International Youth Foundation

A GLOBAL NGO PREPARING YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE HEALTHY, PRODUCTIVE AND ENGAGED CITIZENS

INITIATIVES IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: IYF CONTINUES TO MOBILIZE BUSINESS, GOVERNMENT, AND CIVIC LEADERS TO SUPPORT SOLUTIONS THAT WORK, IMPACTING YOUNG AFRICANS IN SUB SAHARAN AFRICA THROUGH PROVISION OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH TO GAIN THE SKILLS EMPLOYERS SEEK, AS WELL AS DEVELOPING YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS THROUGH HANDS-ON SUPPORT TO HELP GOOD BUSINESS IDEAS COME TO LIFE. IN 2021 IYF OPERATED 13 PROGRAMS IN 5 COUNTRIES IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA (ETHIOPIA, SOUTH AFRICA, ZIMBABWE, KENYA, NIGERIA) REACHING OVER 32,000 YOUNG PEOPLE. IYF'S BENEFICIARIES INCLUDED ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN, OPPORTUNITY YOUTH, STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, AND YOUTH WITH DISABILITY. THESE PROGRAMS IMPROVED ALIGNMENT BETWEEN TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL TRAINING SKILLS COURSES AND INDUSTRY NEEDS, IMPROVED BENEFICIARIES' PATHWAYS TO MEANINGFUL LIVELIHOODS, INCLUDING PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY DIGITAL TRAINING TO SECURE JOBS AND LEARNERSHIPS, CREATED MORE YOUTH-INCLUSIVE AND YOUTH-RESPONSIVE ORGANIZATIONS AND IMPROVED PEDAGOGICAL PRACTICES IN TRAINING CENTRES. IN SOUTH AFRICA, IYF MANAGES HIGH GEAR, AN EXCITING INITIATIVE THAT IS ADVANCING SOUTH AFRICA'S PUBLIC TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING (TVET) COLLEGE SYSTEM. HIGH GEAR DRAWS ON INDUSTRY KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS IMPERATIVES - ALONG WITH IYF CURRICULA ENHANCEMENT TOOLS - TO STRENGTHEN THE MARKET RELEVANCE OF SELECT PUBLIC TVET COLLEGE COURSES.

INITIATIVES IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: SINCE IYF'S FOUNDING IN 1990, WE'VE HELPED MORE THAN TWO MILLION SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN YOUTH TURN THEIR TALENT AND ENTHUSIASM INTO JOBS AND CAREERS IN GROWTH SECTORS SUCH AS SERVICE INDUSTRIES, AGRICULTURE, AND CONSTRUCTION. IN 2022 IYF OPERATED 17 PROGRAMS IN 5 COUNTRIES IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA (ETHIOPIA, SOUTH AFRICA, ZIMBABWE, KENYA, NIGERIA) REACHING OVER 44,000 YOUNG PEOPLE. IYF'S BENEFICIARIES INCLUDED ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN, OPPORTUNITY YOUTH, STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, AND YOUTH WITH DISABILITY. THESE PROGRAMS IMPROVED ALIGNMENT BETWEEN TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL TRAINING SKILLS COURSES AND INDUSTRY NEEDS, IMPROVED BENEFICIARIES' PATHWAYS TO MEANINGFUL LIVELIHOODS, INCLUDING PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY DIGITAL TRAINING TO SECURE JOBS AND LEARNERSHIPS, CREATED MORE YOUTH-INCLUSIVE AND YOUTH-RESPONSIVE ORGANIZATIONS AND IMPROVED PEDAGOGICAL PRACTICES IN TRAINING CENTERS. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MASTERCARD FOUNDATION, VIA: PATHWAYS TO WORK APPLIES A SYSTEMS APPROACH TO IMPROVE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNDERSERVED YOUNG PEOPLE IN MOZAMBIQUE AND TANZANIA. IN SOUTH AFRICA, IYF MANAGES HIGH GEAR, AN EXCITING INITIATIVE THAT IS ADVANCING SOUTH AFRICA'S PUBLIC TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING (TVET) COLLEGE SYSTEM. HIGH GEAR DRAWS ON INDUSTRY KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS IMPERATIVES-ALONG WITH IYF CURRICULA ENHANCEMENT TOOLS-TO STRENGTHEN THE MARKET RELEVANCE OF SELECT PUBLIC TVET COLLEGE COURSES. THROUGH IMPROVED LEARNER RETENTION AND COMPLETION RATES, THE SKILLS FOR LIFE PROJECT IN SOUTH AFRICA SEEKS TO SUPPORT THE COUNTRY'S TVET COLLEGE SYSTEM TO BETTER PREPARE YOUNG WOMEN AND MEN WITH THE LIFE SKILLS AND INDUSTRY-RELEVANT TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES NEEDED FOR ACADEMIC AND WORKFORCE SUCCESS. IYF LEADS SPECIFIC COMPONENTS OF THE KEFETA PROJECT IN ETHIOPIA AND THE TAKUNDA PROJECT IN ZIMBABWE. IN ETHIOPIA, THE KEFETA INITIATIVE WILL SERVE A TARGET OF 2M YOUTH ACROSS 18 ETHIOPIAN CITIES. THE GOAL OF THE TAKUNDA ACTIVITY IS ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE, EQUITABLE, AND RESILIENT FOOD, NUTRITION, AND INCOME SECURITY FOR OVER 300,000 YOUTH. THROUGH THESE PROJECTS, IYF OVERSEES THE COMPONENTS INCLUDING 1) YOUTH ENGAGEMENT, INCLUSION AND EMPOWERMENT, 2) INVESTING IN HIGHER EDUCATION ALLIANCES AND YOUTH HUBS AND BUILDING AN EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION, AND 3) LINKING THE PRIVATE SECTOR FOR YOUTH EMPLOYMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

INITIATIVES IN THE MIDDLE EAST, NORTH AFRICA, AND ASIA: WE HAVE WORKED WITH YOUTH IN NORTH AFRICA, THE MIDDLE EAST, AND ASIA TO STRENGTHEN EMPLOYABILITY, CAREER GUIDANCE, AND SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP. IYF'S BENEFICIARIES INCLUDED HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED YOUTH. IYF'S PROGRAMMING EXPANDED THEIR CHOICES FOR PROFESSIONAL PATHS, DEVELOPED CRITICAL SKILLS FOR WORK AND LIFE, CHANGED EDUCATION SYSTEMS. PALESTINIAN YOUNG PEOPLE DESCRIBE DAUNTING ISSUES DRIVING THEIR FEELINGS OF MARGINALIZATION, INCLUDING SOCIAL ISOLATION, ECONOMIC MARGINALIZATION, VIOLENCE, AND POOR QUALITY OF LIFE, AMONG OTHER CHALLENGES. TAILORED TO THE PALESTINIAN CONTEXT, THE POSITIVE YOUTH ENGAGEMENT (PYE) PROGRAM CONTINUED IN PALESTINE IN THE WEST BANK, GAZA AND EASTERN JERUSALIM. THIS FIVE-YEAR PROGRAM WILL SUPPORT 50,000 ADOLESCENTS WITH A MENU OF ACTIVITIES, OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP, AND RESOURCES TO PURSUE THEIR GOALS WITH HOPE FOR THE FUTURE ALONG PEACEFUL AND PRODUCTIVE PATHWAYS. PYE IS DESIGNED TO WEAKEN THE PUSH AND PULL FACTORS THAT DRIVE ADOLESCENTS TO VIOLENCE BY SUPPORTING THEIR PERSONAL WELL-BEING, HELPING THEM DEVELOP SKILLS TO LEAD THE LIVES THEY CHOOSE, AND STRENGTHENING THEIR POSITIVE INTERACTIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY NETWORKS AND INSTITUTIONS THAT SERVE THEM, INCLUDING SCHOOLS, CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS, AND PRIVATE BUSINESSES. IN DIRECT PARTNERSHIP WITH PALESTINIAN YOUTH, THE PROGRAM WILL REINTEGRATE OLDER ADOLESCENTS (15-19 YEARS OLD) INTO SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC LIFE BY EMPOWERING THEM TO SUCCESSFULLY PURSUE THEIR GOALS AND PREVENT YOUNGER ADOLESCENTS (10-14 YEARS OLD) FROM BECOMING ISOLATED AND DISCONNECTED FROM SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES. FURTHER, PYE SEEK TO PROVIDE YOUNG PEOPLE WITH ABILITIES AND SKILLS TO REFER THEM TO ADVANCED EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND/OR ACCESS TO THE LABOR MARKET AS EMPLOYEES AND SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS.

INITIATIVES IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN: IN 2021, IYF OPERATED 20 PROGRAMS IN SIX COUNTRIES IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN (BRAZIL, COLOMBIA, HAITI, MEXICO, PANAMA, PERU) REACHING OVER 86,000 YOUNG PEOPLE. IYF'S BENEFICIARIES INCLUDED YOUTH LEADERS, STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, OPPORTUNITY YOUTH, YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES, AND INCARCERATED YOUTH. IYF'S PROGRAMMING INCREASED THEIR INCOMES AND EMPLOYMENT LEVELS, DECREASED DROP-OUT RATES, DEVELOPED CRITICAL SKILLS FOR WORK AND LIFE AND INCREASED THEIR INFLUENCE OVER KEY DECISIONS THAT IMPACT THEIR LIVES AND FUTURE. FOR EXAMPLE IN PERU, IYF PARTNERED WITH CENTRO DE SERVICIOS PARA LA CAPACITACIN LABORAL Y EL DESARROLLO (CAPLAB) AND THE DIRECCIN DE EDUCACIN REGIONAL DE MOQUEGUA (DREMO) TO DEVELOP ADELANTE: JVENES CON OPORTUNIDADES. THE GOAL OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO TRAIN YOUNG PEOPLE USING PROVEN METHODOLOGIES TO IMPROVE THEIR PROFESSIONAL AND SOFT SKILLS. IYF WORKED WITH THE LOCAL SECONDARY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM TO TRAIN 190 TEACHERS AND 5,500 YOUNG PEOPLE AT 23 PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS IN LIFE SKILLS AND CAREER GUIDANCE METHODOLOGIES. ADDITIONALLY, IYF WORKED WITH 152 TEACHERS AND 1,781 STUDENTS AT FOUR TECHNICAL INSTITUTES.

INITIATIVES IN THE US AND GLOBAL PROGRAMS: IYF INITIATIVES REACH YOUNG PEOPLE IN RURAL AND URBAN AREAS OF THE UNITED STATES, AND SEVERAL PROJECTS WITH GLOBAL REACH. THE LARGEST PROJECT IYF IS IMPLEMENTING IN THE US AND GLOBAL IS THE YOUTH OPPORTUNITY (YO) INITIATIVE IN CHICAGO WITH FUNDING FROM THE MCDONALD'S CORPORATION. THE GOAL OF THE PARTNERSHIP IS TO REDUCE BARRIERS AND INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYMENT AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 16-24. IYF PARTNERS WITH LOCAL, COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE PRE-EMPLOYMENT TRAINING, WHICH INCLUDES CRITICAL LIFE SKILLS LIKE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION, TEAMWORK, MANAGING STRESS, AND HANDLING CONFLICT. THE YO INITIATIVE INCREASES OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH THROUGH 1) LIFE SKILLS TRAINING, 2) CONNECTION TO JOBS, 3) YOUTH VOICES, AND 4) COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. AS OF 2022, IYF'S YO PROGRAM IMPACT INCLUDED SERVING OVER 13,000 YOUNG PEOPLE, OF WHICH 87% SELF-IDENTIFIED AS EITHER BLACK OR LATINX, 56% FEMALE, AND 67% OF PARTICIPANTS HAVE SINCE BEEN HIRED OR ARE IN EDUCATION. THE YO PROGRAM IS EXPANDING PROGRAM SITES ACROSS THE US AND PUERTO RICO AND URUGUAY. IN ADDITION, IN THIS REGION, IYF HAS ADDRESSED THE CONCERNS YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING THROUGH OUR PROGRAMS FOR YEARS. IN FACT, YOUNG PEOPLE CRAFTED AND ADVISED SOME OF OUR EARLIEST SOLUTIONS SUCH AS BUILDING IN CRISIS SUPPORT SERVICES IN HIGH SCHOOLS, PROVIDING FREE BI-LINGUAL TELETHERAPY, OFFERING FREE YOGA CLASSES, AND ACKNOWLEDGING THE DIFFERING MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS BY GENDER. IN PUERTO RICO, OUR DO GOOD INITIATIVE IS A THREE-YEAR PROGRAM WHICH THE YOUNG PEOPLE CO-DESIGNED AND INCORPORATES A TAILORED MIX OF LIFE SKILLS, SERVICE LEARNING, COLLEGE ACCESS SUPPORT, AND INDIVIDUALIZED COACHING TO REINFORCE THOSE EXPERIENCES AND SUPPORT PARTICIPANTS IN THEIR NEXT EDUCATION AND/OR CAREER STEPS. IYF PARTNERED WITH THREE COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS IN PUERTO RICO ON THIS PROJECT, WHICH HAS IMPACTED OVER 2,300 YOUNG PEOPLE. AS PART OF IYF'S BHP-FUNDED LEAPS PROGRAM, WE EQUIPPED AND INSPIRED A GROUP OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN NORTHERN LOUISIANA CALLED THE TEEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE (TAC) TO STEP UP AND TACKLE MENTAL HEALTH AT THE POLICY LEVEL, MAKING REAL, LASTING CHANGE IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITY. BY PARTNERING WITH A LOCAL COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE IN-SCHOOL RESOURCES AND ENGAGEMENT FOR AT-RISK STUDENTS IN WEST TEXAS, IYF SUPPORTED TEENS ON THE EDGE OF DROPPING OUT TO STAY IN SCHOOL AND DEAL WITH CHALLENGES IN PRODUCTIVE WAYS. THE HILTON PARTNERSHIP HAS OFFERED LIFE SKILLS TRAINING TO YOUNG TEAM MEMBERS AND OTHERS ACROSS FOUR CONTINENTS.

INITIATIVES IN THE US AND GLOBAL PROGRAMS: IYF INITIATIVES REACH YOUNG PEOPLE IN RURAL AND URBAN AREAS OF THE UNITED STATES. THE DO GOOD: NASHVILLE INITIATIVE IS A THREE-YEAR PROGRAM THAT EQUIPS VULNERABLE NASHVILLE YOUTH, AGES 14 TO 18, WITH THE SKILLS, SUPPORT, AND OPPORTUNITIES THEY NEED TO THRIVE IN SCHOOL, WORK, AND LIFE. DRIVEN BY THE KNOWLEDGE THAT TOO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE FACE BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT AND SUCCESS, IYF AND MCDONALD'S CORPORATION CONTINUE THE WORK UNDER THE YOUTH OPPORTUNITY INITIATIVE, WHICH BEGAN AS PART OF MCDONALD'S SCALE FOR GOOD. THIS PARTNERSHIP IS WORKING TO EQUIP YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WITH THE SKILLS TO SECURE JOBS AND TO POSITION THEM FOR CAREER ADVANCEMENT OR FURTHER EDUCATION/TRAINING. YOUTH OPPORTUNITY UTILIZES IYF'S PASSPORT TO SUCCESS (PTS) CURRICULUM TO REACH YOUTH PARTICIPANTS WITH LIFE SKILLS SUCH AS TEAMWORK AND RESPONSIBILITY, WHICH EMPLOYERS ACROSS SECTORS REQUIRE BUT STRUGGLE TO FIND. THE PROGRAM IS STILL ACTIVE IN CHICAGO AND THE WASHINGTON, DC, METRO AREA, WHERE TRUSTED COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS PAIR RELEVANT SKILLS TRAINING PROGRAMS WITH A SPECIALIZED VERSION OF PTS. THROUGH THE YOUTH OPPORTUNITY EFFORTS, DEVELOPMENT OF DIGITIZED CURRICULA BIRTHED PTS EXPLORER, WHICH IS USED BY MANY MCDONALD'S PARTNERS, SPECIFICALLY THOSE LOCATED IN MEXICO, PANAMA, COSTA RICA, AND URUGUAY. ADDITIONALLY, OUT OF THE YO PROGRAM EVOLVED A SUBSET OF YOUTH THAT FOCUSES ON LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, NETWORKING AND COMMUNICATIONS. INCLUDED IN THE AMBASSADOR SUBSET, IYF ALSO PILOTED A YO GLOBAL YOUTH COUNCIL WHICH REACHED MCDONALD'S YOUTH EMPLOYEES IN OVER 17 COUNTRIES, INCLUDING, CHINA, SINGAPORE, POLAND, INDIA, TO NAME A FEW. IN 2021, IYF OPERATED 9 GLOBAL PROGRAMS THROUGH FUNDING FROM ESTE LAUDER, CUMMINS, HILTON EFFECT FOUNDATION, CONRAD HILTON FOUNDATION, BURBERRY AND APPLE. THESE PROGRAMS REACHED OVER 23,000 YOUNG PEOPLE IN OVER 150 COUNTRIES THROUGH DIGITAL LIFE SKILLS TRAINING THROUGH PASSPORT TO SUCCESS TRAVELER, PASSPORT TO SUCCESS EXPLORER AND PASSPORT TO SUCCESS CONCIERGE AS WELL AS THROUGH SPINOFF LIFE SKILLS VIDEO CONTENT VIA YOUTUBE. IYF PROVIDED FUNDING TO 28 YOUTH-LED SOCIAL ENTERPRISES GLOBALLY TO SUPPORT RECOVERY FROM THE PANDEMIC. WE ALSO PROVIDED TRAINING WORKSHOPS TO ADULTS TO IMPROVE LEARNING OUTCOMES AND LAUNCHED NEW CURRICULUM IN 2021 THROUGH THESE PARTNERSHIPS. IYF'S BENEFICIARIES INCLUDED ENTREPRENEURS, OPPORTUNITY YOUTH, YOUTH SEEKING JOB-READINESS TRAINING, AS WELL AS ADULTS TEACHING LIFE SKILLS TO YOUNG PEOPLE.

INITIATIVES IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN: IN 2022, IYF OPERATED 26 PROGRAMS IN SIX COUNTRIES IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN (BRAZIL, COLOMBIA, HAITI, MEXICO, PANAMA, PERU) REACHING OVER 193,000 YOUNG PEOPLE. IYF'S BENEFICIARIES INCLUDED YOUTH LEADERS, STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, OPPORTUNITY YOUTH, YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES, AND INCARCERATED YOUTH. IYF'S PROGRAMMING INCREASED THEIR INCOMES AND EMPLOYMENT LEVELS, DECREASED DROP-OUT RATES, DEVELOPED CRITICAL SKILLS FOR WORK AND LIFE AND INCREASED THEIR INFLUENCE OVER KEY DECISIONS THAT IMPACT THEIR LIVES AND FUTURE. WE'VE WORKED WITH MORE THAN 70 IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN TO HELP LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS HARNESS A PASSION FOR SUSTAINABLE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS THAT MEASURABLY CHANGE THE LIVES OF UNDERSERVED YOUTH. WE'RE PROUD OF THE LEGACY OF IMPACT WE'RE BUILDING THROUGHOUT THE REGION, ESPECIALLY IN THE LIVES OF VULNERABLE AND HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS OF YOUNG PEOPLE, INCLUDING YOUNG WOMEN. EN TRAYECTO IS A CITI FOUNDATION-FUNDED PROGRAM WORKING WITH MARGINALIZED YOUTH, AGES 18 TO 29, IN MEXICO TO DEVELOP IN-DEMAND TECHNICAL SKILLS AND RELEVANT LIFE SKILLS THAT WILL HELP THEM SECURE DECENT JOBS IN SECTORS INCLUDING LOGISTICS, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT), AND MANUFACTURING. LIKE OTHER IYF PROGRAMS IN THE REGION, EN TRAYECTO SUPPORTS YOUNG PEOPLE FROM VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, INCLUDING YOUNG WOMEN, TOO MANY OF WHOM FACE CHALLENGES SUCH AS LOW FORMAL EMPLOYMENT RATES (ONLY 17.8% ARE FORMALLY EMPLOYED) AND HIGH RATES OF VIOLENCE (71% HAVE EXPERIENCED SOME TYPE OF VIOLENCE). THIS YEAR IN COLOMBIA, IYF HAS PARTNERED WITH MICROSOFT TO LAUNCH THE GLOBAL DIGITAL SKILLS TRAINING PROGRAM. OVER THE COURSE OF THIS THREE-YEAR PROJECT, WHICH SERVES 18,500 YOUNG PEOPLE, IYF IS INTEGRATING CORE COMPONENTS OF MICROSOFT'S DIGITAL SKILLS CURRICULUM TO COMPLEMENT EXISTING PROGRAMMING IN TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING (TVET) SCHOOLS. IN COLOMBIA, IYF ENGAGES SECOND-CHANCE YOUTH, WHO ARE NOT INCLUDED OR HAVE FALLEN OUT OF THE FORMAL EDUCATIONAL, LABOR SYSTEMS OR BOTH. THIS PROGRAM EQUIPS YOUTH WITH THE BASIC DIGITAL SKILLS NEEDED TO SUCCEED IN THE WIDER SUITE OF IYF PROGRAMS AND INCREASES THEIR CHANCES OF EMPLOYMENT.