CO.CO.PE and KMFAP MALTA  financed Skills Development for Employability with the less privileged society   460 vulnerable youth in the region of Bouenza, Pool  (70 percent of whom were women), acquired training and skills for successful employment opportunities.

In mechanics, carpentry, hospitality, electricity, plumbing, baking, hairdressing, cooking, and baking, cashier, and welding.

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The rate of youth unemployment was high in the Republic of Congo, at 30.5 percent. Young women (with an unemployment rate of 31.6 percent) and vulnerable youth faced a particularly difficult situation. It was further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated economic downturn. Many youth lacked relevant skills in demand in the labor market. Moreover, the country’s skills development system was ill-equipped to provide youth with the kinds of in-demand skills sought by potential employers. Under  CO.CO.PE in partnership with the Embassy of  Malta KMFAP financed Skills Development for Employability we named  Project Sarah’s Child.

    

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 Challenges

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In the Republic of Congo, the youth unemployment rate was high. Many young people lacked a quality education and market-relevant technical skills. Many were also out of school or had limited education. While some technical and vocational training opportunities existed, they were limited in quantity, highly theoretical, and lacked market relevance. The situation was even worse for young women. And the single mother.

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Moreover, the formal education system had little scope to offer training opportunities for youth especially women to increase their skills. A few young people are in agriculture, fishing, and hunting That particular job is no suitable for the youth only the boy can follow the father in that practice as it is a cultural activity, Women are very marginalized at the earliest age forcing marriage.  so the youth have no opportunity to improve their living. although youth needed to earn a daily living, the opportunity costs of participating in training programs were often too high for them to participate. Because all communities are less privileged people do not have much cash they survive in goods exchange of farming, hunting, and harvesting.

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Approach

Project: Sarah’s child ;

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was launched in late 2021, emerging as one of the less privileged community's main instruments in achieving a sustained impact on the persistent challenge of youth unemployment. That is why we got tax exemption because we assisted the government in the remote area communities and changed and saved the lives of youth,  women, and single mothers.

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The project provided an opportunity for out-of-school and vulnerable youth to acquire the essential skills needed for their socio-professional participation in the labor market through salaried or self-employment. 

 

Project: Sarah’s child supported the district community,    in strengthening the capacity of the entire skills development system to provide market-relevant skills in priority sectors, with a focus on practical training and building strong linkages with private sector employers. It improved and enhanced the capacity of public and private training providers,

including master craftsmen, to provide quality training for vulnerable youth. The program helped these youth to acquire market-relevant skills (including literacy, numeracy, and entrepreneurship). It also supported their entrance into the labor market, including through apprenticeships. In addition, the project supported training and internships for youth.

 

Our aim is to provide start-up financing to support the implementation of the business plans of select trainees. By the end of the project in December 2023, it is expected that around 10,000 youth will have participated in the training provided with the support of Co.CO.PE

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