UPSHIFT
UPSHIFT is a youth social innovation program developed by UNICEF Innovation under the Generation Unlimited UNICEF vision.
UPSHIFT combines leading approaches to youth and adolescent development with private sector best practice (human-centered design), to empower marginalized young people to identify and design entrepreneurial solutions to challenges in their communities. The approach combines social innovation workshops with mentorship and seed funding and is tailored to reach the most marginalized.
UPSHIFT has been transforming lives for over a decade by equipping youth with essential skills. By using Human-Centred Design and experiential learning, the program builds professional, entrepreneurial, and transferable skills through interactive workshops, mentorship, and real-world challenges.
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UPSHIFT Somalia
Empowering Somali Youth to Drive Transformative Change
UPSHIFT Somalia is dedicated to turning challenges into opportunities. The program empowers Somali youth aged 10-24 by equipping them with the essential skills—problem solving, creativity, leadership, and communication—so they can drive meaningful change in their communities.
In Somalia, UPSHIFT tackles issues ranging from gender-based violence to community resilience, ensuring that every young innovator has the tools and confidence to make a lasting impact.
Our Approach
- Curriculum Adaptation: We tailored the UPSHIFT curriculum to fit the local Somali context, ensuring relevance and cultural sensitivity.
- Workshop Facilitation: Our team led over 15 UPSHIFT Bootcamps in Mogadishu, Garowe, Hargeisa, Borama, Gabiley, and Burao providing hands-on guidance in social innovation, entrepreneurship, and 21st‑century skills.
- Remote Incubation Support: We provided remote guidance and resources to local partners during the incubation phase. This ensured that the emerging ventures received ongoing mentorship and strategic advice as they developed their ideas into viable social enterprises.
- Resource Development: We developed supplementary digital materials, tools, and learning resources to enhance the overall training experience for youth participants.
- Local Ecosystem Engagement: We actively engaged with local stakeholders and community leaders, ensuring that program activities aligned with local needs and priorities. This approach fosters strong connections between emerging innovators, local mentors, and community leaders to help transform creative ideas into real-world solutions.
- Partnering with DOT S Coop:
UPSHIFT Somalia was implemented by local partners and DOT S Coop (in partnership with our team). Our role as DOT’s partner was supporting the programme’s vision from curriculum adaptation to supporting the local partners through the incubation process.
The UPSHIFT Somalia Experience
- Bootcamp Sessions:
Interactive workshops that help identify critical community challenges, reframe problems as opportunities, and craft compelling value propositions for social ventures. - Skills Development for Impact:
Skills in project management, action planning, marketing, and teamwork prepare participants to drive change. - Incubation:
With dedicated remote support, UPSHIFT Somalia teams receive continuous guidance, ensuring that every idea is refined and ready to make a real impact.
Impact
Since its inception in 2019, UPSHIFT Somalia has been a transformative journey empowering the next generation of Somali leaders to reimagine their communities and build a resilient future. It has:
- Empowered Young Innovators: Equipping them with critical skills and the confidence to launch social enterprises.
- Fostered Community-Centric Solutions: Supporting ventures that address vital challenges, including access to education, healthcare, clean energy, and more.
eUPSHIFT Kenya
A Virtual Hub for Skills Development and Social Innovation
Overview
eUPSHIFT Kenya was a pioneering digital adaptation of UNICEF’s globally renowned UPSHIFT program, launched during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hosted on the Atingi virtual learning platform, it ensured that Kenyan youth aged 10–24 could continue developing essential skills and driving impactful social innovation projects—even when in-person training was not possible.
What We Offered
- Interactive Digital Learning:
- Online workshops covering problem-solving, human-centered design, and entrepreneurial thinking.
- Collaborative breakout sessions where youth work in teams to address real community challenges.
- Practical Project Development:
- A focus on hands-on learning where participants develop and launch social innovation projects.
- Real-time feedback and continuous mentorship throughout the program.
- Digital Competency Building:
- Emphasis on virtual collaboration skills.
- Integration of digital tools that equip participants to thrive in an interconnected world.
Why eUPSHIFT Kenya?
- Adaptability: Developed in response to the pandemic, ensuring uninterrupted skills development.
- Social Impact: Participants created projects that directly address local challenges, empowering communities.
- Future-Ready Skills: The program not only built core entrepreneurial abilities but also boosts digital literacy.