* What is the project's problem statement?

There is a current lack of employability skills among young people in Calabar metropolis, owing to a lack of basic skills like effective writing and communication skills. The Calabar Future Skills Program was intended to bridge the gap by empowering young people with skills basic writing and communication skills with a focus on:

• concept note writing


• grant and proposal writing


• essay and concept note writing


• CV and cover letter


• pitch deck presentation and public speaking.

This is intended to build confidence, employability skills, and also a level ground to better position themselves for other global opportunities. The target group for the calabar future skills program were final year students, recent graduates, and youths between the ages of 18-30. The goal of the calabar future skills program was to bridge the gap of lack of employability skills in young adults in Calabar metropolis by equipping them with relevant writing and communication skills to better position them for job opportunities, internship roles and other global opportunities.

The different activities of the project were:

• Setting up of the project committee


• Call for applications


• Review of applications and selection of qualified fellows


• onboarding of fellows


• Weekly virtual trainings and reviews of tasks assigned to fellows


• Evaluation and selection of qualified fellows for certification


• Onsite public speaking skills training, graduation and certification ceremony of fellows.

The short-term goal of the Calabar FSP project was to equip young people with writing and communication skills relevant to their career advancement. The long-term goal is to contribute to reskilling the future where young people can contribute to socio-economic development of society through the skills and other professional development opportunities it enables them to explore and maximise.

After the call for applications, a total of 102 applications were received by the hub and 60 fellows were selected based on the eligibility criteria. 33 fellows honoured the invitation to join the program and at the end of the program, 17 fellows were graduated and certified after meeting all the requirements for the program. This was a shaper-led and driven project. 80% of the Facilitators and trainers were Shapers. We also partnered with American Corner Spaces, Calabar for the onsite closing-out ceremony