Togolese Gen Zer builds sports car from scrap waste

25-year-old Sourou-Edjareyo Malazouwe from Togo, with no background in mechanical engineering education or training, has made a 4×4 car using scrap waste materials from motorcycles and bus parts.

According to recent World Bank data, Togolese is among the few African countries whose unemployment rate is still considered ‘low’ at 9.7%.

Gen Zers have casual jobs and don’t earn enough to sustain their needs. In fact, young people make up a significant portion of the vulnerable, sleeping rough and struggling with drug addiction in Lomé and other towns.

It’s this economic struggle that inspired 25-year-old Sourou-Edjareyo to build his own vehicle, knowing he could not afford the sports cars he admired.

Out of passion, he started building an ‘RAF-X Raptor’ car. The build was so impressive that he was invited to meet the country’s Prime Minister, Victoire Tomégah-Dogbé, who pledged to support and empower his vision for more widespread sports car construction.

In Togo, a lack of proper Gen Z representation and inclusion in decision making has hindered the government’s ability to meet urgent needs. Civic engagement – like Malazouwe meeting with politicians – is important to help boost employment and education for young people.

According to the UN, employment in casual roles has risen due to a number of factors, such as a lack of proper training to acquire relevant long-term career skills.

Young women living in Togo’s rural areas are also at risk of social exclusion and poor healthcare, with a high rate of school dropouts largely caused by early pregnancies.

Gen Zers are increasingly facing difficulty finding decent formal employment. Minimal funding to subsidize school fees has stifled higher education opportunities. A large number of university graduates leave unemployed without a clear path into the job market.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkYM0D8qTR0&ab_channel=TEDxTalks

Africa's Youth as a solution to Africa's Problems | Emmanuel Nana Boakye Ababio | TEDxTudu (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkYM0D8qTR0&ab_channel=TEDxTalks)

Togo has made tremendous efforts to tackle these problems in recent years. The government has set up local digital projects and programs to combat youth unemployment.

Late last month, during the 77th United Nations General Assembly in New York, the Secretary General, António Guterres, acknowledged Togo’s commitment to innovative digital solutions.

It’s hoped this will help expand social protection to hard-to-reach populations. Digitizing employment programs ensures long-term future tech employment opportunities, boosting the market considerably.

Support from the government to Gen Zers such as Malazouwe proves the country is committed to developing employment prospects.