From 11 July to 26 September 2014 the United Nations Population Fund along with HR Congress and the Centre for Professional Development implement the project "Training Our Personnel".

The project "Training Our Personnel" is implemented on the occasion of the International Population Day, which this year is dedicated to investing in youth. The idea of the project is to provide young people with the opportunity to complete an internship at Belarusian companies. The best employees of organizations will share their professional secrets with the interns, and will engage young people in performing actual day-to-day tasks. Young people, students and recent school leavers and university graduates are invited to participate. The organization will be selected based on the qualifications of the candidate.

You are welcome to send your application and cover letter from 11 to 25 July 2014 torastimkadru@gmail.com. After the review of the applications received five participants will be offered the list of companies at which they could complete their internship.

According to the World Bank, 300 million young people or 25% of all young people worldwide agree to jobs not matching their qualifications. If you add another 300 million young people employed in the low-paid agricultural sector or not having a permanent job, this will amount to over a half of the total youth population of the world out of the running.

"A quarter of the world's population are young people, and 74 million of them are not employed. Young people are three times more likely to stay unemployed than their adult counterparts. According to expert estimates during the period from 2015 to 2030 the global economy is to create around 670 million jobs to keep in check the spread of unemployment and to handle the increase of the working-age population. By implementing the project UNFPA aims to emphasize how important and beneficial it is for companies to invest in youth", said Elena Kasko, Deputy UNFPA Resident Representative in the Republic of Belarus. 

At the end of 2012 young people accounted for more than 25% of the employees of Belarusian enterprises and organizations. According to experts, adequate investment in youth will provide the labour market with larger numbers of necessary qualified professionals; young people will be more motivated and oriented at professional development working for the same employer and according to the training received.

"The issue of proper adaptation of talented youth is of current interest, the more so today when the gap between the generations' values has become so pronounced and there is lack of dialogue. Some Belarusian companies capitalize on the experience of creating candidate pool and even train their future personnel from school. However, this happens rarely. We want talented citizens of our country to stay in Belarus, feel needed and receive help in the adaptation to practical work following theoretical education. We are confident that this project will promote the development of HR activities of Belarusian businesses and will assist companies in dealing with the shortage of young qualified personnel. For young people it is an opportunity to gain unique experience", said Olga Pavlova, Head of the Organizing Committee of the 3rd HR Congress.

Currently the following organizations are ready to take up interns: Belarusky Narodny Bank, UN/UNDP Office in Belarus, and Rosting Travel Agency. We also welcome other Belarusian companies to participate in the project by contacting our Project Coordinator.

The internship starts 1 August 2014. Project results will be summarized at the HR Congress on 26 September 2014.