Solving unemployment by creating work in Cape Coast and beyond

+Barcamp Cape Coast 2013 was organized on September 14th at the Faculty of Education Lecture Theatre 9 at the University of Cape Coast. This followed the first ever +TedxCapeCoastED Ghana which shared some organizing team members with the Barcamp as well. The theme was "Solving unemployment by creating work". This was the third Barcamp Cape Coast event and the focus was on tackling unemployment. The transcendent statement from the event was "There might be a shortage of jobs, but there is no shortage of work". It was key to enlighten many attendees about using their education to solve problems and by creating work, creating employment for themselves and others as well.

Speed mentoring was a hit this year just like for the 2012 event. The speed mentors (resource personnel) had 1-on-1 mentoring sessions with attendees for 10 minutes at a time. They included Joseph Hudson (Tigo), Careercoach Emmanuel Woyome, Josephina Lynn-Halm (Manasseh Collections - Fashion), David Egyir (Life Coach), Frank Entsi Williams (Tutor), Rosemond Boohene (UCC School of Business), +Samuel Ekem (Cape Coast Guide), Patrick Ekow Acquah (Youth Activist) and +Ato Ulzen-Appiah (of +Rancard Solutions).

Cape Coast native, +kobla nyomi did a presentation on his Oware 3D game. It's currently an Android app and which is built on the Unity platform. Attendees were really impressed with his work and how he was able to bring alive a simple Ghanaian game which has worldwide appeal. A lot of developers were at the event and were inspired by Kobla's work.

After lunch, there was a panel on the theme moderated by +Rachel Hormeku. The panelists were Joseph, Emmanuel, Frank and David, who had all speed mentored earlier. Frank was really pleased that many of the attendees had stayed to participate in the event after lunch was done as this is not the case for many events of the same nature in Ghana. A lot of insight was shared around starting businesses, and succeeding at work. Barcamp Cape Coast attendees learnt that they could create job positions by doing various types of work at the work places.
Ato shared a information about the upcoming National Volunteer Day and the first promo video for the initiative was premiered at Barcamp Cape Coast.

The breakout sessions were the last features of the event. There were these sessions - Google Developer Tools run by +Kobe Subramaniam & +Benjamin Dadson, extra-curricular activities session run by +Kwasi Adu-Gyamfi, Getting more info about Cape Coast online run by +Felix Nartey representing +Planning WIKIMEDIA GHANA and a session around resourcing for business.

This was the 23rd +Barcamp Ghana event. You know 23 is a special number in Ghana right? #233moments things. Check out this Storify story. The organizing team was made up of Kobe, Rachel, +kofi yeboah +William Boampong Osilaja +Papa Baffoe Aikins +Kwesi Quagraine +sampson oboh +Mantey Joshua etc. +Seyram Freddy Ahiabor +David Nikoi and +Felix Nartey were also there to support. Many other thanks and kudos to the various +GhanaThink Foundation members who played great roles to make the event successful. Check out #bccapecoast on Google+ and Twitter.