Not only does the exclusion of young people from the labour force perpetuate generational cycles of poverty, it also breaks down social cohesion and can be associated with higher levels of crime and violence among the youth.
In 2013, Misan Rewane along with other West Africans who were passionate about curbing the rise of youth unemployment, founded the West Africa Vocational Education (WAVE).
WAVE tackles youth unemployment by identifying motivated but underserved West African youth, training them on crucial employability skills and connecting them to entry-level job opportunities.
Admission and training in the WAVE academy is free, as they only charge a placement fee when they’ve secured their students with a job.
Speaking with The Guardian about her driving force, Misan said:
“I have been passionate about helping young people realise their potential for as long as I can remember.
From community service in secondary school to volunteering to tutor children in reading and math during my university years, most of my extra-curricular activities had involved working with children and youth.”
By 2019, WAVE aims to train 25,000 youth annually, having already trained over 50,000 youth in marketable skills – helping them reach their true potential and finding stable jobs.