Publish at October 15 2025 Updated October 15 2025
The path we're shown from childhood onwards is that of a school career leading to a diploma and then to a job that will enable us to climb the corporate ladder. All parents teach this, even if it seems increasingly out of step with reality.
Because, even with a diploma, access to a job is not guaranteed. In Africa, this couldn't be truer. However, Anuj Tanna, entrepreneur and co-developer of the MESH application, noted that, while the formal market seemed difficult, a whole parallel economy was developing. Indeed, many African graduates have decided to become entrepreneurs out of a passion or interest in providing for themselves.
As a result, a whole new market is opening up in Kenya and elsewhere, with young people taking up entrepreneurial activities. Fruit merchants, hairdressers, photographers and many others are thriving and forging links on applications like MESH, among others. This change requires young adults to think in new ways.
They have often been told that they need to climb the social ladder. However, the informal economy they have developed is more like a play module in a park, with ups and downs, obstacles to overcome and so on. It also relies heavily on trust with suppliers, customers and so on. We prefer to associate with people who have integrated collaboration into their values.
This is not to say that traditional trades are not important. However, in what seems an intractable stalemate, this parallel economy keeps the national one stimulated and flourishing.
Running time: 12min16
Image: Daniel Reche from Pixabay
You might also like:
The sharing economy has led to small changes in various economic sectors such as transportation, housing, etc. This approach has changed the relationship of citizens for different services, now cheaper and offered by their fellow citizens. However, who actually benefits from this new economy? The people or the companies in question? A U.S. newsgame shows how the life of Uber drivers isn't as lucrative as one might think.
Tests of vigilance and attention
Measuring attention remains a concern in many settings. Some work tasks are not very error tolerant. Here are a series of sample tests to measure attention in children and adults.
A serious game on social engagement
Many serious games address the topic of sustainable development. Yet before such solutions were proposed, innovative people had to go against the social grain and fight to improve their environment. A humorous adventure game, hosted by the National Film Board, teaches children the attitudes they need to adopt to make a difference.
"Phalenes! understanding natural selection through play
A serious game designed to demonstrate natural selection and its effects on a moth population.
Newscraft: the game that puts you in the shoes of a reporter
A serious game that explains and brings to life the notion of news selection and the editorial line of different types of media.
