The Sunday News
Gladmore Ncube
A ZIMBABWEAN academic based at Eswatini has implored young people to use the austerity economic phase to seek survival skills that would enhance their chances of creating employment.
In a recently published book, award winning Carolyne Lunga who hails from Bulawayo, said the youth should desist from job hunting and tap into hidden economic opportunities.
The former Lupane State University and National University of Science and Technology lecturer said this was the time for youths to research further on the best way to move the continent forward.
Her call for innovation among the young dovetails Government’s call for youth economic emancipation through starting own businesses, in the wake of the changing job market.
Lunga’s Essential Skills for Highly Successful Youths is a load of advice aimed at young people who are keen on changing the world.
The book has had rave reviews in the region.
“My emphasis is on entrepreneurship. Young people in Africa have to develop the mindset to create initiatives, create employment and wealth for themselves while also contributing to the economy.
The book was published in June this year and it is already in the market in most bookshops in southern Africa, in universities in South Africa.
“I principally gave outlines as advice to how young people in Africa can take the bull by its horns by getting the necessary skills needed to survive in these hard times. I talk of ways on how to create self-driven attitude, confidence, success at school and job creation,” said Lunga.
The 27 chapters of the book, according to Lunga, are elaborate to the young reader who wants to know about critical thinking, lifelong learning, problem solving, financial literacy, emotional intelligence, conflict resolution among others, she said.
“I have always been so passionate about essential skills. I wrote an essay for a UNESCO Competition and my essay was considered among the best. Since then I have always researched on critical skills.
Schools and the family unit are not doing enough to inculcate these skills among youths. Secondly I wanted to inspire and motivate youths to acquire these skills so as to contribute meaningfully into this world.
“There is also a section on developing winning CVs, resumes, personal statements and cover letters. A section on doing online applications gives guidance on how to do successful online applications since jobs are now being applied for online, because of digitilisation.” — @gladmorencube
