Six hundred university students participated in a virtual\u201cDay@ Nestl\u00e9,\u201d which aims to offer young people exposure to working life in multinational companies, and enhance the skills they need to help secure post graduation employment, especially in the areas of sales, marketing, supply chain and operations. Held in November in ten countries across the Middle East and North Africa, the events were jointly organized by youth and leadership teams from within Nestl\u00e9. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThese \u201cReadiness for Work\u201d events are part of our commitment to supporting the career development of youths, offering various opportunities for learning as well as creating at least 1,000 new jobs for people under the 30 years old by 2025,\u201d said David Moloto, <\/strong>Nestl\u00e9<\/strong> Human Resources Director in the MENA region<\/strong>.\u201cWe continue to connect with young men and women in our region during these challenging times to help enhance their understanding of the present and future of work opportunities.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Nestl\u00e9\u2019s efforts are part of its Nestl\u00e9 needs YOUth<\/a> initiative, with specific actions in the Middle East and North Africa that help meet the company\u2019s regional commitment<\/a> to Foster Career Opportunities for Youth by enhancing skills, and promoting employability and career progression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The virtual \u201cDay @ Nestl\u00e9\u201d starts with an introduction of the company and its Creating Shared Value commitments which guide its engagement in society, followed by overviews from different functions to help acquaint participants with specific roles in multinational entities, including how businesses are run in the food and beverage industry. It concludes with CV Writing and Job Interviews training sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The events come at a time when youth unemployment rates in the Middle East and North Africa, already the world\u2019s highest at 29 percent according to the World Economic Forum, are being further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic which has led nearly half the region\u2019s young people to consider leaving their countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nestl\u00e9 recently announced that it has hired more than 2,600 young people under the age of30 in the region since 2016, totaling 70% of its new hires during the period. The company has alsoorganized380 Readiness for Workeventsin the same period,impacting35,000 people across the region. In addition, more than 100 internswerehiredacrossNestl\u00e9\u2018s offices in MENA in 2020 alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n