SECS Research Seminar - Youth aspiration and wellbeing in Zambia: The rising importance of vocational skills training

This is part of the School of Education and Childhood Studies Research Seminar series for the Academic Year 2017-2018

Dr Caroline Day, Lecturer, Department of Geography, University of Portsmouth

Title: Youth aspiration and wellbeing in Zambia: The rising importance of vocational skills training

Abstract: A key marker of adulthood in Africa is the ability to provide an income to support oneself and one's family (Chigunta et al., 2005). However, the issue of youth unemployment and underemployment remains one of the major challenges for governments and development partners alike. In Zambia there has been an increasing focus on skills development and vocational training programmes in order to provide young people with more opportunities to improve their lives and contribute to the economy. There has also been a political ‘push’ towards entrepreneurship and the encouragement of young people to develop their own business enterprises (Gough et al., 2013). While completing education is still considered a key transition to adulthood (Day, 2016), many young people recognise that this may not be achievable, instead aspiring to develop business opportunities for themselves. However, the resources to do this are limited and as a result young people lack the skills and economic support to achieve their potential. This paper focuses on research conducted in Zambia during August 2016. Forty young people (aged 18-30 years), engaged in two different skills training programmes, took part in focus groups to discuss how they construct, sustain or adapt their aspirations in the face of structural constraints and what this means for their current and future wellbeing. This research gives voice to these young people and offers unique insights into the lives of Zambian youth from their own perspectives while also addressing the successes and challenges associated with the vocational skills based training agenda.