Telco Safaricom has launched Hook, a platform that seeks to empower young people (Gen Z) by using technology. Per a statement, Safaricom Hook will focus on three key hooks: technology, career, and culture, the platform aims to nurture and support the aspirations of the Gen Z demographic and transform their lives by being a technology enabler, through offering access to custom-made offerings that will leverage Safaricom’s extensive mobile network.
Safaricom Hook “seeks to enable Gen Z to maximize their online potential and enjoy a digital lifestyle by facilitating smartphone access, providing relevant value propositions such as Make Your Own Bundle, which gives users the freedom to decide how much they spend on data and voice, and availing loyalty rewards and delight offers.”
Tech Hook
Safaricom will empower the youth with digital skills for a tech future through touchpoints such as Safaricom’s Digital Talent Programme, and the Safaricom Engineering Community, and partnerships with several organizations, including the Power Learn Project, which empower African youth through software development.
Career Hook
This aims to prepare the youth for conventional and unconventional careers, will come to life by working with an array of partners, including Meta and Wowzi, who will provide digital training to enable the youth to access the gig economy, and Brighter Monday, who will provide guidance for those in conventional careers.
Culture Hook
Safaricom seeks to enable GenZ to pursue passion points such as sports, via Safaricom Chapa Dimba and the upcoming Safaricom Athletics series; content creation, through Baze, which enables creators to monetize their music and video content; and Fashion, through partnerships including Artfit, who will mentor upcoming designers, among others. To promote a savings culture, Safaricom Hook will leverage M-PESA Go, and the Mali wealth management platform.
How to access Safaricom Hook
Eligible customers, aged 10 to 24, can join the platform via:
- the Safaricom Hook app
- dialing dial *555#.
The app is yet to appear in app stores, but this will likely happen soon.
