On Wednesday 21 November 2018 some hundred entrepreneurs came together in Amersfoort, The Netherlands, for the yearly Business Meeting organized by Woord en Daad. Together with speakers from India and Burkina Faso they reflected on the theme: To work!
Numerous companies are looking for employees and numerous young people are looking for a job. Yet, they do not find each other. Woord en Daad responds to this situation with the Job Booster program: we connect the labor market to education and vice versa. So that demand and supply match and thousands of young people get perspective on a job. Therefore the theme: To work!
Job Booster India
Also in India companies do not succeed in filling their vacancies and keep them filled. How come? ‘Young people are not used to work hard, nor to hold on to a busy scheme of 12 to 14 hours of daily work. Companies do not take this into account.’ says Samuel L. Lirmal. He is a program leader of the Job Booster program in India and tells with verve about the start of Job Booster this year. Job Booster’s starting point is the labor market: what demand is there? And how do we educate young people so that they can get to work and stay employed? Until now Job Booster India has been able to place more than a hundred young people in a job after having received a training. But the ambitions are substantial: ‘Our dream? 10,000 people with a job in 2022!’
Job Booster Burkina Faso
Wolfgang Sanou, regional coordinator in Burkina Faso, tells those present about his country. ‘Young people from Burkina Faso are eager to work. But the curricula of regular education are outdated and trainings do not correspond to the demand of the labor market.’ he tells. Job Booster reacts to this and connects companies, training institutes and young people looking for a job. For example, the government is lobbied to review the curricula. But it also looks at what skills are needed and how to work together with vocational schools on offering them within their training. The ambition for Burkina Faso? ’15,000 young people with a job in 2022!’
Life skills, based on the Bible
In all Job Booster trainings, in India and Burkina Faso, but also in other countries where Woord en Daad is active, life skills are offered, based on the bible. The aim of Job Booster is not only to help young people get a job, but also give them personal education. Biblical principles such as good citizenship, honesty and integrity are given a place. One of the attendees tells how young people in Burkina Faso are touched by the lifestyle of their Christian teachers and sometimes even come to faith.
Vocational training for household help
Mrs. Ouédraogo from Burkina Faso tells about ‘her’ vocational training for household help. She is clearly proud of her school and tells enthusiastically about what Job Booster means to her school. ‘We have been able to buy new materials for our school through which we have been able to improve the quality of education.’ Mrs. Ouédraogo has a lot of contacts with companies and is proud to say that many of her students are already sure of getting a job when they start their education.
‘We need each other’
Entrepreneur Egbert Klop, vocational trainer at the Hoornbeeck college and Arjan de Jager and Woord en Daad colleague Cees Oosterhuis are questioned by Chairman Govert-Henk Mijnders about the journey they recently made to Burkina Faso and the role they play in Job Booster. Conclusion: In particular, the cooperation between entrepreneurs, Woord en Daad and Hoornbeeck College guarantees that Job Booster can become a success. ‘We need each other to make the dream of Job Booster come true.’ says Cees.
Networking during Asian tasting
The meeting ends with an Asian tasting. Samuel Nirmal closes the meeting and opens the meal with a prayer. Through culture and language the unity in belief is experienced. While enjoying all kinds of snacks those present have ample opportunity to network.
Woord en Daad is grateful for the engagement of so many entrepreneurs and looks back at a fruitful meeting.