NAIROBI, Kenya, February 3 /PRNewswire/ --

- Samsung Electronics and International Youth Foundation Announce Employability Projects for Young Kenyans

The International Youth Foundation (IYF), in partnership with Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, unveiled Real Dreams - a youth employability program in Kenya as a part of the company's corporate social responsibility commitment in the region.

The Real Dreams program aims to increase economic activity in the region, particularly by promoting job skills and preparing young people for successful, long-term careers.

The program will be implemented in cooperation with three local non-governmental organizations: the African Centre for Women and Information and Communications Technology; the Informal Sector Business Institute; and NairoBits. Each NGO will implement youth employment and development programs focused on delivering training in life skills, information and communication technologies, and entrepreneurship as well as providing work experience through internships. The program, which will potentially benefit as many as 1000 young people from the poorest areas of Nairobi, is expected to commence by the end of January and continue throughout the year.

The Kenyan economy started to grow from the early 2000s, but the youth unemployment rate is still high, roughly two to three times the rate for the overall adult population, while underemployment is common, said Kyungtae Bae, head of Samsung Middle East and Africa. Through these dedicated programs, we hope to empower Kenya's young people and prepare them to compete for jobs, and fulfill their dreams and aspirations for a better future for themselves and their communities.

Helping today's youth get decent jobs is a critical step forward, not only in terms of improving their own prospects, but also positively impacting the social and economic development of their country, said William S. Reese, IYF President and CEO. We are deeply grateful to Samsung for its commitment to provide these young people with the skills and motivation they need to contribute to Africa's revitalization in the years to come.

Samsung and the IYF announced their partnership in November 2008 to jointly address youth unemployment in Africa. Under the agreement, Samsung and IYF will find ways to utilize the company's cutting-edge technology and expertise to help address the employment needs of Africa's youth.

Description of the projects:

African Centre for Women and Information and Communications Technology (ACWICT) will improve the economic prospects of 160 young women, ages 18 to 35, who are living in Nairobi's informal settlements. Participants will benefit from an integrated initiative offering technical and life skills training coupled with internships, entrepreneurship opportunities, and job placement support.

Informal Sector Business Institute (ISBI) will boost the job skills of 160 underserved youth in information and communications technology, business management, salesmanship, and electronics. The program will also offer internships and job placement support. Those with the potential to become entrepreneurs will benefit from business development training and services.

NairoBits will enhance the employment prospects of 550 disadvantaged youth, ages 17 to 25, with a concentration on web design and other IT skills. With a focus on helping to bridge the digital divide, the program will offer skills training in ICT/multimedia, entrepreneurship, life skills, and health education.

About Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2007 consolidated sales of US$103.4 billion. Employing approximately 150,000 people in 134 offices in 62 countries, the company consists of four main business units: Digital Media Business, LCD Business, Semiconductor Business, and Telecommunication Business. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsungmobile.com.

About International Youth Foundation: The International Youth Foundation (IYF) invests in the extraordinary potential of young people. Founded in 1990, IYF builds and maintains a worldwide community of businesses, governments, and civil society organizations committed to empowering youth to be healthy, productive, and engaged citizens. IYF programs are catalysts of change that help young people obtain a quality education, gain employability skills, make healthy choices, and improve their communities. To learn more visit www.iyfnet.org.

Jakyung Kang of Samsung Electronics, +1-971-4364-8704, Jakyung.k@samsung.com; Jim Peirce, Vice President Planning and Outreach of International Youth Foundation, +1-410-951-1606, jim@iyfnet.org