The challenge for Pakistan like many other developing countries is to empower its youth and academic structure. According to Alif Ailaan, the state of education in Pakistan can be best described as an epic national crisis. Pakistan’s performance on these issues can only improve if change makers and stakeholders from various segments of the society step forward and take initiatives. Organisations like SEED feel they are never truly off-duty by serving up the market through global initiatives such as Mosaic.
The Mosaic initiative was launched in 2007 by HRH the Prince of Wales in the UK and later in Qatar and Jordan. It is increasingly recognized as an inclusive platform encouraging the spirit of entrepreneurship in young people from various segments of society.
Through this unique initiative, students aged between 11 to 16 years are engaged in an inter-school competition. So far, 5000 students across the UK, and 2140 students in Jordan and Qatar have participated in this programme. The ethos is to develop their business acumen, and instil and inspire and entrepreneurial mindset.
This is done through a business simulation game where the schools and mentors engage with students to help them play and learn. In Pakistan, SEED Ventures will launch the Mosaic challenge and will adapt according to the need of the local environment and education system.
Children from both, public and private institutions will be eligible to participate in the competition. According to SEED, the program will be delivered in 3 years across various regions in Pakistan.
It is targeted to impact 40 schools and 1,300 students for participation in the challenge and will also develop a trained network of mentors involved in the process.
As a result of this, multiple stakeholders will help enable and fuel the entrepreneurship culture in Pakistan. Like other developing countries, Pakistan also needs more of such initiatives for different age groups and income brackets. The current economic and demographic state, however, presents a clear need for entrepreneurship development in the young adults.