It is also essential to strengthen the use of digital technologies across education and skills development providers, with strong focus on Technical Education Training (TVET) programs. There is also need to increase investment in digital solutions for practical skills development and improve access to and develop capacity of teachers, trainers, principals and managers on delivering on line, distance and blended learning with particular focus on TVET and skills development institutions and programs. It should be noted that there will always be a digital divide between Developed and developing countries particularly the low-income countries. Efforts should be made to close this gap. It is essential to improve and modernize job counseling and career guidance to help young people plan a job and career path in industries and sectors with the capacity to absorb the influx of young graduates. Churches could play a big role in ensuring that their Vocational training Institutions are designed in such a way that their curricula links their students with productive sectors.
or depression as those who continued to be employed. This underscore the linkage between mental well-being and educational success and labor market integration. 38% of young people, globally are uncertain about their future career prospects and 16% are fearful. The increased sense of anxiety and fear that this crisis has instilled in many young people threatens to delay recovery in education and youth employment outcomes. For solutions, young people call for the safeguard of young people’s mental well-being through mental health services, psychosocial support and sports activities, acting as stand alone modular measures integrated within youth employment and education interventions. Churches can initiate such programs under their diaconal work.
The youth recommend that public and private efforts should boost the quality and relevance of educational and training systems so they can better respond to the demand of the labor market in a post pandemic world.
There is also need to offer mental well-being services particularly to young people whose school-to-work trajectory has been impacted due to disrupted educational careers or job losses. This implies up-scaling-mental well-being interventions within training and education institutions and public employment services. It is also important to foster measures that create a positive environment in the work place for the return to work and the continued support of young people.
On Youth Mental well-being
Economy Of Life as the Real Panacea
The survey found that, globally, one in two young people aged 18-29 are possibly subject to anxiety or depression, while further 17 percent are probably affected by it. Average mental well-being is worse for young women, as well as for younger youth. Young people whose education or work had been disrupted the most since the onset of the pandemic exhibited greatly reduced mental well-being. They were almost twice as likely to be affected by anxiety
The above solutions under the three categories suggested by the youth fall within the concept of the economy of life propagated by the Council for World Mission, the World Council of Churches and the World Communion of Reformed Churches. In the case of the youth, economy of Life is about responding to the following question:
