BILT Learning Labs are an opportunity for TVET stakeholders to explore specific Innovation and Learning Practices from Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Europe.
This Learning Lab, entitled "Young Africa – Embracing equal opportunities for women in TVET both online and offline", was held on International Women’s Day, 8 March 2023, 09:00 – 10:30 CET (10:00 – 11:30 CAT), and focused on how the Young Africa confederation, an alliance of independently owned and operated NGOs in Africa, is supporting young women in TVET.
Young Africa International: Transforming Young Lives
Combatting youth unemployment is challenging. Moreover, within TVET, we often focus on the programme itself, sometimes forgetting that our students have extenuating life circumstances that impact on their ability to actively participate. Founded in 1998, Young Africa International (YAI) works to bridge that gap by supporting youth who lack either familial, societal or financial resources.
Young Africa International is the parent organization to Young Africa, an alliance of independent NGOs. The largest donor to YAI is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Netherlands, but the organization also receives third party funding and maintains a unique franchise model for its training centres. Through this model, every skills training department is shaped into an economically viable and self-reliant enterprise with the capacity to generate wealth and create jobs for the local community. The organization currently boasts 9 training centres in 4 countries. When a student enrols in one of the 40 trade programmes available, they not only learn a profession, but also life skills to assist them with the transition into adulthood, including digital skills training. Community outreach activities are also available to participants, such as day care facilities
Moreover, YAI has established pop-up centres in Zimbabwe, Namibia and Mozambique to cater to rural youths who have limited access to vocational training. At these centres, vulnerable young women are attached to local businesspeople and get training in various courses. Building on YAIs continuous successes, the “Digital Vocational Education and Training for Young Africans” project, co-funded by Erasmus+, SERVE, and YAI, will further expand the organization's reach into not only cyberspace, but seven additional countries. Through the development of an eLearning platform and Graduate Toolbox, the project aims to reach over 8000 students by its completion in 2024.
The flexibility and holistic approach to an individual's well-being enables YAI to grow and develop activities based on the specific needs of their students. In this environment, young women in the programme are not only empowered, but also are given equal opportunities to flourish.
Original article from UNESCO UNEVOC
