East African youth advised on networking

Apr 02, 2016

The founder of the FK youth mentoring network, Farid Karama said problems affecting youth are universal and the youth should network and share approaches in solving problems.


Youth in the East African region have been advised to network with their peers in the country to gain exposure in current affairs.

The founder of the FK youth mentoring network, Farid Karama said problems affecting youth are universal and the youth should network and share approaches in solving problems.

"They should understand their challenges and seek approaches in solving them," he said.

Karama was speaking on Thursday during a youth breakfast meeting that gathered youth from Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan and the host Uganda at Mackinnon suites in Kampala.

 arid arama the founder of the  youth mentoring network engaging the during the youth breakfast meeting Farid Karama, the founder of the FK youth mentoring network engaging the during the youth breakfast meeting

 

The Uganda based network is a youth-led organization focusing on youth development and empowerment through mentoring.

Karama noted that networking is a valuable way to expand one's knowledge, learn from the success of others, attain new clients and tell others about your business.

"I highly recommend business networking as a way to gain new clients and to build a sustainable business," he said.

Under the theme creativity and sustaining opportunities, Karama said the great news is that the referrals that one gets through networking are normally high quality and most of the time is even pre-qualified.

"You can then follow up on these referrals and turn them into clients yet you are getting much higher quality leads from networking than other forms of marketing," he noted.

Karama told the youth that it's not what they know, but whom they know adding that this is so true in business.

"Networking provides you with a great source of connections, and opens the door to talk to highly influential people that you wouldn't otherwise be able to easily talk to or find," he told the youth.

Karama also noted that networking was a great way to tap into advice and expertise that one wouldn't otherwise be able to get hold of.

John Abakah, head of agency development at prudential assurance Uganda told the youth that people they hang out with and talk to do influence who they are and what they do, so it is important to surround themselves with positive, uplifting people that help them grow and thrive as business owners.

He also advised the youth to use acquired practical skills to start up their own businesses other than moving from one company to another searching for jobs.

 outh from wanda urundi enya anzania outh udan and the host ganda attending the recently concluded  youth mentoring network breakfast meeting at he ackinnon suites akasero ampala Youth from Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan and the host Uganda attending the recently concluded FK youth mentoring network breakfast meeting, at The Mackinnon suites, Nakasero, Kampala

 



 "You have been empowered through several mentorship programs and attained skills that are going to raise your confidence and esteem, these skills are a ray of hope, use them to start up your own businesses and also employ others," Abakah advised.

Juliana Lanyero, one of the youth applauded the network for their efforts geared towards uplifting the standards of the youth by equipping them with entrepreneurial skills.

"I was certainly not confident when I started networking; in fact it completely petrified me! But as I do it more, the more confident I get and the easier it becomes, and the more benefits I get out of it," she said.

She also advised the youth to organize themselves into groups in their respective areas and ask their leaders to help them access money under the government program.

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