Lighting the Way Igniting Career Readiness through Soft skills and Personal Development in African Youth.

Impact Report: 2022

Table of Contents 1

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A Letter from the Founder Introduction Bridge Platform

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Igniting Lifelong Learning

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Impact and Results Testimonials

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10

Post-Secondary Pathways Career Discovery

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Case Study: Aligning Career and Values

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Creating a Pipeline for Emerging Careers

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Insight 1: Start with Empathy Insight 2: It takes a Village Insight 3: Restricted by Geography Insight 4: Deep Rooted Issues Lighting the Way: Future Plans Leadership Acknowledgements

A Letter from the Founder As we reflect on the past three years at Shasha Network, I am filled with an overwhelming sense of optimism and excitement for what lies ahead. The pursuit of our mission to equip the next generation of African leaders with the soft skills and confidence to achieve their dreams has revealed new insights crucial for the journey ahead. Today, we are excited to share our findings and perspective on Africa's early career development challenge. When we first launched our pilot for the Bridge program in 2020, we knew that we needed to listen to the young people and empathise with their sentiments about the future. Despite their natural optimism, we discovered a general lack of awareness and confidence of their limitless potential. The COVID-19 pandemic had disrupted their routines and left many questioning their purpose and direction. The gulf between what our young leaders are capable of achieving and what they believe possible is deep and wide, and continues to expand due to a rapidly evolving career landscape.

Ultimately our youth will only rise to the aspirations and career goals to which we expose them. As we look ahead, I am confident that we are at a pivotal point in history where we challenge orthodox approaches and prepare this African generation for holistic success. We have the opportunity to bet on their potential in a different way and provide the vast resources, tools, and networks needed to realise their ambitions. So I invite you to join us on this journey of lighting the way for Africa's ignited youth, until they achieve their fullest potential. Best regards,

Farai Munjoma Founder and CEO

We knew it had to take a village to solve this aspiration gap, so we collaborated with industrial psychologists, parents, thought leaders, and youth development experts to design a program that would inspire positive behavioural change. Our vision was to inspire potential into action. And today, the results speak for themselves. We have worked with over 870 students across 19 African countries, and our community continues to grow. I am inspired by the stories of our alumni, who have been admitted to top universities and internships at organisations such as Yale, Cambridge, and KPMG. These successes remind me of the power of exposure and awareness in unlocking the ambition and curiosity that lies potent in young people.

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As a Shasha scholar I learned numerous lessons, and most importantly, the fact that I can channel my privilege into purpose, and start developing solutions with what I have access to. I hope to contribute to bridging the education gap for children from underprivileged communities in my home country, Nigeria.

Audrey Eyo, Scholar '21

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Introduction The lack of career education support in secondary schools is a major challenge facing Africa's talent development cycle. Many young people are leaving secondary school lacking in confidence, self-awareness and the necessary soft skills required for successful career navigation. This has also manifested in the low tertiary education enrolment rate of 12% and a limited number of young people successfully transitioning into skilled and dignified employment. Due to the absence of career guidance, numerous learners end up enrolling in programs that are misaligned with their abilities and interests, leading to disengagement and high dropout rates. With an estimated 226 million youth ages (15-24) in Africa, a figure that is predicted to grow by a staggering 42% by 2030, the need for career education support has never been greater. Only 15% of these youth are currently employed as wage earners, while 66% exist on the margins of vulnerable employment, unemployment, or underemployment as a result of a lack of opportunities (Mastercard Foundation, 2019). We seek to equip young people with the mindset and capabilities to discover and pursue alternative career pathways. At Shasha Network, we recognise the urgency of this issue and are committed to equipping learners with the knowledge, soft skills, and tools necessary to achieve their fullest potential. We believe that by providing career education support in African secondary schools, we can help young people navigate the challenges of the career search process, build their confidence and resilience, and ultimately increase their chances of finding dignified and fulfilling employment.

Kibera, Kenya 3

Shasha Bridge Platform Mission We are on a mission to equip young people in Africa (ages 16-24) with soft skills and personal development to achieve their fullest potential and uplift their communities.

Approach We are building the Khan Academy for soft skills and personal development. Our end goal is to equip scholars with skills to thrive in and fully exploit their internships, university and volunteer experiences. bridge.shashanetwork.com is built on three key pillars, Positive Mindset; Soft Skills and Personal Development. We believe a combination of these capabilities are important for young people developing the awareness and self confidence to make crucial early career decisions.

Designed for Africa Interactive resources Data efficient web app Free access for learners Compatible on all devices Downloadable offline content

Benefits Career Readiness: Bridge Program 4 Modules Library: +50 Soft Skills Self Improvement Hub: +21 curated resources

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Igniting Lifelong Learning Bridge platform resources are organised into 6 categories

Bridge Pathways

Soft Skills Library

A curation of +50 soft skills critical for young people to thrive in Leadership, their Personal Life, Academics, and Career

Self Leadership

Who am I and what do I want out of life? Writing and telling your story; Mapping VIPS (Values, Interests, Personalities and Strengths); What it takes to be a champion

Self Development Hub Connecting scholars to free self improvement platforms and tools to leverage throughout their journey; podcasts, blogs, courses etc. for continuous learning

Personal Branding

How best can I tell a story about the value I bring to the professional world? How to communicate my skills (CV, Resume etc.); Digital footprint (Unleashing LinkedIn)

Mentorship

Who can guide me on my journey? Communication; Initiating, nurturing and maintaining relationships

Career Discovery

What next steps do I need to take? Exploring career interests and mastery; Understanding industry trends

Ssssshhh, can you hear the scholars learning?

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Impact and Results

Community Growth 1,000

870 635

# of Scholars

750

500

Attempt Rate 82% are actively seeking or engaged in career opportunities

Self Confidence 85% increase in positive mindset

Alumni Engagement 75% of scholars remain connected to the network

380

250

30 0

2020

2021

2022

2023

19 Countries represented 80% are from Zimbabwe, Zambia, Kenya and Burundi

Education Transition 43% transitioned to tertiary education, 46% currently transitioning

Scholar Gender Ratio 1:3 (Male: Female)

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Testimonials

"I applied storytelling to my interview to join the United World Colleges program and this is where I am right now."

"I have used the communication skills I learned to email industry experts and set up meetings with them."

Providence Thusabantu UWC, Swaziland Scholar '21

Tamuda Chimhanda University of Rochester Scholar '21





Listen to more stories on our Dreamer Series

Popular skills developed during the program

Reflection, time-management,

01 critical thinking, goal setting etc 01

02

Writing, research, confidence, confidence, teamwork etc

SELF-LEADERSHIP

COMMUNICATION

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Storytellng, resume writing, LinkedIn, university path knowledge etc

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RELATIONSHIP BUILDING

Mentors, work, internships, scholarships, connections etc

SELF-BRANDING

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Where you will find our Alumni

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My aspiration in life is to live out my purpose, which I believe is to use the power of computer science to empower my community to solve problems. The most important takeaway from the program was learning how to unlearn. It is important to let go of old ideas that are no longer working or applicable in one’s life and embrace new ideas and thoughts.

Emilia Sikala, Scholar '22

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Post-Secondary Pathways In a world where the norm across many African households dictates that one must complete high school and proceed to university, many learners are left feeling helpless when faced with obstacles during this transition. We have mapped potential pathways to support students, teachers and parents to understand options available to them after secondary. A Map of alternative post-secondary career pathways Inactive

Part-time student

Seasonal Labour

Full-time student

University

Precarious Employment

Part-time employee

Out-of-School Employment

Full-time employee Entrepreneurship

GCSE A Levels

Part-time employee Full-time employee

Tertiary education

Dual Domain (Multiple Identities)

Divergent interest University

Secondary School

IGCSE O Levels

Full-time employee

Employment

Professional Athlete Creatives and Artists

Entrepreneurship

Polytechnic College

Freelancer Skilled Trades Training Volunteer

Informal acquisition of a trade skill

Internship Gap Year

Passion Project Short term courses/ Study

Post Secondary Exit pathways Well Trodden Path

Entrepreneurship

Early exit to tertiary Aspirational Path Emerging Path Pivot/Crossover Discovery Path

Portfolio Based Credibility

Freelancer Emerging Digital Opportunities

Social Media Powered Careers

Content Curation. and Design

As competition for limited university placement on the continent increases, the harsh reality is that only a select few will have the opportunity to undertake full-time university degrees. Some programs only offer a few places, leaving many students to take up programs they have little to no interest in, just to meet enrolment requirement. Alternative forms of learning, such as online degrees and part-time programs, are crucial. These options require discipline, focus, and organisational skills. Learners may struggle with the lack of structure but can succeed with the right mindset and support. The lack of knowledge on alternative pathways to a fulfilling career can often lead to a sense of hopelessness. We believe young people should be exposed to all options early on in their journeys.

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Career Discovery We believe it is crucial to empower learners to identify their true motivations, align them with their capacities and competencies, and set them on the path towards a fulfilling and successful career. Our research enabled us to gain insight into some of the popular career choices preferred by 130 of our scholars. The goal was to interrogate these choices and understand the underlying motivations.

Distribution of Career Interests for Shasha Scholars % of scholars interested Medicine and Health Sciences Sciences Business and Finance Technology and Computing Engineering Arts and Humanities Law and Public Policy Agriculture and Environmental Science Architecture and Design 0

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20

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Based on the results of the interview we discovered the following trends: Learners often pursue careers in the medical and health sciences field due to a false sense of social credibility and esteem Provided with adequate pre-career research and context, learners develop confidence and drive to pursue opportunities aligned with their aspirations For learners interested in the technology industry, global remote work opportunities still remain an under explored area Shasha's Career Discovery course aims to expose scholars to various career possibilities through case studies and mentorship. Thorough self-introspection before making a career decision can prevent future struggles and career dissatisfaction. Generation Z can benefit from consistent self-introspection as they will have more career pivots than previous generations.

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Case Study | Aligning Career and Values This case study presents a scholar's responses, Tino, to a survey completed before and after the Bridge program. It demonstrates how the program has helped him redefine his career goals and personal mission in a way that is aligned with his values, interests, personality, and strengths. The study highlights the importance of a structured program that incorporates mentorship, selfdiscovery, and personal branding to help learners achieve their career goals and develop a clear sense of purpose. Comparison and Analysis of Pre and Post Program Responses

Pre-Program Survey

What is your dream job and what motivates you to pursue that path?

Nuclear medicine technologist. What motivates me to pursue this path is that I am passionate about science and eager to know about how radioactive sources can be used to treat patients in particular. I am also motivated because I am an individual who aims to use their knowledge in helping people in my society. Lastly, I motivated by the salary. As I stated above, I hope to be financially independent so I think this will be the first step.

Post-Program Survey

What is your dream job and what motivates you to pursue that path?

Change in career goal

Reframed Curiousity

Redefined motivation and identification of strengths

Software engineer. What really motivates me in this field is that through Shasha network I finally came to realize who I am through some self leadership courses. From those lessons I figured out that I am someone who is passionate about solving real life problems through application of technology. I am also fortunate because my greatest strengths lie in this field. Lastly, I am motivated because I think that I can finally fulfil my dream of finally showing the world what I am made of.

The learner's mindset shift in this case study centers around a deeper understanding of personal values. Specifically, the learner expresses a strong desire to solve problems, achieve financial independence, and be a role model, all of which require pursuing a career that aligns with their values and personal strengths. It's common for young people to provide superficial responses when it comes to their careers without considering the underlying reasons. The aim of the process employed by Shasha Network is to encourage young people to affirm their stance by moving closer or away from a path that they arrived at superficially. Unlocking this self-understanding often leads to increased confidence in pursuing the next phase of career ambitions.

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Creating a Pipeline for Emerging Careers Africa's challenge is to develop talent for the future. Based on a survey we carried out with Shasha scholars, we observed some key trends and interest in their specific desired careers. If young people invest in mastering emerging roles, they have higher chances of creating more value and contributing new ideas in their respective industries. Certain local job markets may have limited options for individuals possessing specialised and advanced skill sets, thereby prompting them to search for work elsewhere. The rise in remote work allows local talent to access global employment prospects without needing to relocate from their home countries. Engineering & Construction Current Desired Roles Civil Engineer Electrical Engineer Mechanical Engineer Future Emerging Roles Building Information Modelling (BIM) Energy Efficiency Engineer Sustainable Construction Architecture & Design Current Desired Roles Architecture Industrial Design Specialised Computer Aided Design Drafting Future Emerging Roles Biophilic Design Sustainable Design Disaster Relief Architecture

Sciences Current Desired Roles Biologist Physicist Chemistry Future Emerging Roles Space Scientists Material Scientist Nanotechnologist

Medicine & Health Science Current Desired Roles Nurse Physician Pharmacist Future Emerging Roles Bioprint specialist Genetics Counsellor Digital Health Specialist Arts and Humanities Current Desired Roles Journalism Social Work Philosophy Future Emerging Roles Creative Technologists Community Engagement Cultural Heritage Managers

Agriculture & Environmental Current Desired Roles Crop Scientist Agro Economist Agricultural Researcher Future Emerging Roles Precision Agriculture Climate Change Analyst Circular Economy Specialist

Technology & Computing Current Desired Roles IT Specialist Cloud Computing Software Developer Future emerging Roles Cyber Security Analyst Virtual Reality Developer Artificial Intelligence Business and Finance Current Desired Roles Investment Banking Chartered Accounting Management Consulting Future Emerging Roles Innovation Managers Carbon Finance Analyst Customer Experience Law and Policy Current Desired Roles Law Public Policy Governance Future Emerging Roles Artificial Intelligence Lawyers Cybersecurity Lawyers Climate Change Lawyers

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The world is evolving, those who will succeed are the ones who are innovative, creative and can adapt to the trends. You need to stay curious, learn and apply your knowledge as you solve society’s problems. The education you have is useless as long as you are unemployed and more importantly as long as you cannot apply it.

Eugene Jamu, Mentor '20

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Insight 1 | Start with Empathy We will only be able to communicate effectively with and guide young people by understanding their state of mind. We learnt early on that it was our responsibility to create an atmosphere of trust, if our partnership with young people was to be successful. Failing to understand their hopes, aspirations and anxieties creates a barrier to any form of engagement. There is a rising level of anxiety and fear among learners due to increased pressure to outperform academically and out do their "competition" locally and nationally. Learners are also left to discuss complex topics relating to their career prospects with their peers who are also in the same predicament as them and often ill advise them. Mentorship will play a major role in restoring and maintaining the confidence of young people. Areas of Optimism Versus Worry in interviewees

W

O 1. Pursuing their dream careers and making a positive impact. 2. Achieving academic and professional success. 3. Discovering new passions and building long-lasting relationships. 4. Improving personal skills and resilience. 5. Advancing their knowledge and expertise in a specific field. 6. Becoming a leader in their community or industry. 7. Contributing to their their nation and continent. 8. Finding new opportunities and being recognised for their hard work.

1. Financial constraints, such as paying for tuition, supporting oneself, and the financial strain of pursuing their goals. 2. Career uncertainty, including choosing the right path, finding job opportunities, and uncertainty about the future of their chosen field. 3. Personal challenges, such as balancing work, family, and personal life, procrastination, and lack of social life. 4. Societal challenges, disparities in recognition and opportunity, and societal norms and expectations. 5. University and academic challenges, including placement, affordability, and grades. 6. Self-doubt, including the fear of failure, making the wrong choices, and falling short of one's own expectations.

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Insight 2 | It Takes a Village Parents, guardians and educators are important stakeholders in the learner's journey. They are all responsible for influencing the aspirations of the learner. Students are exposed to these adults in their lives for most of their early education experience, hence they are a source of career choice validation. It is also important that these partners are well informed to advise and guide learners interested in diverse career paths. In the case where a learner gains first generation educational privileges, this tends to be a challenge as some of the adults close to them may not relate with their aspirations. There is also risk of adults reinforcing stereotypes if their understanding of the career landscape is limited--thus the learning process should be co-owned.

Kenyan Teacher Kenya has academically solid performance, but many students do not have the opportunity to enhance their soft skills. This program is specifically important for form threes (grade 10s) in particular, as they decide on what subjects to do before going finishing high school.

Scholar Parent #1 It is important for us parents to be involved in the career decision making and to committed to walking the journey with our children. My child has acquired practical skills such as CV writing and writing impactful applications for scholarships. She is more aware of career opportunities that were beyond the scope of their knowledge prior to the program. I am also learning with her.

Scholar Parent #2 I just want to advise other parents to be prepared to provide resources to support their children's ambitions after they complete the Bridge program. The young people will need lots of financial support to achieve their goals and aspirations.

Opportunity Work directly with schools to embed Shasha Bridge in their programs, beginning with junior secondary

Opportunity Parent acknowledges a generational information gap and how it negatively affects her ability to engage with her child’s interest and passion(s). Shasha can bridge this gap parentlearner misalignment

Opportunity Providing more information on scholarships Forming partnerships with institutions that sponsor skills development for talented young people

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Insight 3 | Restricted by Geography There is an assumption that students based in urban locations are privileged to have access to utilities, infrastructure and the nucleus of opportunities, in comparison to their rural peers. The design of most major African cities has it's roots in colonial town planning. Geographic constraints limit learners to small pockets, usually in townships or high density suburbs. These locations represent and average of 60% of the general city populous across Africa. Socio-economic factors also mean frequenting the city to attend career fairs, internships and learning opportunities is expensive. Most are unaware of the initiatives and programs taking place which could be of benefit to them. Assumption that students located in urban settlements access major cities

Students are geo-constrained and move radically, often rarely accessing the city nucleus

It is matter of fact that secondary high school completion rates are higher in urban locations in comparison to rural areas, thus there is higher demand and urgency for career guidance in towns and cities. This group tends to be overlooked, leading to marginalisation of the urban learner based on the premise that they are closer to opportunities. For digital products that require some form of broadband, internet enabled device and consistent electricity, this segment of users has more promise for early adoption. The environment presents less infrastructure challenges to bridge the information gap, in comparison to rural locations. We have learnt that technology can help overcome geographical barriers, however, it will be easier to promote and onboard learners from their areas of locality in the formative stages. It requires tapping into pre-existing micro-communities that they already interact with regularly, churches, mosques, community centres, schools and local libraries. Establishing trust is essential to any form of community building, and achieving it will require a nuanced approach that involves forging strategic partnerships with local gatekeepers (religious leaders, elders, and councillors etc.)

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Insight 4 | Deep Rooted Issues

Under-participation in Career Opportunities

Low career confidence resulting in fear of attempt and inertia

Increased scrutiny and 'standard bearer' pressure

Lack of role models from similar backgrounds

Societal pressure and bias for traditional career paths

Obsessive focus on academic grades and testing. Less focus on career awareness

Pathways into specific careers unclear/ perceived to be unattainable / beyond reach

Major focus on college essay hacking by education consultancies

Lack of search tools and artefacts, CV, Resume, email address, Cover letter

Career guidance only available to limited privileged schools

Education system fails to challenge social conditioning, maintaining status quo

Lack of internships and access to professional spaces

Rapidly emerging roles in the world of work- new fields and trends

Low self perception and unfamiliarity with networking etiquette

Inability to forecast alternative career scenarios due to lack of examples

Key formal and informal networks are beyond reach for low income learners, reducing chances for mentorship; social capital

Social conditioning: prejudice, colonial legacy, socio-economic class, gender stereotypes

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Lighting the Way | Future Plans For us at Shasha Network, "Lighting the Way" is more than just a catchy phrase; it's a statement of our commitment to creating a brighter future. With our strong global team, cutting-edge technology, philosophy and passion for problem-solving, we are confident that we will light the way for the next generation. Our mission is to guide and support brilliant and talented young people on their journey to becoming world class talent. We cannot do this work alone, we need others. We are inviting change-makers to join us on this mission of creating a positive impact in the educational outcomes and career prospects of Africa's youth, because together we shine brighter.

Focus Areas Doubling Down on Product Continue to develop and expand our platform offering Ensure learners continue to have an enriching experiences

Increase Reach and Engagement Continue to delight, support and retain current scholars in our network Onboard more schools and youth organisations in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Kenya Continuous Learning and Experimentation Continue to test and research our impact approach Co-create and learn alongside other leading stakeholders obsessed with the challenge we are addressing

How you can be involved Fund or sponsor the continued development of our platform as well as the depth and breath of our tailored support to scholars in existing and new countries Spread the news: become a connector and help us reach more young people and schools through your networks Volunteer with us: invest your time snd skills, we are always looking for diverse skillsets in tech, design, content creation and fundraising

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Leadership Board of Advisors

Johanna

Phil

Andrew

Simiso

Phiona

Holtan

Mlambo

Velempini

Rand

Martin

Trustee

Trustee

Chairperson

Treasurer

Advisor

Team

Ntombi

Lucy

Dumi

Farai

Mattia

Buhle

Makuyana

Meena

Mphamba

Munjoma

Vedani

Ncube

Design Lead

Head of Product innovation

UX Design

Community Manager

Chief Impact Officer

CEO & Board Secretary

Awards and Recognition

Partners and Supporters

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Acknowledgements

Gratitude Message

Special mention

The responsibility of raising Africa's next

Catalysts Panashe Gombiro, Legal Savana Oulo, Storytelling Aliris Tang, Product Design Linda Wen, Corp. Partnerships Takudzwa Caitano, US Outreach Simon Stachelscheid, EU Community Lionel Tarumbwa, Operations and Scale

generation requires an entire village to dedicate its time, energy, and resources to see the mission through to the end. Since our inception, we have had a special group of supporters that have not only cheered us from the terraces but joined us in the arena. One of those special people is the late Margaret Deimel, whose commitment to the education of young women helped us impact over 100 young female leaders in 2021, one of whom is now enrolled at Cambridge University. Such stories inspire us and give us the strength to pursue this audacious moonshot. To the first 30 students that trusted us at the beginning of this story in the middle of a global pandemic, you're the real innovators. We are highly indebted to the inaugural cohort of mentors that helped us shape this experience. Lastly, to everyone that has been there with us throughout this journey, we are forever grateful. We look forward to continuing to "Light the

Impact Evaluation Lisah Malika, Researcher Tanya Gwenhure, Ethics Munashe Chingombe, Analyst Mariam Mhina, Market Insights Nipher Malika, Research Design Christine Isimbi, Alumni Manager Isaac Van Heerden, Research Design Mission Champions Keno Omu, Curriculum Sam Baker, Partnerships Natash Fortuin, Sustainability Lorna Baird , Social Enterprise John Hill, Ecosystem Support Peter Burdin, Communications Julio Maniratunga , Technology Valentine Mwangi , Technology Sam Darko, Marketing and Sales Ope Bukola, EdTech and HigherEd Indrayudh Ghoshal, Tech Scale Up

Way" for Africa's brightest and most gifted youth with you. Thank you.

Shasha Network is a registered charity, Edinburgh, Scotland SC053049 [email protected]

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Published April 2023



Shasha Network is a registered charity, Edinburgh, Scotland SC053049 [email protected]