© Helvetas / Arben Llapashtica

Youth

Today's young generation is the largest the world has ever known.
© Helvetas / Arben Llapashtica

Today’s young generation is the largest the world has ever known. Young people are a tremendous and essential asset, but also a possible threat when denied access to labor markets, services and decision-making processes. Helvetas connects young people across generational and cultural borders and helps create inclusive societies with opportunities for the growing youth population.

Why youth matters

Out of the 1.3 billion young people worldwide, 85% live in developing countries and almost 50% live in fragile and conflict-affected areas. All over the world, young people are struggling to gain access to the labor market. Youth make up 25% of the global working age population, but account for over 40% of the unemployed. In developing countries, 2/3 of the young are neither working nor studying or are engaged in irregular and/or informal employment.

Young women and men oftentimes are underrepresented in formal political institutions and processes such as parliaments, political parties, elections, and public administrations. According to UNDP, people under the age of 35 are rarely found in formal political leadership positions.

What we do

Helvetas promotes active inclusion of the youth. In everything we do, we seek to actively involve young people and ensure their participation in the social, political and economic spheres.

In the YOU project in Kyrgyzstan for example, we seek to prevent violent extremism by bringing different generations together and facilitating meaningful dialogues between them.

In Kosovo, the opportunity group approach allows young people in rural areas to organize their own trainings and acquire skills that are needed on the labor market.

We share learnings across projects and in everything we do, and promote innovative approaches that build on the opinions and interests of young women and men.

© Helvetas / Patrick Rohr
Skills training for automechanics. Project SKY, Ethiopia © Helvetas / Patrick Rohr
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© risialbania
Enhancing Youth Employment. Project Risi, Albania © risialbania
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Zanfina Gashi, Female IT Training, American University of Kosovo (AUK), EYE Project | © Helvetas / Christian Bobst
Female IT Training. Project EYE, Kosovo © Helvetas / Christian Bobst
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© Helvetas
Helvetas Tajikistan concluded its Family and Youth Day Events © Helvetas
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Contact our team

Our multilingual advisory team offers wide-ranging thematic expertise and has in-depth experience in navigating complex processes to an impactful outcome. Our work builds on over 60 years of experience in more than 30 countries.

Representatives of the interdisciplinary working group on youth

Selected projects: Youth

© Helvetas / Christian Bobst
Kosovo Education and Vocational Skills

Jobs for Young People

Mali Climate & Disaster Resilience

New Strategies to Adapt to Climate Change

Albania Private Sector Development

Making Markets Work for the Youth

© S4RE
Kosovo Education and Vocational Skills

Matching Skills with Demand in the Labor Market

© Helvetas / Arben Llapashtica
Armenia, Albania, Azerbaijan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, North Macedonia, Serbia, Ukraine, Montenegro Education and Vocational Skills

Building Economies Where All Can Prosper

Tanzania Education and Vocational Skills

Lets Go Digital - VSOMO

Tunisia, Niger Voice, Inclusion & Cohesion

Supporting children and young people on migration routes

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Further information

Other topics that might interest you

Education and Vocational Skills

Lack of education perpetuates inequality because poor countries cannot compete economically without a skilled workforce.

Private Sector Development

Youth need access to reliable, fairly paid jobs to break the cycle of poverty. Helvetas creates partnerships and promotes policies that build more inclusive economies.

Urban Engagement

In 1960, only 1/3 of the global population lived in cities. Today, it’s 55% and growing. Helvetas looks for ways to ensure that this rapid urbanization benefits the poor and the marginalized.