By Samira Larbie
Accra, Jan 24, GNA – UNICEF has launched the Youth Agency Marketplace (YOMA) in Ghana to unlock the potential of young people and address unemployment.
YOMA is a dynamic digital marketplace that offers young people a variety of online and offline opportunities to learn, engage in social impact projects, and build practical skills.
The initiative aims to equip young people with the competencies needed to meet the evolving demands of both global and local markets, empowering them to drive positive change in their communities.
Additionally, the project seeks to tackle the root causes of child labour and improve access to quality education, healthcare, and youth-friendly services in cocoa-growing communities.
The initiative is funded by the Swiss Platform for Sustainable Cocoa (SWISSCO) through the Swiss Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), with support from UNICEF, ICI, and various private sector partners.
Mr. Fiachra McAsey, UNICEF Deputy Representative, emphasized at the launch that the initiative was a key component of the Multisectoral and Multistakeholder Child Labour Public-Private Partnership launched in March 2024.
He pointed out that Ghana had a vibrant and youthful population, but many young people faced significant challenges.
Mr. McAsey noted that youth unemployment remained high, while underemployment and child labour were prevalent, particularly in vulnerable communities.
He added that access to quality education and digital skills, especially for young women, was uneven, hindering their economic and social progress.
“YOMA aims to address these challenges by providing young people with customized learning and earning pathways,” he said.
The initiative complements other youth-focused programmes such as the Youth Advocacy Guide (YAG), U-Report, and UPSHIFT, empowering young people to innovate, advocate for change, and tackle community issues.
He expressed gratitude to the donors and partners whose support made YOMA possible and called for comprehensive efforts to address youth unemployment and underemployment to ensure every young person, regardless of their background, had the opportunity to thrive.
Ms. Magdalena Wust, Acting Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Switzerland in Ghana, commended UNICEF and its partners for the initiative.
She stated that YOMA would not only equip the youth with relevant skills but also provide a credible mechanism for validating their progress.
She highlighted that it would directly contribute to Ghana’s national youth policy by creating a structured and measurable path to youth development.
Ms. Wust mentioned that Switzerland had long supported youth development through education, innovation, and skills building as key pillars of global cooperation, making this initiative particularly resonant with their goals.
She emphasized the critical need to invest in the youth to drive Ghana’s development, noting that these efforts should take root in regions affected by child labour to give young people the needed opportunities to succeed.
Mr. Micheal Scheibenreif, YOMA Global Team Lead, stated that the initiative enhanced protection, access to social services, youth employment prospects, and learning outcomes in cocoa-growing communities across four districts in Ghana, including Bibiani-Anwiaso-Bekwai, Asunafo North, Ayensuano, and Assin South.
He explained that YOMA in Ghana would connect young people to tailored learning and skilling opportunities while addressing critical gaps in digital, entrepreneurial, and life skills.
Mr. Scheibenreif encouraged Ghanaian youth aged 16 and above to take advantage of the opportunity by visiting www.yomaworld to register and benefit from the initiative.
GNA