"Your present circumstances don't determine where you go; they merely determine where you start”
- Nido Qubein
In partnership with
PHASE 2 - 2024
Following the success of the first phase of the program, a second phase was funded and initiated in June 2024. Under this second phase, a group of 50 school dropouts who have been identified in close coordination with Youth Challenge Vanuatu will go through a 6 month support program which will equip them with the skills, knowledge, and support needed to enter the workforce successfully. Through a collaborative and culturally sensitive approach, this project aspires to break the cycle of unemployment and empower individuals to contribute meaningfully to their communities and the broader society.
Once selected, the participants will go through a range of initial meetings and trainings aimed at providing them with basic skills such as communication, creative thinking, personal development, etc. In addition, inspirational speakers will be invited to address the group in order to stimulate their appetite for the program and provide them with possible ideas for their future.
The objective of this first set of activities will be to enable all participants to be equipped with basic skills that are necessary for employability and support them to identify a possible career path, as an employee or as a entrepreneur. Upon completion of this phase, two groups will be established. The first one “Kasem Wok” will be focusing on employability and the second one “Lanem Bisnis” on business development.
KASEM WOK: 25 young people will be accompanied by Youth Challenge Vanuatu and Van Graduate Agency in order to develop their employability skills. First, they will receive extensive training on computer skills, job seeking skills, life skills and tourism. Once these training (8 weeks) have been completed, the participants will then be placed in different institutions (private companies or public offices) to carry out a 6 weeks internship. LANEM BISNIS: 25 young people with interest in starting or developing a small business will take part in this part of the program implemented by V-Lab. This program involved: An ideation session to stimulate the creative thinking and help them think through their entrepreneurial project in a creative manner. Upon the completion of the trainings, participants will be placed with different entrepreneurs to undertake a 4 weeks internship.
PHASE 1 - 2023
YUT PAWA is a 12 month program supported by the New-Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Commonwealth of Learning and is a collaborative effort between V- Lab ,Youth Challenge Vanuatu and Marama Youth Foundation aimed at empowering the youth of Vanuatu to take charge of their future. Recognizing the challenges faced by many young people in Vanuatu who have limited access to employment opportunities, this program seeks to provide them with the necessary skills and development opportunities to help them build a better future for themselves. The program is designed to benefit disadvantaged young people in various communities around Efate by offering opportunities in leadership skills, job – finding and entrepreneurships. We believe that these young people have gain the confidence and the necessary skills they need to create a brighter future for themselves and their communities.
The program is divided into two phases and it aims at offering learning opportunities to 300 young people of Vanuatu in the area of leadership, entrepreneurship and employability.
Phase 1: LeadershipTraining - 300 young people received training on leadership and motivation provided by the Marama Youth Foundation.
Phase 2: 100 Youths selected from phase 1 to go through employability and entrepreneurship programs; R4B and R4W.
Ready for work (R4W): 50 young people were accompanied over 12 weeks by Youth Challenge Vanuatu in order to develop their employability skills. First, they received extensive training on computer skills, job seeking skills, life skills and tourism. Once these training (8 weeks) have been completed, the participants are then placed in different institutions (private companies or public offices) to carry out a 4 weeks internship. Ready for Business (R4B): 50 Young people with interest in starting or developing a small business will take part in the R4B program implemented by V-Lab. This program involved: An ideation session to stimulate the creative thinking and help them think through their entrepreneurial project in a creative manner. Following that ideation session, participants are then provided with 4 half days training sessions, during which their entrepreneurial skill and spirit will be developed. The training were provided in the areas of entrepreneurial skills (what does it take to become an entrepreneur), business development and business planning. Upon the completion of these 4 trainings, participants will pitch their business ideas to a jury composed of accomplished business men and women and 11 of them are selected to receive additional support in the form of individual coaching (3 sessions each).
