Vodafone’s JUMP Gets Youth Talking With ‘JUMP Ignite’

<center>Jeff Mutabazi, Sales & Marketing Manager SMS One (2nd right) makes a point at the Vodafone Jump Ignite recently. The Youth were hosted to a discussion on managing finances through rational spending, saving and investing at the Dancing Cup, Bugolobi. Over 50 young people meet monthly for open discussions relating to life’s challenges, opportunities and solutions. This month’s topic was Financial Literacy. JUMP Ignite is the offline platform that encourages youth engagement, beyond the Vodafone JUMP online portal.</center>

Vodafone Uganda, through its JUMP platform hosted a cross section of youth to ‘Jump Ignite’, a monthly forum which enables the youth to engage and interact with like-minded people. This month’s session under the theme ‘Financial Literacy’ was held at Dancing Cup, Bugolobi.

Several youth exchanged ideas on financial discipline, financial stability and making rational and sound financial decisions.

‘JUMP Ignite’ seeks to create an off-line movement by encouraging engagement beyond the JUMP website to create a physical platform that encourages youth leadership and gives them a voice by sharing common values and perspectives through open and candid discussions relating to the reality, challenges and opportunities they face as young people.

Cynthia Ayeza, the JUMP Editor for Education moderated the event and noted that platforms such as ‘Jump Ignite plays a key role in strengthening Youth Advocacy. She said, “Through JUMP Ignite, youth are given an opportunity to lead and participate in informed discussions on issues that are critical to their development. They share their aspirations and learn from each other. They are able to voice their business ideas, product development experiences, marketing skills, research skills while promoting the role of entrepreneurship to curb youth unemployment.”

According to statistics, most of Uganda’s population comprises the youth, who represent a movement that’s innovative and believed to be the key in addressing our development challenges.

Cynthia added, “The youth are the future leaders and are not only capable of making smart decisions about their future but are also a driving force to deal with the challenges currently facing Uganda, one of the biggest being unemployment. Vodafone through its JUMP platform provides a support system with its content in categories of Education, Entrepreneurship, Self-improvement, Lifestyle and Entertainment, as well as the JUMP Academy.”

JUMP Ignite will be held monthly in areas that are easily accessible to university students and young professionals.