Archive for category: Youth Empowerment

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Youth Empowerment in Malaysia

Youth Empowerment in MalaysiaMalaysia has a population of around 36 million, of whom 5.8% live below the poverty line. To tackle poverty, Malaysia has many youth-led projects which are vital, as young people are not only the leaders of tomorrow but also the key players in change today.

These initiatives allow young people to gain experience applicable to future employment, provide pathways out of poverty, and offer a way to be influential in the long-term, as young leaders are not just focused on themselves, but also the generations yet to come.

Youth Empowerment Foundation in Malaysia

The Youth Empowerment Foundation (YEF) is an NGO working in Malaysia with the aspiration to eradicate poverty, improve education, create pathways into employment, reduce inequalities, and ensure these changes endure in the long run. Its work is highly successful, with more than 8,000 people benefiting from assistance within community projects, helping them all move toward a better future.

Its Youth Empowerment Program provides education to Malaysia’s most vulnerable young people, such as orphans. The program also teaches technical skills that young people will need as they enter the workforce.

The SPARK, IGNITE, BLAZE system in place allows for a well-rounded education to Malaysian youth. SPARK delivers skill-based training, including computer skills, English language, Islamic knowledge, and finance management. These skills open employment to more people and influence young leaders in Malaysia. IGNITE develops an individual’s personal growth, guiding them toward their employment roadmap, reviving confidence in their skills, and improving transferable skills, such as time management. BLAZE promotes youths’ community engagement, helping strengthen relationships and drive youth-led change within communities.

Overall, YEF’s work creates positive change in the lives of Malaysian youth and opens up opportunities, such as quality education, that previously were denied to those in poverty. This creates a better future, and long-term opportunities open doors that were once shut to young leaders in Malaysia.

ASEAN Youth Dialogue

In 2025, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s capital, hosted the Fourth ASEAN Youth Dialogue. The event helps participants understand why youth-led change matters now, not later, and gives young people the opportunity to share their opinions on issues critical to their lives, such as sustainable businesses.

ASEAN aims to continue highlighting that young leaders in Malaysia, as well as Singapore and Brunei Darussalam, is the way to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and create a sustainable future for everyone. The event featured a series of sessions where young people engaged with social issues and developed solutions. The dialogue concluded with the ASEAN Youth Resolution, a document that summarizes everything participants discussed.

The ASEAN Youth Dialogue centers on the idea that youth-led change is a matter of now, not later. Decisions today affect those under 30 more than anyone else, so empowering them to control their future is the best way to ensure a positive outcome.

HopesMalaysia

HopesMalaysia is an NGO set on giving young people tools to tackle inequalities, especially because of the persistence of poverty in rural areas. Young people, aged between 15 and 30, work closely in rural areas such as Sabah, to support sustainable farming, building of small businesses and gravity-fed water systems that remain clean. This empowers people in poverty to live more self-sufficiently, as well as putting young people at the top of long-term, sustainable change.

This work has played an important role in Malaysia, helping 40% of farming families increase their household income, rebuilding five suspension bridges, and implementing 200km of gravity-fed water systems in 30 villages. These achievements highlight the influence of young leaders in Malaysia, who are already positively impacting thousands of people.

Takeaways

Overall, these three initiatives, aiding youth empowerment in Malaysia, show the significance of recognizing that young people need opportunities to take action for their futures now, not later. When young people have that opportunity, they create real, long-term change.

Youth-led change not only increases young people’s employability and access to education, but also inspires people of all ages to live self-sufficiently and build lives outside of poverty. It shows that, when given the chance, young people seize opportunities; they simply need access to them.

The main takeaway is that when young people have the chance, youth-led change produces sustainable, long-term solutions to poverty, especially in rural areas of Malaysia.

– Caitlin Cooper

Caitlin Cooper is based in Aberdeen, Scotland and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How Young Africa Is Bridging the Youth Skills Gap in Mozambique

Youth Skills Gap in MozambiqueSub-Saharan Africa has one of the fastest-growing populations in the world, underscoring the need to create jobs for young people entering the workforce. In Mozambique, 60% of the population is under 25, with many facing unemployment or working in low-paying informal sectors that keep them in poverty. Supporting younger generations in rapidly growing regions is essential to ensuring long-term economic stability and sustainable development.

Due to low wages, more than 70% of employed youth in Mozambique live in poverty. While 23% of youth are unemployed, many working youth still struggle to make ends meet. Young people face a complex landscape, navigating the disconnect between access to education and actual employability. This disparity between education systems and labor market needs creates a persistent youth skills gap in Mozambique, limiting economic mobility.

The Gap Between Education and Employment

Afrobarometer research finds that educational gains in Africa have not translated into enough jobs for young people. Surveyed youth identified inadequate training and lack of work experience as key barriers and many reported a mismatch between the skills they learned and those employers demand. This consistent pattern leaves educated youth, especially those aged 18–25, struggling to find meaningful employment.

Programs like Young Africa’s aim to address this gap by connecting education and vocational training directly with long-term job opportunities, helping youth break cycles of poverty.

Young Africa’s Sustainable Youth Empowerment Program

Young Africa is a youth empowerment franchise that has operated for more than 25 years, providing vocational training, entrepreneurship, financial literacy and life skills to disadvantaged youth across Africa. It created the Sustainable Youth Empowerment (SYE) program to support youth in northern Mozambique, a region affected by prolonged conflict, climate shocks and economic instability. Energy access is extremely limited in rural northern Mozambique, where 95% of the population lacks electricity.

Launched in March 2024, the program aims to equip 140 young people with green skills to become certified solar technicians by February 2026. It addresses unemployment and the youth skills gap in Mozambique while expanding access to reliable, climate-resilient energy in underserved communities. The SYE program continues to support students after graduation by connecting them with local employers, increasing their chances of full-time employment and bridging the gap between education and quality jobs.

Young Africa Mozambique’s program also provides 20 start-up kits to promising graduates, enabling them to develop solar projects in their communities with guidance from industry mentors. Young Africa Mozambique provides hands-on training through mobile units, offering flexible modules that allow students to balance training with other commitments. By bringing vocational education directly to rural communities, the program expands access for disadvantaged youth.

Building a Greener Future Through Youth Leadership

Young Africa Mozambique is fostering youth-led renewable energy growth while raising community awareness. Mobile training units host events to educate the public on the benefits of solar energy and address misconceptions about cost and accessibility. Students also demonstrate how solar products can improve daily life and reduce energy costs, distributing educational materials to local communities.

Raising community awareness about the benefits of solar energy is critical to building a green economy. With community support and interest, several trained solar technicians are now entering an in-demand industry. Young Africa Mozambique’s initiatives have already reached nearly 1,500 community members.

With 124 rural youth already graduated from SYE and 14 start-up kits distributed, the initiative is creating real opportunities to lift young people out of poverty. Students gain skills to install affordable, reliable and climate-resilient energy systems, improving the quality of life in their communities. By linking vocational training to tangible outcomes, Young Africa Mozambique is helping close the youth skills gap in Mozambique, empowering young people and strengthening both them and their communities.

– Hope Jowharian

Hope is based in Paris, France and focuses on Business and New Markets for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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5 Child-Led Inventions Addressing Global Poverty

Child-Led InventionsYoung people often don’t know that something can’t be done, so they try it. Disturbed by the poor living conditions of others, driven by awareness of environmental contamination or simply believing that all humans have the right to basic needs, youth can make a difference in the lives of the impoverished around the world. Here’s a look at five child-led inventions that address global poverty and are both innovative and inspiring.

William Kamkwamba, Masitala, Malawi

In 2001, thousands perished and many lost their livelihood in one of the worst droughts the rural village of Masitala, Malawi, had ever experienced. Crops wouldn’t grow in the dry soil and without their farming income, 14 years old Kamkwamba’s family couldn’t afford his school tuition. Nevertheless, Kamkwamba was determined to keep learning.

Discovering a book about alternative energy at Masitala’s small library, he became fascinated with windmills. Kamkwamba resolved to use the technology to bring desperately needed running water and electricity to his family. Improvising with scrap parts such as sandals, bicycle components, an old fan blade and gum trees, he successfully constructed a windmill which was able to power his home’s basic needs.

Kamkwamba gained financial support as his success story spread and he built additional windmills to bring power and water to his village, accelerating the fight against poverty. Kamkwamba’s story was adapted into a 2019 feature film titled “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind.”

Jahkil Jackson, Chicago, US

Jackson felt compelled to ease the disparagement faced by the unhoused after helping deliver nourishment to displaced people in his hometown, Chicago. His passion led him to launch Project I Am (an organization that distributes hygiene kits to people without homes) in 2016, when he was just 8 years old. The kits or “blessing bags”, are filled with toiletries, nonperishable food, socks and other necessities, providing comfort and basic needs to those without.

Project I Am has distributed thousands of kits to those in poverty and to disaster victims in the U.S. and abroad. Now a member of the WE International Youth Council, Jackson encourages children to help enrich the world, emphasizing the impact of child-led inventions addressing global poverty. Heartland Alliance, a prominent anti-poverty organization and the Obama Foundation have recognized Jackson’s efforts.

Maryam Saleem, Pakistan

At age 13, Saleem was deeply concerned that much of her fellow Pakistani population was living in poverty without access to clean energy. Inhabitants would often cook their meals with firewood, which can pollute the air, cause respiratory damage and additional health problems. Suffering from respiratory issues herself, Saleem was determined to find a solution.

She created a portable biodigester that converts household organic waste into cooking biofuel. Saleem’s invention won her the 2023 Citi Foundation’s Skills for Success Challenge in the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) World Series of Innovation. With her award money, she is able to provide free biodigesters for the impoverished in Pakistan through “GoClean,” the organization she co-created.

Hannah Herbst, Florida, US

In 2015, at age 14, Herbst vowed to help her Ethiopian pen pal, who lived without basic necessities like running water and electricity. Herbst worked to invent a small turbine that generates electricity from ocean currents. Constructed of affordable, recyclable materials, her design is compact and floats above the water, while existing systems can be bulky and sit on the ocean floor.

Herbst’s invention, ideal for use in developing areas due to its low cost and accessibility, won her the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist” in the 2015 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge. Herbst shared some of her prize money with her pen pal, enabling her family to buy a generator. Herbst plans to add water purification capability to her system and open-source the design so that electricity and purified water are readily available to shoreline communities worldwide.

Her invention demonstrates the power of child-led inventions addressing global poverty.

Xóchitl Guadalupe Cruz López, Chiapas, Mexico

Much of the population in Chiapas, Mexico, lives in poverty without access to conventional plumbing. Inhabitants often use firewood or oil to heat their water, fuels that can release contaminants and pose respiratory hazards. In 2018, at 8 years old, inspired by scientific workshops and by her concern for the environment and her fellow citizens, López decided to build an environmentally friendly, affordable water-heating system.

She used discarded items such as painted plastic bottles, a hose, wood scraps and pieces of glass from cooler doors. She and her father installed the finished device, capable of heating 10 liters of water, on the roof of her house. Her invention was a success and led to López becoming the first girl to receive an honor typically awarded to adults: “Recognition of the Institute of Nuclear Science for Women.”

López plans to make her invention available to all of Chiapas to help improve the lives of those living in poverty.

Conclusion

These five child-led inventions addressing global poverty demonstrate what fearless, determined youth can accomplish. Filled with the desire to help those less fortunate and enabled by education, scientific programs or simply the belief in a cause, children of the world see endless possibilities for helping the planet’s impoverished populations. With little help, young people can turn those possibilities into reality.

– Debbie Barto

Debbie is based in Monroe, WA, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Youth Skills Projects in Kenya: Employment and Economic Mobility

Youth Skills Projects in KenyaKenya’s youth skills are transforming how young people transition from education to stable employment. In Kenya, youth unemployment continues to limit economic mobility, particularly among those aged 18 to 34. Despite being the largest working-age group in the country, young people have significantly higher unemployment rates than older workers.

Youth skills projects in Kenya are increasingly tailoring training to corporate demands, entrepreneurial opportunities and emerging industries. These programs are helping reduce poverty by creating stable income opportunities for vulnerable households.

Youth Unemployment in Kenya Limits Economic Mobility

According to Kenya’s National Bureau of Statistics, the bulk of young people employed are in low-wage, informal jobs. Youth unemployment remains close to 13%, with young women facing higher rates at around 18%. These labor inequities undermine long-term economic resilience and exacerbate household poverty.

To address this issue, Kenyan youth skills programs increasingly focus on hands-on training that leads directly to employment and the establishment of businesses.

Government Training Programs Expand Workforce Readiness

Kenya’s government boosted Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to align classroom better learning with labor market demands. Enrollment at public TVET institutions has increased from more than 345,000 to more than 565,000 trainees between the academic years 2022–2023 and 2024–2025. This represents a 63.8% increase as the Ministry of Education improved access, quality and industry alignment.

Officials are also implementing a Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) framework that closely aligns courses with real-world, industry-relevant skills. This method aims to help graduates enter the workforce with the skills businesses require and focuses on practical training valued by employers. The government announced plans to boost the number of young people participating in TVET programs to two million by the end of 2025.

To broaden access, it allocated additional funding for facilities, equipment and the recruitment of trainers. This expansion is expected to significantly reduce poverty by equipping youth with marketable skills that generate sustainable income.

Digital Skills Programs Connect Youth to Global Markets

The Kenyan government’s Ajira Digital Program, which collaborates with partners such as eMobilis and the Kenya Private Sector Alliance, provides free digital and online job training. The initiative has trained more than 250,000 young people in Kenya, with modules covering digital marketing, transcribing and other internet skills. According to a tracking poll commissioned by Ajira, nearly one-third of participants report earning money online after completing the course.

By connecting youth to online income streams, the program tackles poverty and expands economic opportunity nationwide.

Green Energy and Agribusiness Training Create Local Jobs

Kenya’s renewable energy expansion has boosted demand for solar technicians and electrical installers. Training facilities like Strathmore Energy Research Center offer solar certification courses to prepare young people for jobs installing and maintaining off-grid energy systems. Moreover, TechnoServe Kenya funds youth agribusiness training and market access programs.

The training has helped tens of thousands of young farmers boost productivity and incomes, particularly in rural areas. These initiatives reduce poverty by increasing household earnings and fostering entrepreneurship in local communities.

Conclusion

Kenya’s youth skills programs show how coordinated investments in technical education, digital training, renewable energy and agriculture can transform classrooms into economic growth engines. Youth skills projects in Kenya, government initiatives and nonprofit partnerships are helping young people gain practical skills, income opportunities and entrepreneurship pathways. They are now providing young people with practical skills, income opportunities and entrepreneurship pathways.

These initiatives improve household stability, lower unemployment and increase Kenya’s long-term economic resilience.

– Madison Brown

Madison is based in Nottingham, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Digital Opportunity Trust: Promoting Digital Inclusion

Digital Opportunity TrustDigital innovations in online education and e-commerce have created new avenues for poverty reduction through economic inclusion. The digital economy can drive inclusive development by equipping people with the tools to lift communities out of poverty. Access to the internet provides better education and skill development, enhancing employability and market participation.

Digital Opportunity Trust

Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT) is a Canadian organization that delivers programs to young entrepreneurs on how to profit from the digital economy. Since 2002, DOT has been working to bridge the digital divide by connecting young people globally to essential digital skills. More than 3 million people in impoverished communities across more than 20 countries have benefited from DOT’s youth leaders.

DOT fosters inclusive development by preparing young leaders to participate in the digital economy and support economic growth at a local level. DOT’s Youth Entrepreneurship program aims to mitigate barriers to digital inclusion by providing young people with access to digital tools in addition to skill training and development. With a solid foundation in digital competencies, DOT is positioning young entrepreneurs as leaders of economic growth.

Initiatives like the Digital Bridge Project aim to educate 10,000 young people in Kenya and Ethiopia on how to use digital tools for their professional and personal development by April 2026. This initiative cultivates a new generation of digitally literate leaders prepared to drive poverty reduction in the digital age.

Economic Benefits of the Digital Economy

We can look to Kenya’s progress for how digital inclusion can transform a society and strengthen its economy. The “Silicon Savannah” has seen steady growth in its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector since 2016, creating jobs across almost all industries. Kenya’s investment in developing human digital capital aligns with DOT’s efforts to create a “digitally savvy workforce” capable of tapping into new opportunities for economic growth in the digital sphere.

Creating more jobs, especially for young people and promoting sustainable development by leveraging digital markets. The combined efforts of the public and private sectors support job creation and economic diversification in the digital age. Furthermore, Kenya’s adoption of broadband infrastructure has positioned the country as a leader in Africa’s digital economy.

Through its progressive digital strategy policies, Kenya aims to create 300,000 new jobs by 2028 by integrating digital technologies across the agriculture, transport, manufacturing and trade sectors.

Rural Barriers and New Pathways

While progress is being made, the digital divide disproportionately impacts rural populations. Limited internet access among 83% of rural residents limits digital skill development and market participation. To bridge this gap, DOT Kenya youth leader Samuel Mathenge led training sessions that enabled youth in Nyeri County to engage with the digital market.

Through DOT’s Youth program, he strengthened his own skills and trained more than 600 young people in digital literacy. “My journey with DOT Kenya has not only transformed me into a confident digital skills facilitator but also a compassionate and patient leader,” Mathenge stated. Fresh off his DOT training and equipped with the confidence to lead, Mathenge worked with other young people to not only master digital tools but also prepare for the job market.

Together, they searched for careers in the tech sector, refining their CVs and preparing for interviews. DOT’s investment in one young entrepreneur has created a cycle of youth empowerment in Kenya. Mathenge is just one of thousands of DOT Youth leaders globally, working to foster inclusive development in their communities.

Digital Foundations for Poverty Reduction

Digital inclusion opens pathways for education, skill development and youth participation in the labour markets, laying a digital foundation for economic growth and poverty reduction. Indeed, initiatives by DOT empower young entrepreneurs to engage with the digital economy, equipping them with the skills and agency to drive sustainable growth. DOT places economic power in the hands of young leaders, enabling them to thrive in their communities and create lasting change.

– Hope Jowharian

Hope is based in Paris, France and focuses on Business and New Markets for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Green Skills in Sub-Saharan Africa: Powering Youth Employment

Green Skills in Sub-Saharan Africa: Powering Youth Employment Across Sub-Saharan Africa, rising youth unemployment and growing climate threats are intersecting challenges. However, green skills in Sub-Saharan Africa are emerging as a powerful solution. Many governments and training centers are helping young people gain practical abilities in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture and eco-friendly construction, skills that create jobs while strengthening climate resilience.

Solar Training Creates New Pathways to Work

In Kenya, demand for clean energy is growing as solar capacity expands. The Strathmore Energy Research Centre (SERC) in Nairobi offers accredited training programs in solar photovoltaics, system maintenance and hands-on installation, contributing to the development of green skills in Sub-Saharan Africa. SERC reports that many of its trainees go on to work for solar firms or start small installation businesses, generating new employment opportunities. By giving youth tangible technical skills, this training supports Kenya’s clean-energy transition while reducing youth joblessness.

Climate-Smart Agriculture Boosts Farmer Incomes

Agriculture still underpins livelihoods across rural Sub-Saharan Africa, so green skills must address farming in a changing climate. In Rwanda, the Ministry of Agriculture supports climate-smart techniques such as drought-resistant crops, efficient irrigation and improved soil management. Young farmers trained in these methods have reported higher yields and lower losses during extreme weather events. These green agricultural skills not only raise incomes but help build food-system resilience in regions vulnerable to climate shocks.

Youth Recycling Cooperatives and Eco-Construction

Waste management and recycling form another growth area for green jobs, helping expand green skills in Sub-Saharan Africa. In South Africa, youth-led recycling programs are engaging young people in waste collection, sorting and recycling for income. A recent project by WasteAid in rural South Africa supported training for young people in the informal waste sector, boosting livelihoods and promoting circular-economy jobs. Research shows that waste and recycling value chains can provide meaningful employment pathways for youth, especially when paired with skills training. These initiatives illustrate how recycling can simultaneously tackle youth unemployment and environmental degradation.

Urban growth and climate imperatives are generating demand for building professionals trained in sustainable methods. Many African cities now require construction technicians versed in low-carbon materials, energy-efficient design and waste-minimizing practices. Training programs in sustainable construction equip young people to step into this gap, improving employment prospects while shaping cleaner infrastructure. These skills support broader green-economy transitions and help reduce emissions in construction.

Green Skills Deliver Early Success Stories

Across Kenya, Rwanda and South Africa, early outcomes show the promise of green upskilling. Solar technicians trained in Nairobi are servicing off-grid installations and rural clinics. In Rwanda, youth applying climate-smart farming methods have enhanced productivity and weather resilience. And in South Africa, youth recycling initiatives are converting waste into income and fostering circular-economic models.

These stories show how expanding green-skills development can cut poverty, boost local economic growth and empower young people as climate-solution leaders in their communities. By investing in green skills in Sub-Saharan Africa, policymakers, educators and development partners have an opportunity to deliver jobs, climate resilience and sustainable growth through a single, aligned strategy.

– Lucy Williams

Lucy is based in Wrexham, UK and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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WSLB: Global Stewardship Through Youth Leadership in Spain

Washington State Leadership Board Builds Global Stewardship Through Local Youth Leadership in SpainWhen the inaugural cohort of 15 Washington students arrived at their host families’ homes in Logroño, Spain, during the summer of 2017, it was clear that these students were the first in a new field of global advocacy, yet far from the last. This was the year the Washington State Leadership Board (WSLB) launched Washington World Fellows, Washington State’s first international advocacy program for high school youth.

Recent years have seen an increase in similar initiatives for youth across the world, creating a rapidly growing network of globalized communities. The WSLB is an example of regional governments integrating the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into long-term community planning. Local institutions play a uniquely crucial role in alleviating poverty at the grassroots level, and employing the rising generation is central to this work. “If we’re not taking care of our citizens, the whole society suffers,” says WSLB Director of Programming, Amy Ubungen.

WSLB programs for youth leadership in Spain are necessary avenues that reflect a growing global presence in the development of sustainable communities.

A Long-lasting Global Network

The WSLB backs two international programs, both designed as accessible, cost-free opportunities for underserved youth from Washington and Northern Spain to travel abroad. Washington World Fellows began in 2017 as a sister exchange program to World Fellows España, which in 2022 sent its first cohort of Spanish students to Washington State.

World Fellows, many of whom are first-generation college students facing community-specific education barriers, embark on a college readiness track while abroad. In July 2025, World Fellows connected with local government officials during an annual International Youth Summit in Viana, Spain, where students issued a magazine to voice concerns about universal socioeconomic barriers facing youth.

The Compassion Scholars initiative launched in 2019, when the inaugural cohort of Washington students traveled to Dharamsala, India, to discuss global inequalities with the Dalai Lama.

Compassion Scholars now visit the La Rioja region in Northern Spain, where they observe measures in both urban and rural settings to alleviate poverty. Upon returning home, Scholars implement community projects that range from reducing education barriers to partnering with local immigrant support agencies.

Sustainable Development Goals at the Micro Level

WSLB’s partners in La Rioja each incorporate SDGs, enriching the region with a strong network of resources. El Colletero is an innovative, grassroots effort based in the agricultural community of Nalda, Spain. It is driven by local women who offer training sessions in food production to prevent food insecurity and promote ecofeminism. La Rioja Acoge is a regional immigrant and refugee resettlement agency in Logroño whose Reception and Integration System accommodates asylum seekers fleeing humanitarian crises in areas such as Gaza and Ukraine. The regional branch of La Cruz Roja in La Rioja tailors its emergency response services to local vulnerable populations. All three agencies promote youth leadership in Spain and provide an exemplary framework for communities worldwide pursuing para-diplomacy.

How the WSLB and Its Partners Thrive

The success of World Fellows and Compassion Scholars is due in part to the WSLB’s history as a longstanding, state-funded institution, providing a legal foundation in Washington State for an international framework. However, this level of institutional support is not present for World Fellows España. “You could say… that we are the Spanish agency of the WSLB, [but World Fellows España doesn’t] have any support here locally,” explains World Fellows España Director, César Martínez Lorenzo. “We do have the support of organizations that get involved in Compassion [Scholars]. They support us. They do it out of compassion, so to speak. But other than that, at any institutional level, we don’t have any support just yet.”

Despite Spain’s developed social safety net, community-driven initiatives like World Fellows España often struggle to gain the institutional recognition needed to lift programs off the ground. The pandemic delivered a particular blow to World Fellows and other youth programs globally. However, César remains optimistic about the WSLB’s continued success. “Policy should be implemented to make these programs a thing,” he says. “It’s like planting a seed… and we need to let it grow. But that is a process. That doesn’t happen overnight… I think we have to wait and see. It’s a ‘trust the process’ kind of thing. And that’s what we do, we trust the process. And we can invest in it, because we believe in it.”

Missions for Underserved Youth

Early in World Fellows España’s development, the regional initiative Los Pioneros provided a well-aligned model for the World Fellows mission. Los Pioneros is a nonprofit based in Logroño that promotes youth leadership in Spain by addressing education and employment barriers for marginalized young adults.

Many initiatives like Los Pioneros exist globally but lack access to consistent funding like that of the WSLB, making it difficult to expand programs beyond their region of origin.

Alliance Africa Avanza is another example of a well-resourced initiative sustained on an international scale. In August 2024, the Spanish government launched a joint program in Senegal, Tierra Firme, to address the country’s high unemployment rates by fostering self-sufficiency and financial stability. The program enables 500 Senegalese youth to receive vocational and professional training. Bilateral agreements between nations, such as Alliance Africa Avanza, demonstrate how essential institutions are in providing measurable opportunities for youth.

The WSLB and Barriers to Success

Like many state-funded agencies in the U.S., WSLB programming has been affected by recent decreases in federal funding. For World Fellows and Compassion Scholars students in both Washington and Spain, the programs’ limited mobility caused by budget cuts “puts a lot more burden on participants, [and] it requires participants to step up,” says Amy Ubungen. Since spring 2025, the WSLB has experienced a 12% funding cut.

Such cuts are the “biggest threat and number one concern of our agency at this time,” says WSLB Programs Manager Claire Muehleisen. Given World Fellows España’s lack of local financial support, these reductions present a particular challenge for youth leadership programs in Spain.

“…What would be ideal [is for World Fellows España] to get funded, and that’s where local governments and institutions come in,” says César Martínez Lorenzo. He suggests increased support from “a local institution, say the city council or… the town hall,” to channel funding. “We would need someone in a position of power… to believe in what we do and make it happen… that’s my hope,” he explains. With a boost in local support, César foresees a future where Compassion Scholars could evolve into an exchange program, like World Fellows.

A Catalyst for Sustainable Development

As World Fellows and Compassion Scholars expand, the WSLB’s international partnerships will continue to inspire global youth initiatives aligned with the SDGs. “Poverty is always in the details,” remarks César Martínez Lorenzo. Fortunately, so are local institutions that continue to make long-term investments in the youth for healthy, sustainable communities in the future.

– Isla Hansen

Isla is based in Spokane, WA, USA and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Higher Education in Georgia: Learning Toward a Brighter Future

Higher Education in Georgia: Learning Toward a Brighter Future Education is one of the biggest agencies against poverty. Higher education in Georgia has become one of the country’s most powerful means of connecting opportunity, innovation and social mobility. Once limited to the privileged few, university education now opens doors for thousands of young Georgians, and the country’s progress shows that investing in young minds can support national development.

A Decade of Educational Growth

Since Georgia’s independence in 1991, education reform has been a central component of its development strategy. Currently, higher education in Georgia encompasses more than 60 accredited universities, with increasing access for students from rural and low-income families through financial aid and merit programs.

According to the National Statistics Office, the number of students enrolled in higher education institutions increased to more than 138,000 in 2023, a continued climb from the early 2010s. Women make up nearly 56% of enrolled students, highlighting the growing gender equality in education access. This expansion mirrors Georgia’s broader effort to modernize its knowledge-based economy, attract international students and strengthen ties to the European Higher Education Area.

The Link Between Education and Poverty

Higher education is often the turning point between poverty and opportunity. In Georgia, that link is clear. Students from low-income households who complete tertiary education are twice as likely to find formal employment as those without post-secondary training, according to a 2023 World Bank skills report.

Education remains one of the strongest equalizers in a country where regional inequality persists. Rural students, however, continue to face barriers such as limited internet access, travel costs and a lack of preparatory schools. To address this, the government and universities are expanding scholarship programs and digital learning opportunities.

Scholarships and Student Support

Several initiatives now help bridge the gap between poverty and education access.

  • Targeted Financial Aid. The Ministry of Education provides need-based grants to students from low-income and internally displaced families. In 2023, more than 6,000 students received tuition support through this program.
  • Regional Scholarships. The Millennium Foundation and partner universities fund students from remote areas, encouraging local development through education.
  • Private and NGO Programs. Organizations such as the Open Society Georgia Foundation support merit-based scholarships, particularly for women and students with disabilities.

The Bank of Georgia supports education in rural regions through initiatives such as the Ideateka project, which establishes modern educational spaces in regional schools, and the Komarov STEM camp, which provides STEM education to high school students nationwide. The bank also offers online resources and platforms for scholarships and other educational opportunities. These programs show that targeted efforts can make higher education in Georgia more inclusive and effective as a poverty-fighting tool.

Universities as Engines of Growth

Beyond classrooms, universities are becoming innovation hubs that shape Georgia’s economic and civic future. Institutions such as the Georgian Technical University and Ilia State University partner with local industries to create applied research centers, startup incubators and international exchange programs. These partnerships equip students with employable skills and strengthen Georgia’s competitiveness. The European Union’s Erasmus+ program has funded more than 300 Georgian students and faculty annually since 2019, promoting collaboration with European universities and modernizing curricula.

Digital Learning and the Pandemic Effect

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated online learning in Georgia, exposing challenges but also sparking innovation. Universities developed new e-learning platforms, and the government, with World Bank support, launched projects to expand internet access in rural regions. This digital transition made education more flexible and accessible. For students who once faced financial or geographical barriers, online courses opened new pathways to higher education. This shift has played an important role in promoting inclusion and supporting efforts to reduce poverty.

A Hopeful Future

The story of higher education in Georgia is one of perseverance and progress. Each new graduate represents not just personal achievement but also a step toward national development and a future where education supports economic growth, gender equality and social stability. As Georgia continues to align with European standards and expand access to learning, its investment in higher education remains an investment in its people. By ensuring that opportunities reach every student, Georgia moves closer to reducing poverty through aid and empowerment.

– Salome Jincharadze

Salome is based in Tbilisi, Georgia and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Vocational Training in Paraguay: Empowering the Next Generation

Vocational Training in ParaguayParaguay is a South American country that, despite experiencing significant growth in the last decade, continues to struggle with wealth inequality and poverty. While the national poverty rate halved between 2003 and 2022, recent stagnation in economic growth and opportunity, worsened by a slow post-pandemic recovery, inflation and climate-related shocks, reveals the structural inequalities that impede future progress. It also highlights the vulnerability of a considerable part of the population.

About 32.6% of Paraguay’s rural population lives in multidimensional poverty—a significantly higher rate than the national average. In these regions, communities often face challenges accessing water and proper sanitation. Youth in poverty-stricken areas often have limited access to secondary and formal education. Generally, lower education rates create limited opportunities and heighten an individual’s likelihood of experiencing poverty.

Only 61.3% of Paraguay’s population has completed primary education, and 34.4% have completed secondary. With limited education, much of Paraguay’s youth remain unemployed, with rates reaching 14.1% in 2024.

Many young people turn to agriculture and farming to get by. Yet this industry is vulnerable to climate-related shocks, such as increasingly frequent droughts. These effects are often more detrimental due to the lack of investment, infrastructure, and access rural communities have to technology and financial support. This creates an entrenched cycle of poverty that is difficult to escape.

Vocational Training for the Youth

Vocational training in Paraguay plays a crucial role in sustainably breaking cycles of poverty. It offers education, opportunity and job readiness to groups previously marginalized and excluded. Vocational training provides hands-on education focused on the development of practical skills that often fill gaps left by limited access to formal education.

This approach is especially valuable because it targets specific groups and inequalities. In regular education streams, Indigenous women have the lowest average length of schooling at 3.5 years. Vocational training for these groups is often the only tangible pathway toward economic independence, skill development and social inclusion.

Fundación Paraguaya

Fundación Paraguaya is a leading social enterprise and nonprofit organization that offers vocational training and sustainable poverty alleviation initiatives across Paraguay, focusing on marginalized rural communities and socio-economically disadvantaged youth. Founded in 1985 by Martin Burt, the organization’s multidimensional approach—combining education, finance and self-assessment tools—aims to “activate the entrepreneurial potential of families” to eliminate poverty and help them “live with dignity.”

The organization’s “Self-Sustaining Agricultural Schools” program offers classroom-style learning alongside hands-on agricultural enterprises. Students have access to secondary-level education while managing real-life businesses, such as poultry farms, bakeries and gardens, which cover school expenses. Upon graduation, students have practical skills in business management, agriculture and entrepreneurship, improving their employability.

Another facet of the organization’s vocational training is its “Entrepreneurial Education” program. This initiative encourages and empowers marginalized youth groups. For example, Fundación Paraguaya conducts a Youth Ambassadors exchange program in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education. This program grants full scholarships to young people to participate in training related to leadership, social enterprise and community development projects.

The Impact of Vocational Training

Fundación Paraguaya’s model demonstrates the value of vocational training in sustainably alleviating poverty and creating opportunities for youth. In 2024, the organization reported major progress in reducing extreme poverty, which fell from 10% to 3%, and income poverty, which dropped from 54% to 33%, among families involved in its programs. These initiatives have reached more than 200,000 youth members.

Looking Ahead

Vocational training empowers the next generation of Paraguayans by equipping them with sustainable methods to create livelihoods and opportunities. Unlike traditional aid approaches, this hands-on model positions young people as active agents of change rather than passive recipients of support. By fostering skills such as entrepreneurship, self-reliance and technical expertise, vocational training can help break poverty cycles and promote sustainable development through a skilled and resilient workforce.

– Mia Keen

Mia is based in London, UK and focuses on Business and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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The Power of Youth in Nepal: 3 Organizations Fighting Poverty

Youth in NepalIn Nepal, young people are stepping forward to fight poverty in ways that fundamentally reshape communities. Youth unemployment in Nepal  has hovered around 20% since 2022. While the country’s leaders continuously promise to tackle it, opportunities for young people remain scarce. Faced with this reality, the youth in Nepal are no longer waiting for government action and instead are building their own solutions.

Here are three youth organizations demonstrating how youth-led initiatives in Nepal can break poverty cycles and drive lasting change.

YUWA

YUWA, meaning “youth” in Nepali, is a nonprofit organization run by young people aged 16-29. The organization is rewriting poverty alleviation in Nepal by tackling what many nonprofit organizations overlook: young people’s agency, rights and civic power. Founded in 2009, the organization aims to amplify youth participation through empowerment and advocacy.

By increasing civic voice, enhancing leadership skills and shaping policy environments, YUWA seeks to alter the underlying systems that sustain multidimensional poverty. Active citizenship is one of YUWA’s core focuses. The organization believes that if young people are empowered to become more aware of the country’s issues, they are more likely to become active citizens who can influence their communities and thus the country as a whole.

YUWA runs various initiatives such as Prarambha and Pahichan. Prarambha is a two-day workshop targeted toward urban youths aged 18-27. Through activities, discussions and games, this young cohort forms plans and initiates local-level interventions within Kathmandu valley based on need, time and budget. Similarly, Pahichan is a three-day workshop targeted at semi-rural youths to learn necessary soft skills and foster innovative ideas to address social issues based on the region’s needs.

The Pahichan initiative was implemented in three provinces and six cities and reached 126 youths. By combining rights-education, leadership capacity and participatory advocacy, YUWA helps tackle the social and informational deficits contributing to poverty. In doing so, it empowers young people to act as change agents in their own lives and communities.

Hami Nepal

A central actor in the recent protests in Nepal, Hami Nepal is an organization founded in 2015 and registered in 2020. Its main objective is to connect donors with recipients, ensuring that all donations received directly benefit efforts to improve community living conditions. In crises, it provides direct relief: distributing food, winter clothing and medical assistance, helping vulnerable households meet basic needs so that, when hit by shocks, families do not have to choose between hunger, health or education.

This stabilization is key in preventing long-term poverty. Alongside aid delivery, Hami Nepal’s participation in youth mobilization and protest for accountability addresses systemic poverty: poor governance and lack of accountability have allowed inequalities to persist. By pushing for transparent governance, Hami Nepal seeks to change the structural causes of poverty.

In 2023, a magnitude 5.7 earthquake hit Jajarkot District, Karnali Province. In a 127-day project to provide relief to those affected by the earthquake, Hami Nepal helped more than 13,000 families. The organization set up nearly 100 community tents to offer temporary housing and a further 50 tents within schools to ensure a safe learning environment for students and teachers. Additional medical equipment was delivered to Nalgad Primary Hospital and more than 500 jackets were distributed across various schools in affected areas.

Hami Nepal addresses immediate issues but also seeks to implement sustainable long-term solutions. Through proactive engagement, youth advocacy and collaboration, the organization stands alongside communities, fostering resilience and guiding positive change in Nepal.

Yuwalaya

Yuwalaya is an organization that has built a platform for youths, adolescents and child club graduates. It bridges organizations working on children’s and youth rights, providing a safe space to collaborate with young people and help them attain the best opportunities in health and education.

One of Yuwalaya’s current initiatives is Creating Safe Space for Children (CSSC). This project seeks to strengthen school child protection systems to ensure that learning environments are safer and free from violence. It also equips teachers and local government actors with safeguarding and school safety plan development knowledge and tools.

Raising awareness among teachers and family members on issues such as early marriage, bullying and harassment can increase the likelihood of children staying in school. It can also reduce the risk of violence and early pregnancy, which in turn helps prevent the worsening of poverty cycles. So far, this three-year-long project has collaborated with 24 schools.

The formation of Shadow Governments in Karnali and Sudurpaschim Provinces was an additional initiative that allowed young people to engage with policymakers and influence local governance. The organization played a pivotal role in developing and submitting Nepal’s first-ever Youth-Led Universal Periodic Review (UPR) report to the United Nations. This effort ensured that the voices of young people and children are heard in shaping an equal future for all.

Through its initiatives, Yuwalaya tackles poverty by equipping young people to lead change, champion their rights and build pathways toward sustainable development.

Final Remarks

From offering training that builds employable skills to championing policy changes that amplify young voices, Nepal is witnessing youth-led poverty alleviation through nonprofit organizations. Their work demonstrates that investing in tools to help young people succeed improves their futures and uplifts entire communities.

– Elysha Din

Elysha is based in Guildford, Surrey, UK and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr