By Wilheim OKOKO

I'm Wilheim ''Owen'' OKOKO. I was selected for Cohort 5 (February to April 2016) after failed to be selected for cohorts 2, 3 applications. I remembered been asked during the interview which part of bicycle I defined myself and I responded: a wheel. I had got a pilot license after studied engineering, I work since 2010 in telecommunications, civil aviation and from 2014 as a measurements engineer in drilling operations, consultancy assignments in sub Saharan Africa and community volunteerism especially youth mentorship in Pointe-Noire. I landed here by strong adaptation, motivation, self development and community advocacies. I studied for a pilot license and jobs didn’t come through, I decided to pursue other interests to keep on learning and diversify my skills. I believe either oil industry or consultancy are the best places to develop skills, enhance capacity, shape my passion for community. This experience provides me with tools that enable me to reach, exceed personal and professional goals. Through these areas of experience, I'm learning how to consistently work for mutual interest, shape the passion for youths and everyday is an innovation day through learning, work processes, safety measures, quality training and teamwork.
I'm from Republic of The Congo, the prevailing social model is youth have been told since their childhood: go to school, seek for petroleum/public service jobs, work for decades and retire. That system showed limits, not everyone get a white-collar job, in the other hand lack of leadership and commitment created gap in youth mind and they feel frustrated if they don't succeed (in the way they have been told) and for those who do, lack initiatives to share stories and encourage others. I came to the point the biggest challenge we have got is youth mentorship and citizen positive attitude. This has badly increase since the oil industry downturn in 2014 combined with the fact 70% of population income comes from this sector. People spend time blaming the government for every single matter in their lives but failed to identify problems to find solutions. I have come up with the mentorship portal when mentors from public service, private sector, civil societies can share stories, encourage creativity, help youth being students, recent graduates, trainees, newly workers to challenge the status quo, build trust, innovate their communities. To help this platform, we have started farming projects near Pointe-Noire while tackling food security, helping marginalized producers that expecting income will help for setting up the portal, leverage legacy for Congolese youth in or out of the country and we understand the point that youth are the core of the development and if not educated, mentored and given opportunities the system will collapse.