The "Synergies Jeunesse" plenary session held on Saturday, September 26, under the auspices of the Centre des Jeunes Dirigeants (CJD) in Marrakech, served as a vibrant platform uniting business leaders, experts, and young individuals, all driven by a shared goal: to connect existing resources effectively. Houda El Jirari, the president of CJD Marrakech and founder of the coaching firm Mindpro, elaborated on the approaches that will be presented to the new government to harness the potential of these resources.
In Marrakech, various resources aimed at supporting youth, including training programs, mentorship initiatives, funding opportunities, and companies actively recruiting, already exist. El Jirari emphasizes the importance of collaboration among these entities to create a cohesive support system for young people. The plenary, hosted at the Douane vacation center in Targa, aimed to foster dialogue among the business sector, academia, non-profit organizations, and employment agencies to generate actionable proposals.
Statistics That Demand Action
According to the High Commission for Planning (HCP), the unemployment rate for individuals aged 15 to 24 reached a staggering **27.2%** in the second quarter of 2026, contrasted with **9.5%** for the entire active population. Although the Marrakech-Safi region has outperformed the national average with a **7.9%** unemployment rate, the HCP's revised methodology in 2026 means these figures cannot be directly compared with previous years. El Jirari interprets these statistics as a clear call to action, advocating for the capitalization on existing successful initiatives. "There are initiatives available; we need to build upon them," she asserts.
The essence of support, according to El Jirari, lies in the perception of young individuals. An unfortunate misdirection or an interrupted educational journey should not be viewed as failure. She maintains that every young person deserves guidance and support, regardless of their past experiences. Throughout the plenary, various speakers highlighted alternative pathways, such as retraining, exploring new professions, and recognizing the value of acquired skills. El Jirari draws on her experiences working with rural women, who often possess valuable artisanal skills without understanding their market value. Additionally, several entrepreneurs suggested offering training in artificial intelligence for youth who have left the education system.
Bridging Education and Employment
Another key focus is the integration of educational institutions with the business sector. El Jirari points to the automotive and aeronautics industries as examples where companies have established their own schools to train technicians and managers. She proposes that every sector experiencing a labor shortage should collaborate to create a joint educational institution, where business leaders would dedicate time to share their expertise. The CJD Marrakech is already supporting entrepreneurial students from the Cadi Ayyad University during hackathons as part of a partnership initiative.
Mentorship is central to El Jirari's vision of youth empowerment. Having benefited from mentorship early in her career at a multinational corporation, she recognizes the long-term advantages of investing time in young employees. She is convinced that the time devoted to mentoring a young worker ultimately benefits the organization itself.
The same principle applies to job searching. The ANAPEC (National Agency for the Promotion of Employment and Skills) has a pool of candidates and requests that employers provide detailed descriptions of the profiles they seek; however, many entrepreneurs tend to recruit solely through their networks. El Jirari highlights the significant communication barriers among existing support systems, which can hinder effective collaboration. She also points out the phenomenon of "information overload" among youth, where an abundance of job offers and channels can lead to confusion regarding their career paths. Therefore, she advocates for informative meetings where details are communicated clearly and simply.
While financial support exists, including grants from the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH) and low-interest loans for aspiring young entrepreneurs, El Jirari urges against viewing entrepreneurship as the only solution. "Entrepreneurship is not always the answer; employment is also crucial. We need everyone on board," she explains, acknowledging that companies are also in search of strong collaborators who can foster internal growth.
Regarding the evolving expectations of young people, El Jirari dismisses simplistic labels. She critiques the rapid success models propagated through social media, stating, "This is the model they are sold: easy success." In response, she advocates for presenting alternative models and entrusting young individuals with responsibilities. At UM6P in Benguerir, where she teaches behavioral skills, she encourages her students to engage in community actions. Some students have continued their volunteer work post-course, conducting drawing workshops for children, introducing robotics, and visiting retirement homes. She believes that discovering their capacity to contribute boosts their self-confidence.
The plenary session has initiated a new phase of development. Commissions composed of members from the Marrakech, Casablanca, Rabat, and Agadir sections will compile ideas and proposals over the next three weeks. El Jirari plans to relay this document through the media and present it to the new government, which will be led by Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri for training purposes as of September 29. The CJD has previously played a significant role in shaping policy; during the 2014 Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Marrakech, its then-president, Hicham Zoubaïri, noted that the CJD had conceptualized the auto-entrepreneur status four years earlier.
El Jirari is also keen to take immediate local action. "If there are initiatives we can implement without waiting for anyone else, we will execute them," she asserts.
As reported by latribunedemarrakech.com.
