Creativity is the currency of the future for young people
The creative industries offer young people in developing countries new opportunities to earn a living, writes Melina Korvenkontio, Head of the DICE programme at FCA.
Photo: Kenyan animator Joseph Raina, who took part in FCA’s Creative Industries programme, helps a child put on a VR helmet in the streets of Nairobi. Antti Yrjönen/FCA
WHEN I WAS offered the opportunity to work as the head of the global programme for digitalization and the creative economy at Finn Church Aid (FCA), I said yes right away. I knew this would be a creative way to do impactful and responsible work. My philosophy is that creativity is a pathway to self-expression and employment.
FCA launched its DICE (Digital & Creative Economy) program in Uganda in 2021. The programme was aimed at young people aged 18–35 and gave them the opportunity to learn about audio production. We even flew a Finnish music producer to the capital, Kampala, to talk about what it’s like to work as a songwriter and music producer.
Since then, DICE has expanded to Kenya, Ethiopia, and Nepal. Over the past five years, the programme has supported approximately 1,250 young people who have sought to acquire skills in fields such as graphic design, content creation, coding, fashion design, or photography.
WHY SHOULD the creative sectors be supported in developing countries and even in refugee camps? We have identified, on a country-by-country basis, specific skills related to digitalization and the creative economy for which there are job opportunities either in the home countries of the people participating in our programmes or in the surrounding region.
Training is focused on skills and fields that offer opportunities for earning a living. FCA’s country offices work with local businesses to identify opportunities and build bridges between young people and the private sector.
Although traditional industries are still needed, we believe that the creative sector and the digital economy offer enormous potential for employing young people.
Thanks to digitalization, young people can find employment in their hometowns – whether in Nairobi, Kampala, Addis Ababa, or Kathmandu – while also working remotely for companies in Helsinki, Rome, or Toronto. All they need are a functional smartphone or computer and an internet connection.
At FCA’s Creators Hub, young people can access the internet for free, connect with one another, and meet mentors and potential partners.
IN OCTOBER 2025, I attended the graduation ceremony in Nairobi for female entrepreneurs in the WICE (Women in Creative Industries) programme, which is supported by Women’s Bank and focuses on those working in the creative industries.
A key feature of WICE is that we connect young Kenyan women entrepreneurs with international mentors. The mentors are experienced professionals, mostly Finnish so far, who have held leadership positions in fields such as business, marketing, or corporate social responsibility.
Professionally and personally, the most important realization for me has been that the experience of womanhood and the dream of entrepreneurship and success are the same for all of us, whether we live in Helsinki or Kathmandu. This has been a huge source of motivation. As has the fact that a single mother can, despite her circumstances, grow into a successful entrepreneur in the creative sector, ensuring a more balanced life for her family.
In the growing markets of the Global South and in fragile regions of Africa and Asia, there is a large population of young people seeking meaningful educational and employment opportunities. While traditional sectors are still needed, we believe that the creative sector and the digital economy offer enormous potential for employing these young people.
The author is the head of the DICE programme
