“I am learning to be a developer,” says Angela Githuthu-Ngaamba who knows a majority of the Kenyan youth tend to have an ‘instant coffee’ mindset. Besides, her conviction is that youth are living in a generation where everyone wants change. They are full of new ideas for a better society.
As the Safaricom’s Youth Segment Lead and in charge of developing and creating products targeting young people aged 10 to 26 through the BLAZE Youth network, “It speaks about stuff I am passionate about. Youth are an important part of Blaze,” says Angela.
BLAZE is a network that gives youth access to the “Be Your Own Boss” mentorship summits, boot camps, events, and youth empowerment programs.
Angela is known as an influential personality having worked with numerous brands in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry. Key among them,- Huggies baby and childcare, Cadbury, Nestlé, technology firm Nokia – as a representative in Kenya and the African market.
Her insights in marketing and influencing policy in the technology sector enables her to interact and speak articulately with the youth.
“Over 17 million youth complete their secondary school education annually. However, about 9.9 million, close to half, get to university or are enrolled for vocation training.”
“There is a huge gap in our formal education system. We need to speak to these individuals,” Angela says passionately.
They need to learn the skills of the future and this is through technological knowledge and literacy within entire Kenya’s education system.
“Young Scientists Kenya (YSK) is speaking to young Kenyan students. Encouraging them to venture into Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). It is about bringing into life what they learn to provide solutions.”
“The biggest differentiation is going to humanity. I want to embrace technology with a human element,” Angela Githuthu-Ngaamba
Young Scientists Kenya is a unique platform in East Africa that allows young people to demonstrate their talents in sciences and math, with the aim of transforming Kenya through innovation in STEM.
The YSK initiative is a collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the Embassy of Ireland and BLAZE by Safaricom.
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The network has given youth around the country access to different empowerment programs.
“Listening to young people’s ideas, prepares them with skills, empowers them to be the future solution providers for their communities…Creating a generation that will not take shortcuts,” says Angela.
“The future is in their hands. Information is there.”
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Today, Angela is turning more of her skills in marketing and management together with her team to nurture the numerous ideas from the youth to believe in themselves.
That means providing the tools and technology that will have ‘a practical approach to the use of Science’.
“The biggest differentiation is going to humanity. I want to embrace technology with a human element,” says the aspirational lady who was named among the 2017 Top 40 under 40 Women by the Business Daily.
“Mentoring the youth, lifting their spirits and empowering them to build their own lives through their passion gives me great joy each day, because I know I am making a difference in young people’s lives,” she told Business Daily.
The Top 40 under 40 Women recognises young and progressive women in different segments of the economy.
In a parting shot, Angela a mother of two Christ-centered daughters says, “I want to be a baker. I have an aspiration…high end baked food.”
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