The size of your success is measured by the strength of your desire; the size of your dream; and how you handle disappointment along the way ~ Robert Kiyosaki
It all began with a quest to mentor the young generation… You see friends, according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, the unemployment rate in Kenya increased to 40 percent in 2011 from 12.70 percent in 2006.
Two years later, are we any better? We live in a society where the rate of unemployment grows faster than that of the economy but what are we doing to help fight this? What can you possibly do to inspire someone to become as successful as you are or even better?
Africa is in urgent need of real mentoring from experienced “fathers” and “statesmen” and it’s time we rose up to that role. Many opportunities are presenting themselves across Africa and if we don’t guide the young people then they will waste those opportunities.
As an ‘experienced’ statesman, I took it upon myself to come out and personally mentor the younger generation. I employ many of them but I felt that it was not enough. I sat down and came up with a way where they could ask questions online regarding business and entrepreneurship and get relevant information they needed.
Every Thursday for a period of three hours, I am able to interact with the young people using the hashtag #AskKirubi on Twitter.
I honestly did not know what I was getting
myself into but I was determined. In the last two weeks I have gotten over 200 questions and this has just proved how much the young people are yearning for information and advice to move in the right direction.
It is my hope that the government will move in to assist in covering some of these subjects because young people don’t seem well armed on how to become independent and fend for themselves. There is definitely a gap in our education system. Theory will not only help you gain success but you need that practical element and I hope with time we will begin seeing this.
How can we take the Swiss experience on how they manage students who have completed school? How can they be polished and prepared for the next phase of life? Isn’t it time colleges and universities prepared students to face the real life if we have to grow and develop as a country? We need to take these challenges on, prepare the youth to be independent in their various fields of understanding as entrepreneurs.
There are many areas that well educated Kenyans can undertake which would see the end of unemployment. I am only trying what I can in intervening as there is a very serious gap between theory and practical.
On the other hand, we need all financial
institutions to be mandated to apportion part of their financial transactions as venture capital for great initiatives by young Kenyans.
We have many young passionate people looking to be employers themselves but lack the capital; and it’s only fair if we created that opportunity for them with the resources we have.
The desire by many young men and women looking to become entrepreneurs has energized me to look for these partnerships with caring banks to finance great ideas. I am still on that quest and will not tire till I find a solution. I appeal to those who have great ideas and lack the finance or will power, to communicate with me on this platform and I will see how best to assist.
For now, I will continue mentoring those I can using my Facebook and Twitter pages. It’s my desire to see the young people of this country flourish.
See you on Twitter.
Your friend, DR. DJ CK
