Developing alongside the traditional route

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