Youth are pathfinders — given the chance.
In the next decade, over 1 billion children will transition into adulthood. Nearly 90% of this group live in low- and middle-income nations. In 2023, about 64.9 million youth aged 15-24 worldwide were unemployed.
Addressing the root causes of the challenges young people face around entering the labor market is crucial for improving youth development outcomes and supporting effective interventions in education, employment and economic participation.
Some of these root causes include:
Our Approach
To reach their potential, young people need decent employment, financial inclusion and opportunities for agency and participation. ChildFund’s livelihood programming focuses on youth work and entrepreneurial skills, employability and work readiness. Many of our programs also overlap with youth participation programming and sexual and reproductive health so we can holistically support youth through helping them prepare not only for work, but for staying employed, continuing their education and living safe, healthy lives.
Systems Strengthening
Connecting with local organizations builds on established community frameworks and can lead to greater sustainability. For instance, programs in Zambia have 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, 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.
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Promoting Sustainable Development
Investing in youth is key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Education, skills development and financial inclusion not only enhance youth well-being but also contribute to broader goals like reducing poverty and fostering inclusive growth. Sustainable livelihood initiatives ensure that development efforts are long-lasting and environmentally responsible.
Addressing Inequality and Vulnerability
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%).
Workforce Readiness and Lifelong Skills Development
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. Our growing focus on social and green entrepreneurship, particularly in climate action and digital spaces, also uniquely positions us to help youth create sustainable livelihoods.
Meaningful Youth Engagement and Leadership
ChildFund's approach to youth engagement empowers young people to lead, advocate and influence change at all levels. Programs that promote child and youth agency build confidence, leadership skills and a sense of responsibility. When youth are engaged and empowered, they drive positive change in their communities. Through programs like PACT (Civic Participation, Transformation and Opportunities), we actively involve youth in governance, project design and implementation.
Our Adolescent Confident in Thinking, Valued in Life and Empowered (ACTIVE) project in Indonesia helped adolescents (ages 12 to 15) build critical life skills as well as financial and social skills to be confident and active participants in their community. Primary intervention strategies included information sharing, communication and training through workshops. ACTIVE reached 2,427 adolescents/youth, 300 caregivers, 120 teachers and 120 other community members, and at the end of the project, participants showed improved social skills, enhanced life skills and increased financial skills.
Advocacy
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. 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.
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.
I was so shy. But [ChildFund’s youth club] has allowed me to be more outgoing and do something for my community. The leadership training has been good for me. I can communicate so much better, and I’ve met so many people.
— Awa, 20, Senegal
Explore Our Impact
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Building youth leadership skills in India
The Developing Youth as a Change Agent program in India has effectively enhanced youth leadership and confidence, enabling them to address community issues and advocate for change. The program has significantly engaged youth with local governance structures, with 90% of participants actively involved in community decision-making.
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Championing higher education in Central America
The Preventing Irregular Migration in Central America and Mexico (PICMCA) project enhanced youth employability by providing 875 scholarships for technical training and alternative education. Furthermore, 962 youth were connected with formal internships, jobs or apprenticeships, directly improving their career prospects and income levels.
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Boosting vocational and life skills in Indonesia
The ENERGY project addresses high unemployment and social issues among youth, especially women, through vocational and life skills training. With support from the Caterpillar Foundation and Procter & Gamble, ChildFund provided training in high-demand trades, as well as essential life skills including computer literacy, financial management and business analysis.
Catalyzing Systems Change With Aspiring Nurses in Zambia
The Zambia Nurse and Life Skills Training Program, with support from the Mastercard Foundation, spurred social change at multiple levels. At the community level, it helped over 6,000 e-learning nursing students build critical life skills, thereby strengthening local health care capacity. Regionally, the program's integration into various learning platforms ensured consistent, high-quality training for all nursing students. The most significant impact was the official endorsement and integration of the Life Skills Curriculum into the national government's Nurse Curriculum by the Ministry of Health, institutionalizing its innovations and ensuring ongoing benefits for Zambia's health care education system.