Ready to work. Civically engaged. Future proof.

Rapid technological advancements and digitalization are reshaping job markets. Many young people lack the skills needed for modern industries due to gaps in education and training. Enabling environments, mentorship and opportunities for personal growth enable young people to navigate life’s complexities and reach their full potential.

Programs focusing on essential technical and soft skills, youth employability, entrepreneurship and digital literacy are vital for equipping young people with the competencies required to thrive in evolving economies.  By conducting job market surveys, partnering with employers, and providing vocational and entrepreneurial training, we create safe, sustainable employment opportunities. In Sri Lanka, for example, ChildFund convenes private-sector employers to co-create needed skills training curricula for government training centers. Over 12,000 youth with disabilities have been trained through the program. 

Our growing focus on social and green entrepreneurship, particularly in building sustainability and digital spaces, also uniquely positions us to help youth create sustainable livelihoods.

Children and youth from marginalized groups, such as persons with disabilities, refugees and rural youth, often face significant challenges like poverty and limited access to quality education or skills training. Targeted programs in skills development, livelihood strengthening and financial inclusion are crucial for helping them overcome these barriers. They provide essential tools and opportunities for all young people to improve their circumstances and contribute positively to their communities.

For example, ChildFund's Youth Economic Empowerment Project (YEEP II) focused on improving the socioeconomic well-being of vulnerable youth and helped increase the engagement of young women in their own business by 37% (from 7% to 44%).

Partnerships with programs like Kenya’s government-supported Ajira Digital Skills Training Program help young people prepare for online work and digital entrepreneurship. 

Connecting with local organizations builds on established community frameworks and can lead to greater sustainability. For instance, our program in Zambia with the Mastercard Foundation has focused on integrating health workers into the national system and ensuring that their contributions are supported and scaled.

In Senegal, young people under 35 account for 72.2% of the population and face challenges such as unemployment and irregular migration. In response, ChildFund and local partners PDEF and CORAF launched the USAID-funded Positive Youth Development Project (Feed the Future - Dooleel Ndaw Ñi) in 2024, raising awareness among 4,000 people about youth roles in community development and equipping 2,835 young people with leadership, teamwork and civic engagement skills. The project has established 127 new 4-H clubs, trained 192 leaders and impacted 81 villages across 45 communities, positioning youth as key drivers of social and economic change.

With Swedish greentech company Spowdi, we are partnering to equip 470 farms in Kenya with solar-powered irrigation systems and training in regenerative agriculture. This scalable initiative leverages a unique blended finance model that is poised to increase agricultural production and income for young smallholder farmers and their families in Africa. 

Young people have achieved notable successes through actively participating in advocacy and policy making, impacting local and national policies and enhancing their personal, social and political skills. Projects like the Girls Platform in The Gambia and Sierra Leone empower girls to address gender-based violence and other issues in their communities, showcasing the transformative effect of youth-led advocacy. 

Approaches such as ChildFund’s “Voice Now!” and Youth Advisory Councils apply youth feedback to refine and innovate community-based solutions. These platforms gather insights directly from young people, allowing for the development of programs that are both effective and responsive to their needs.

More broadly, ChildFund actively works to partner with youth in our global advocacy work. Initiatives like the Youth Network in Defense of Social Rights (REJUDES) in Brazil demonstrate how youth voices can drive significant change.