The first phase of the Fondacio Congress in Africa was held from February 26 to March 2, 2022, in Togo. Social entrepreneurship workers, teachers, Fondacio members and young agricultural entrepreneurs shared their experiences in the labor market. They told their stories, stories of passion, courage, difficulties, encounters and successes.
Agriculture, a promised land
By 2030, about 29 million young people will join the job market in Africa each year. By 2022, the continent will have a total population of 1.4 billion. It is expected to reach nearly 1.7 billion by 2030, according to the United Nations. "But the economy is not moving at the same pace," said Christian T. Helim, a forum participant who spoke about financing business creation in Africa. "This is causing a serious unemployment problem."
Another challenge is "the lack of sustainable and decent jobs," according to Gabriel Amouzou, Fondacio Coordinator in Central Africa and member of the Fondacio Board. "Young Africans are confused. They lack guidance and support in promising sectors, such as agriculture. Fondacio in Africa quickly understood the challenge. entrepreneurial training for young people."
Supporting the agents of change
The Fondacio Training Institute (IFF) in Africa and Sichem opened a training course in agricultural entrepreneurship in January 2016. "Agriculture is very dynamic. It is the engine of economic development in most third world countries," explains Ferdinand Adindjita, director of IFF Africa. "Our goal is to professionalize this sector. Indeed, the development of rural areas helps combat unemployment. We train real agents of change who create viable social microenterprises."
In six years, 127 young people have been trained to become agricultural technicians or entrepreneurs (9 and 18-month internships). 382 have followed reinforcement modules and internships to reorient themselves. The integration rate is 60%. According to Gabriel Amouzou, "the positive impact for them is considerable. They shine in their territories", whether it is the production of tropical strawberries, mushrooms, bissap wine, juice, chicken farming or the sale of agricultural equipment.
From idea to creation
"Our journey has three dimensions," says Ferdinand Adindjita. First, the human dimension. "The young people who come here are disoriented. They don't know who they are, what they want. We work together to develop their human capital. We identify their skills and connect them to a job in agriculture. sectors: plant production (market gardening, nurseries, mugwort); agri-food (fruit, vegetables); animal production (rabbits, chickens); agroecological inputs (compost, digestate).
Second, the agropastoral dimension. It provides tools to develop an economic project, with "30% theory and 70% practice, in incubation mode". Third, the entrepreneurial dimension. It provides tools to "promote sustainable and environmentally friendly socio-economic development. The course allows students to move from the idea to the creation of an agricultural business. They write the operating account, benefit from mentoring and initiate networking".
"To find meaning in my life"
Five entrepreneurs shared their field experiences at the forum. Among them is Christine Colani, 32 years old. Trained at IFF Africa, she is now the director of Germe-Afrique in Togo. Her company produces mushrooms and tropical strawberries.
"My dream was to take the competitive examination to become a magistrate. After my diploma, the competition was blocked. I waited three years, but nothing. The judicial market is saturated in Togo. So I decided to reorient myself and find meaning in my life. That's how I got into entrepreneurship. I first took short courses in market gardening. Then, I looked for a complete course. That's when I came to IFF Afrique for a year. I had never practiced agriculture in my life!"
"After the training, I moved into organic production, agri-food processing and teaching. Today, I have three full-time employees and ten part-time employees. We have encountered a number of difficulties. Market gardening is a growing sector, but there are many challenges with few resources. This year and last, we had drought. We lost almost 2 hectares of production because we did not have a well on the site. It is a very hard blow. We will benefit from a drilling donation which is currently under construction."
Christine Kolani concludes: "It's not easy to go from one dream to another. But there are other opportunities to earn a living and find meaning in it.
Farmers who care about the planet
Charles Tsevi, a young agricultural entrepreneur, was a student at IFF Afrique in 2019. “There were ups and downs,” he recalls. “I like to do things at my own pace. I had a hard time getting into the rhythm of Sichem. Fortunately, thanks to the coaches, everything went well.” After the training, Charles Tsevi returned home to Danyi, north of Lomé. There, he started a production of organic mugwort, green beans and green peppers. “It was not easy because of the locusts. They ate all my beans and peppers. So, we put up nets. This allowed me to make lettuce last November and December.”
Since 2020, he has been processing fresh avocados into dried avocados, which are exported to France. The young man has also completed beekeeping training. "My father is the president of the beekeepers of Togo," he explains. Charles Tsevi plants honey trees, whose nectar is collected by bees to make honey. "In this way, we are participating in solving the climate problem. Beekeeping requires us to protect our hives and, consequently, the environment around them. In this way, we protect classified forests or public spaces where we install our hives. We also go to villages where they have cut down a lot of trees to raise awareness among the population."
After Lomé, Bogota!
After the forum, about thirty African delegates and several members of the Fondacio Board worked in groups. They reviewed the last four years, since the last Congress in the Philippines in 2018.
For the first time, the Fondacio Congress will take place in three phases. The first will be held on four continents, from February to June 2022. After Lomé, it will take place in Bogota, Colombia, from April 2 to 6. The theme that will be addressed during the Latin American forum will be: "Engaging young people in integral ecology and social justice."
Watch testimonials from entrepreneurs in Africa (first video, above) and Ferdinand Adindjita, Director of IFF Africa (second video, below).
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