© Helvetas / Fatoumata Diabate

Education and Vocational Skills

Enhancing education opportunities and providing practical vocational skills to the poor and disadvantaged is one of Helvetas’ priorities.
© Helvetas / Fatoumata Diabate

Lack of education perpetuates inequality because poor countries cannot compete economically without a skilled workforce. Annually, we help up to 200,000 people get better access to quality schools, literacy courses, and vocational education and training.

Why education and vocational skills matter

Restricted access to education is one of the main reasons why poverty is passed on from generation to generation. Though enrolment in basic education has been increasing in the last decades, the quality remains low.

Not only does access to quality education boost income prospects, it also increases a person’s chances for a healthy life, promotes peace and encourages gender equality. Basic schooling and professional skills development foster an active civil society, spur innovation and promote long-term economic development.

© Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation
«Children learn a lot about botany and environmental protection in our newly created school garden. And together we have built up a school library.»

Anthony Marloa, teacher, Dumbeta village, Arusha region, Tanzania

Our work

Helvetas supports vocational schools that teach practical and market-oriented skills to young people in developing countries. In basic education we focus on training teachers, promoting effective teaching methods and helping out-of-school children catch up on learning.

In the past five years, more than 800,000 children, teenagers and adults have attended primary or secondary schools, literacy courses or vocational trainings with the help of Helvetas.

Our Expertise and Services

Our multilingual advisory team provides advice in the fields of vocational skills development and basic education for to the programs of Helvetas, as well as to external clients.

Learn more and contact us

Check out our blog for the latest updates

Multimedia Story: Yezina Overcomes Every Hurdle

Yezina will not let her disability get in the way: she wants to be a successful tailor who carries her life in her own hands. Have a look at our portrait.

Youth

Young people are a tremendous asset, but also a possible threat when denied access to labor markets, services and decision-making. Almost every second unemployed person is aged between 15 and 24.

Selected Projects: Skills Development and Education

Mozambique Education and Vocational Skills

Training for the Real Working World

jeune formation carrelage Haïti | © Helvetas
Haiti Education and Vocational Skills

Training young people for the working world

© Helvetas
Bhutan Education and Vocational Skills

Building Trades with a Future for Young Men and Women

© Helvetas / Christian Bobst
Kosovo Education and Vocational Skills

Jobs for Young People

© Helvetas/Stephane Brabant
Benin Education and Vocational Skills

Making Up Lost Years of School

© Helvetas
Nepal Education and Vocational Skills

Safer Houses, and Skills for Future Employment

© S4RE
Kosovo Education and Vocational Skills

Matching Skills with Demand in the Labor Market

North Macedonia Education and Vocational Skills

Market-Oriented Education for a Prosperous Society

© Helvetas
Kyrgyzstan Education and Vocational Skills

Providing the Local Industry With Professionals

Vietnam, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Laos, India Partnership & Capacity Development

Value Chain Capacity Building Network

© Winfried Heusinger / Helvetas
Global Education and Vocational Skills

Decent Jobs Thanks to Vocational Training

© Helvetas/Singye Wangchuk
Global Private Sector Development

Networking for Employment and Income

Bosnia-Herzegovina Education and Vocational Skills

Empowering Youth to Build a Better Future in Bosnia and Herzegovina

© Helvetas / Simon B.Opladen
Tanzania Education and Vocational Skills

Youth Employment through Skills Enhancement (YES)

© Dalia Khamissy
Lebanon Voice, Inclusion & Cohesion

Strengthening Civil Society through Digital Literacy

© 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

Mozambique Education and Vocational Skills

Young people assert themselves in work life

Uzbekistan Education and Vocational Skills

Vocational Education on a Moving Ground

Nepal Voice, Inclusion & Cohesion

Support for returning migrant workers