Publication: Reinventing Apprenticeship and Rites of Passage : An Entry Into the Urban Economy in Sub-Saharan Africa
Date
2000-05
ISSN
Published
2000-05
Author(s)
Easton, Peter
Abstract
The note identifies the essential
ingredients - employment, meaning, and self-direction -
through examples that represent efforts to fill the void in
apprenticeship of adult roles, for impoverished young people
thrown out of a traditional framework, and into the vortex
of African cities. And seemingly, they succeed best where
they manage to "recreate tradition", infusing the
customary categories of apprenticeship, and age-group
association with new economic direction, and increased
self-direction, and definition by the participants. From
this brief overview of efforts to assist Africa's
impoverished youth in building new identities, the following
lessons emerged: An adult education approach works best,
insofar as it involves building on the experience, and
skills that young people carry, and giving them a
determining role in guiding the program. Gainful, and
meaningful employment is a cornerstone of new identities,
but a vision of the future, be it religious, cultural, or
political, and the opportunity to apply it to one's own
life, is what forms an enduring perseverance in life. Peer
counseling is thus a frequent element of successful
programs. Traditional apprenticeship, and youth associations
should be utilized as repertoire and resource, based on a
continual critique. Discovery of one's environment, and
advocacy for change, are critical complements to any effort.
Citation
“Easton, Peter. 2000. Reinventing Apprenticeship and Rites of Passage : An Entry Into the Urban Economy in Sub-Saharan Africa. Indigenous Knowledge (IK) Notes; No. 20. © World Bank, Washington, DC. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/58ca6fe9-06a5-50a8-9fd1-cd149789a079 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”