1. EachPod

Unpacking the Choose Africa campaign and what it means for the future of employment and youth empowerment in Africa

Author
Na'amal
Published
Fri 05 Sep 2025
Episode Link
https://naamal.transistor.fm/30

Welcome to Voices of Resilience Season 3, brought to you by Na'amal, a non-profit and social enterprise dedicated to empowering forcibly displaced individuals through dignified remote work. In this episode, we delve into the exciting and sometimes challenging landscape of AI and Africa's digital future.

Co-hosted by Clay Lowe and Lorraine Charles, this conversation features Emmanuel Trinity, social entrepreneur, creative director, and founder of Era92, a Ugandan creative agency and impact organization that equips young people from underserved communities with digital and creative skills.

Growing up in the slums of Kampala, Emmanuel experienced firsthand the cycle of poverty and lack of opportunity. Out of that experience, he launched Era92 as a mission-driven agency that not only delivers world-class branding and design for global clients, but also funds training for youth through its Elevate program. To date, Era92 has trained and placed hundreds of young people into dignified digital jobs, and with the #HireAfrica campaign, Emmanuel is working toward creating 10,000 jobs by 2025 and 100,000 by 2032.

This episode dives deep into Emmanuel’s journey, the Era92 model of combining business with impact, and why Africa’s “youth bulge” represents not a crisis but a once-in-a-generation opportunity to position the continent as a global hub for creative and digital labor.

About Our Guest

Emmanuel Trinity is the founder of Era92, a social enterprise and creative agency in Uganda equipping disadvantaged youth with digital skills and connecting them to meaningful work opportunities. Through initiatives like the Elevate program and the Choose Africa campaign, Emmanuel is reimagining how Africa’s young talent can meet global demand for digital services. He has been featured by outlets like BBC Africa for his pioneering role in building dignified employment pathways for young creatives.

About Our Co-Host

Lorraine Charles is the co-founder and Executive Director of Na’amal, leading efforts to connect refugees and underserved youth to dignified employment in the digital economy. A researcher and thought leader on the future of work and displacement, she works with governments, NGOs, and businesses to design inclusive systems for digital livelihoods.

Episode Highlights

  • Emmanuel’s Journey
  • Growing up in Kampala’s slums and the turning point that led to founding Era92
  • Balancing mission and sustainability while building a global creative agency
  • The Era92 Model
  • How the Elevate program trains and prepares youth for creative work
  • Stories of graduates who have transitioned into remote and agency roles
  • Why mindset shifts and confidence-building are as important as technical skills

Introducing #HireAfrica

  • Vision: creating 10,000 jobs by 2025 and 100,000 by 2032
  • Why this campaign matters now and how it builds on Era92’s success
  • The role of partnerships, platforms, and global employers in scaling impact

Global Labor Trends & Africa’s Youth

  • Why Africa’s youth bulge is an opportunity, not a crisis
  • The mismatch between global demand for digital services and African underemployment
  • How remote work and creative industries can unlock Africa’s workforce potential

Challenges & Opportunities

  • Barriers: infrastructure, inclusivity, funding
  • Opportunities: digital upskilling, entrepreneurship, global hiring shifts
  • Ensuring dignity and avoiding extractive outsourcing models

Closing Reflections

  • Emmanuel’s advice for African youth: lessons from his journey
  • What global businesses and allies can do to support Choose Africa
  • The one opportunity Africa must not miss in the next decade

Discussion Topics

  • Balancing business and impact in creative industries
  • The Choose Africa vision and its potential to reshape global hiring
  • Bridging gaps between African talent and global demand
  • Inclusive digital economies and systems for youth empowerment
  • Building pathways beyond training: jobs, dignity, and entrepreneurship

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