Ukraine | YouthSpark Ukraine | 24 Feb 2013

On January 29, 2013 Microsoft Ukraine organized a round table in Kyiv dedicated to youth unemployment and to announce the launch of its new initiative - Microsoft YouthSpark in Ukraine. During the round-table a new Microsoft funded project “IDEA Powered by Microsoft YouthSpark” implemented by PH International in Ukraine was announced. The YouthSpark round table gathered representatives of youth focused NGOs, IDEA centres students and managers, Kyiv Youth Employment Center representatives and our partner- Rabota.ua. Among event attendees were journalists writing on NGO activities and IT technologies application in employment, business and education.
Maria Dzyubina of rabota.ua brand manager (the major job-hunting portal in Ukraine) shared statistics on what vacancies for young people are available on the market and mentioned that almost 67% vacancies require computer skills. Anna Kutsenko of Kyiv State Youth Job Center representative has presented what the profile of young professional looking for a job is and what gap there is between demand and supply on the job market for young professionals. Oleksandra Syzova of Microsoft offered Microsoft solutions for tackling youth unemployment problem by giving opportunities to young people were discussed at the round table. Andriy Haidamashko of PH International in Ukraine shared the experience of previous IDEA project supported by Microsotd in 2008 – 2012 that benefited 110 thousand people throughout Ukraine over the last five years. Microsoft and PH International representatives invited youth-focused NGOs to join the new IDEA Project Powered by Microsoft YouthSpark. Graduates of IDEA trainings project who also took part in the round table spoke on how skills they had received during IDEA trainings helped them to find jobs. The YouthSpark Round Table was accompanied by a press release that resulted in 30 publications, among others on technology, education and youth dedicated mass media.