The Global Shapers Community is an initiative of the World Economic Forum and is made up of a network of Hubs across the world, developed and led by young people who are exceptional in their potential, their achievements, and their drive to make contributions to their communities. The Cape Coast Hub consists of young leaders who believe in inter-generational equity, change-driven, and steadfast youths who are devoted to the course of shaping our community (Central Region) for the present and future generations. The Cape Coast Hub focuses on identifying challenges in our communities, subsequently providing supportive interceptions to curb the challenges.
Refugees right to work and access to labour markets is key for becoming self-reliant, rebuilding their lives and securing dignity, and allowing them to contribute to their host communities. To this end, articles 17-19 of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees provide for opportunities for wage-earning employment, self-employment and for employment in liberal professions.
The career fair is part of our various community-led integration initiatives and is to provide opportunities and ensure inclusive employment for refugees. Our priority is to improve refugees’ economic self-reliance by facilitating access to income generating opportunities. This career fair is a significant step, providing an occasion for refugees to meet employers and seek meaningful jobs, with parallel benefit of supporting the local economy.
It has become increasingly likely that host countries tend to become homes of permanent resettlement for Refugees. This scenario, when taken into due account and consideration will enhance good integration for Refugees whilst improving the economic opportunities for both Refugees and their host communities. This can only be achieved if Refugees are empowered to work.
The whole program will be in three phases; firstly, the Shaping Future of Work (for Refugees) dialogue and then the Refugee Career Fair, and thirdly, the skills training and development hub.
What is Shaping the Future of Work (FOW)?
Shaping the Future of Work is a cross hub collaboration that seeks to understand the perspective and needs of young people about the future of work, to get discussions started around this topic, work towards identifying roadmap for each region on how FOW will evolve, followed by an action plan/report for each region.
The project is about bringing together inputs from various key stakeholders of the Future of Work all over the World: students, newly employed, unemployed, underemployed, self-employed, mid-level professionals and governments. And as a Hub, our focus is on Refugees; what worries them about the Future of Work? How are they preparing? What works best for their local ecosystems as we witness changes in jobs and skills? As Global Shapers, we have the opportunity and the responsibility to influence the Future of Work.
Goals of the Future Of Work dialogue
• To Understand the point of view and needs of Refugees and young people about the Future of Work;
• Bring together resources to help Global Shapers Hubs and Stakeholders drive discussions on the Future of Work for Refugees in Ghana;
• Create synergies between Global Shapers, policy makers, government, and other stakeholders to enhance and shape the future of work for refugees;
• Push to include Future of Work sessions, with support from shapers, UNHCR, GIZ, GRB, IOM, etc at the government and policy making level;
Proposed Date: First week of April (Actual date to be communicated)
Proposed Venue: Egyeikrom Refugee Camp
The Refugee Career Fair
One of our focal point is to integrate Refugees and empower them by providing and ensuring opportunities for inclusive employment for all Refugees. Our priority is to improve refugees’ economic self-reliance by facilitating access to income generating opportunities. There is a strong need for a paradigm shift and new thinking. We need to address the economic dependency and social exclusion of refugees. We must do away with the common misconception that Refugees are a burden on host countries. Refugees, when given opportunities shall be a positive boost to economic and human development. This initiative will provide opportunities to fulfil personal aspirations, achieve financial independence, build social networks and contribute to the economy and the community in empowering ways.
According to Ángel Gurría (Secretary-General of the OECD) and Filippo Grandi (UN High Commissioner for Refugees), the skills and attributes of refugees represent significant economic potential for receiving countries. However, for this to be fully realised, well-coordinated efforts by a range of actors and entities are required. Refugees have very diverse socio-economic backgrounds. Some are highly educated and worked as engineers, medical doctors or researchers before fleeing their home country. Some have managerial or entrepreneurial skills while others were employed in professional occupations or skilled trade jobs. We intend to identify these skills and develop them to help them become employable and be able to be self-reliant.
We will welcome all our community members with a variety of skills in business operations, construction, manufacturing, customer service, hospitality, and administration. The career fair and skill development hub will allow refugees residing in camps to obtain work permits and find employment opportunities in host communities as well a learn skills that will help them to be self-reliant. “This fair is another significant step, providing an occasion for refugees to meet employers and seek meaningful jobs, with parallel benefit of supporting the local economy. The jobs and trainings are available for men and women, helping to increase the presence of women in the labour force”
The path to employment is filled with uncertainties, cultural differences, and knowledge gaps. We intend to bridge these gaps through an enriching program that offers practical services such as legal advice, career guidance, CV writing guidance in addition to lectures, exhibitions, dialogues and skills training.
Proposed date: 20th June, 2019 (World Refugee Day)
Proposed Venue: Egyeikrom Refugee Camp
Skills Training and development Hub
The third phase involves practical skills training and development for Refugees in various vocations and skills. It will run in two to three cohorts each year depending on the number of participants. Refugees will be taken through a course (skills training) in a skill of their choice.
Refugees in the camps will have the opportunity to learn new skills or enhance old skills and build networks. We will provide practical vocational and technical training to Refugees.
This is to provide employable skills to the Refugees, enabling them to work and earn a living and become self-reliant. These skills can help them live productive lives, especially the youths.
After each cohort, we will assist the Refugees to secure funding to start their own businesses. This funding will be in the form of a loan without interest or with very little interest to encourage and motivate them to do more.
Once they accrue profits, they pay up the loan which will be used to fund the next cohort of trainees.
Contact:
DK Anguah Jr. – Project Lead
Mobile: +233 20 577 1956
Email: dkanguah@ccshapers.org
