Africa’s leading digital television operator, StarTimes has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with SOS Children’s Villages International to empower African youth.
The partnership seeks to intensify StarTimes’ support to the destitute, especially most of Africa’s unemployed youth in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The support will include technical and vocational skills training and mentorship, alongside driving access to digital television in SOS Children’s Villages programmes and media exposure on the StarTimes platform.
StarTimes’ Group Overseas Public Relations Director, William Masy at the signing ceremony reaffirmed the company’s commitment to empowering African youth following the achievements of the YouthConnekt Africa Summit in Rwanda in 2017.
“StarTimes Group is committed towards empowering youth and facilitating their entry, growth and development through availing themselves of mentorship and training opportunities. This partnership with SOS Children’s Villages is therefore very strategic, as we look forward towards imparting knowledge and skills to the next generation of our leaders.”
“The SOS Children’s Villages partnership represents a step forward towards facilitating the entry of youth into the job market and giving them the means to create a sustainable future for themselves and society.”
He further explained the deal saying, “In this context, SOS Children’s Villages will share resources, skills and knowledge as far as Tooth employability and capacity building is concerned towards the implementation of the MOU.”
William Masy anticipated that a lot of disillusioned African youth will take advantage of the programmes to change their destiny.
“In Africa, 200 million people aged between 15 and 24 years, comprising more than 20% of the total population. Demographic rates are growing fast, which will increase the pressure countries face in terms of job creation. Of this, youth make up 37% of the working-age population, but 60% of the total number of unemployed.”
“For young people in alternative care, their first job is not only the first step towards independence. For them, their first job is a matter of survival. The difference between an independent life lived with dignity and a life plagued with further difficulty.”
Senior Chief Operating Officer of the SOS Children’s Villages International, Ms. Shubha Murthi lauded the agreement.
“Partnerships make our work possible. We can only accomplish what we do for children, young people and families thanks to the generosity, commitment and amplification of our message by corporate partners such as StarTimes. In East and Southern Africa, SOS Children’s Villages works closely with a wide range of companies and partners who have a vested interest in improving the lives of the communities they are working in.”
“As a result, the impact of our work is stronger and more sustainable.”
MS. Murthi explained the modus operandi of the Non Governmental Organization saying, “SOS Children’s Villages builds loving, stable families for children and young people in 135 countries and territories.”
“With almost 70 years of experience, we are the largest non-governmental organisation dedicated to the care of children who have lost or are at risk of losing parental care. Our alternative care, family strengthening and youth employability programmes, schools and emergency relief efforts provide life-changing support to a million children and families worldwide each year.”
The SOS Children’s Villages International has, over the years, supported poor families in 10 African countries.
With the Digital Television Operator, StarTimes’ support, local learning opportunities and extending diverse experiences to young people remain the organization’s topmost priority.
StarTimes is currently serving over 10 million subscribers and covering the whole of the African continent’s population.
StarTimes owns a featured content platform, with 480 authorized channels consisting of news, movies, series, sports, entertainment, children’s programs, fashion, religion and more.
The company’s vision is to ensure that every African family can access, afford, watch and share the beauty of digital TV.
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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citinewsroom.com/Ghana
