Project Information

 

Youth Career Initiative

The Big Idea

The Youth Career Initiative (YCI) is a six month education programme aimed at disadvantaged young people with limited or no opportunities of finding employment or continuing in further education after high school. The purpose is to empower young people to make informed career choices and enable them to become employable and break the vicious cycle of poverty and social exclusion, and prevent youth exploitation.

Youth Career Initiative operates under a cross-sector partnership model, led by the private sector, i.e. the international hotel industry and supported by non-profit and public organisations. International hotels provide the human, financial and operational resources so that young participants can gain life and vocational skills. Senior managers from the hotels and other business sectors serve as teachers and mentors for the programme, which combines theoretical and practical instruction.

The programme is currently operational in eleven countries (Brazil, Costa Rica, Mexico, Ethiopia, Egypt, Jordan, Poland, Romania, Thailand, Philippines and Australia) and new programmes will be set-up in Vietnam, Kenya, Spain and Argentina. Since the programme started in 1995, over 2,500 young people aged between18-21 have graduated. After graduation about 85-90% find jobs or return to further education.

However, the impact of Youth Career Initiative cannot be measured solely by the number of graduates, but must also take into account the multiplier effect on their families and friends as well as their school peer group as they gain employment and earn a legitimate, regular income. UNICEF has stated publicly that the Youth Career Initiative programme in Thailand, where the scheme originally started, has significantly contributed to the decrease in the number of girls being sold into sexual slavery; and has created a situation in Northern Thailand where girls, instead of leaving school at 15 years, now remain in school to increase their chances of qualifying for the programme. In other countries such as Brazil and Ethiopia the Youth Career Initiative graduates are able to change the circumstances of their families, by becoming the main income earner as they secure full time positions. Youth Career Initiative graduates become role models for other young people in their families, peer groups and communities who may also be potential candidates for Youth Career Initiative. The cascade effect of the programme is enormous.

Read more about the Charity running this project.