents are worried about the old generation and old age. When we engage our youth in volunteering, we are likely to support the achievement of the SDGs in Africa,” he said.

He said the partnership would also seek to promote research on volunteerism to establish what works, what does not and how volunteer programmes can be improved.

Mount Kenya University Vice-Chancellor Prof Deogratius Jaganyi said the institution was ready to collaborate with the government and volunteer organisations in research and programmes aimed at improving youth skills.

Prof Jaganyi said there was a need for more research on the contribution of volunteerism to Kenya’s economy, noting that existing studies had indicated that volunteering makes a significant contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product.

He said the university would take the lead in conducting research on volunteerism while participating in programmes aimed at equipping students and alumni with skills demanded by employers.

“The employer of tomorrow needs something more than just a certificate,” said Prof Jaganyi, noting that practical programmes would give students an opportunity to develop skills and gain experience relevant to the labour market.

The collaboration will also include skills-building programmes targeting students and alumni as they wait for employment opportunities.

Emily Kimosop, Assistant Director at the State Department for Social Protection and Senior Citizen Affairs, said research would be critical in shaping policies and programmes around volunteerism.

Kimosop said previous research conducted in 2017 established that volunteerism contributed about 3.66 per cent to Kenya’s GDP, underscoring the need for updated research to establish its current economic impact.

She said the partnership with MKU would help generate evidence that could guide government and organisations in strengthening volunteer programmes.

Kimosop said skills-building initiatives would also provide an opportunity for university students and graduates to acquire additional competencies as they seek employment.

The meeting comes at a time when thousands of young graduates enter the labour market each year, with employers increasingly demanding practical skills and experience in addition to academic qualifications.

The partners said strengthening volunteerism could therefore provide young people with an avenue to gain experience, develop professional networks and contribute to their communities while preparing for future employment.
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