Preparing Youth for Life and LivelihoodPreparing Youth for Life and Livelihood

Basic Education and Skills Training in Haiti and Timor Leste

Country OverviewsCountry Overviews

Haiti• Population: 8,706,497• Size: 27,750 sq. km

(slightly smaller than MD)• GDP per capita: $1900• Youth unemployment 40%

of youth in labor force

Timor Leste• Population: 1, 084,971• Size: 15,007 sq. km

(slightly larger than CT)• GDP per capita: $2000• Youth unemployment

47.4% of youth in labor force

What do youth need?What do youth need?

...But, what is a job?

…And, how can a job “be created”?

Youth ChallengesYouth Challenges

• Few marketable skills, minimal knowledge

• Weak undiversified economy = stiff competition for little gain

• Environment is not conducive to growth

EQUIP 3’s AnswersEQUIP 3’s Answers

Job = a way to earn a sustainable livelihood

Job Creation =

preparing youth to be more competitive in the existing economy

creating partnerships with government, private sector and local/int’l NGOs through which low-skilled youth can gain experience and opportunity (if not a traditional job)

Haiti• 2003-2010• 13,500 youth ages 15-24• No schooling or primary

school up to third grade• Urban and rural• 18 month program

– 12 months NFBE plus vocational-technical training

– 6 months accompaniment• Youth micro-enterprise• Continue formal school• Continue voc-tech• Paid internship or job

Timor Leste• 2007-2010• 2500 youth ages 18-30• Minimum 6th grade education

up to ‘some’ secondary school

• Rural• 12 month program

– 6 months work prep (on and off-the-job training)

– 6 months accompaniment• Youth/family micro-

enterprise• Continue formal school• Continue voc-tech• Paid internship or job

Results?Results?Not yet in…

In Haiti: the first cohorts of youth have entered the ‘accompaniment’ phase

In Timor Leste: we are scheduled to start our first cohorts in July 2008