#MEET Youth LITE Kenya

#MEET Youth LITE Kenya

This is a short interview we conducted with Aliu Olawale Rasheed, the founder of “Youth LITE Kenya”. If you like the concept of this idea and would like to vote for it, click HERE.

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• What is your background?

My name is Bryan Chesoli, I am a global young leader. My initiative Youth LITE Kenya focuses on youth empowerment through the introduction of a student consultant program.

• Describe your idea or project in two sentences.

The program, student consultancy, bridges the gap between learning institutions and the corporate world by introducing local businesses to the vast pool of talent, potential, knowledge, ingenuity and innovativeness of the student community.

• What are the benefits you take from the Entrepreneurship Campus?

The Entrepreneurship Campus is a platform that not only offers advice but also a place where young leaders like me exchange experiences, support and networks.

• What motivates you to be an entrepreneur?

Growing up, I was always made to believe that I was not good enough; that I could not match up to set expectations. This was mostly because of my average performance in school. The constant reproach from teachers forced me to believe that I wouldn’t amount to much. However, I was not too eager to accept that. Youth unemployment is real and a global concern and I believe that we need all hands on deck to address this issue. In Kenya we lose thousands of students to criminal behavior, drug abuse, underemployment and much more. This makes the youth population one of the most under utilized resources in the country. I have challenged myself to see how else we can tap into this vast pool of potential. With my initiative I am to realize this by turning students into industry consultants.

• Imagine you have ‚supreme power’ to create and innovate: how would your world look like? What changes would you like to make in your community and/or in the world? Share your thoughts from a ‚supreme power’ and entrepreneur standpoint.

With a supreme power, young people would be active participants in building the society. I would always ensure that we -young people- are not a topic or a theme of a conversation but active stakeholders contributing action points in today's world. I will aim to realize how we can leverage on our demographic to realizing the Global Goals.

• What would you say to potential voters who may be reading your interview?

Ban Ki-moon puts it well, 'As the world changes with unprecedented speed, young people are proving to be invaluable partners advancing meaningful solutions.' My idea proposes to involve young people in development practices. It offers a platform for value exchange within our society giving all stakeholders a reason to get incolved. Let's give young people a chance and we will advance meaningful solutions to today's problems. Vote for the Student Consultant Program.

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• NOTICE: If you want to see more submitted ideas and projects at the Youth Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition, visit BEST IDEAS and BEST PROJECTS and VOTE for the ones you think deserve to WIN the Competition!