Nearly two-thirds of Pakistan’s population comprises of youth, presenting an unprecedented opportunity for young Pakistanis to play a part in accelerating the country’s growth and development. Youth unemployment is an exacerbating challenge, and the skills gap is widening because many young people including women lack the right skills that they need to become job-ready. Youngsters often struggle with access to opportunities to build their skills portfolio and are at risk of being excluded from today’s job market. This is why there is an urgent need for governments, private sector, civil society, academia, multilateral, and educators to collaborate for addressing the skills gap and improving youth employment outcomes.
To encourage youth-focused and employment-intensive growth in Pakistan, private sector participation is vital for skills development and paving the way forward for advancing human capital from the perspective of young people.
As a leading food and beverage company, PepsiCo Pakistan is actively engaged with Pakistani youth as part of its broader pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) vision for investing in the development of people and communities. PepsiCo’s holistic youth development program initiated more than four years ago, partners with young people to help improve their skills so that they can successfully transition towards the world of work. At the heart of this philanthropic program, PepsiCo is focused on positively impacting the lives of young Pakistanis by enhancing their professional skills and helping them gain meaningful employment opportunities leading to economic independence.
PepsiCo’s youth development program in partnership with Amal Academy is a three-month leadership program focused on developing the growth mindset and skills of fellows who are entering the job market. The PepsiCo-Amal Career Prep Fellowship has been instrumental in expanding community outreach and creating opportunities for youth to develop skills such as communications, teamwork, leadership, and positive thinking. So far, the program has upskilled thousands of youngsters from 135 towns and villages across Pakistan. More than eighty per cent of the fellows have acquired new job opportunities within three months of graduating from the program.
“Young people are brimming with untapped potential, and we can play a part in helping them reach their full potential. We are immensely proud of the ongoing Amal Career Prep Fellowship program designed to address the current skills gap and support youngsters to acquire skills needed for their socio-professional participation so that they can thrive in today’s job market!” says Mr Mohammad Khosa, Senior Director Commercial and Corporate Affairs, PepsiCo Pakistan.
This short film released on International Youth Day showcases the social impact being created by the PepsiCo-Amal Career Prep Fellowship, bringing forward the inspiring stories of young people who gained training and skills for successful employment opportunities.
