Somaliland Youth Empowerment Project (SYEP)
Challenge
In Somaliland, the weak infrastructure and social services has contributed to very low access opportunities of the youth to education and training. This has resulted in a very high proportion of out of school youth vulnerable to unemployment, conflict with the law, and addictions to smoking and chewing khat among others. Few opportunities exist for active youth participation in decision-making process due to limited skills, tools and resources, among both young people and the Government that are required to engage in effective consultative processes, and to implement action plans.
Project Goals
To empower Somaliland youth through strengthened livelihood and employment skills, access to wage and self-employment opportunities and youth network activities.
Youth in Somaliland make extensive use of cell phones and related technology for basic social and survival needs.. This project will build on youth’s interest in technology and institute an SMS work-matching system that provides youth with access to a databank of work opportunities and employers with access to the résumés of youth interested in working for them in order to further improve their chances to gainful employment. This activity will be carried out in collaboration with Shaqodoon Organization, a local youth-led organisation and Telesom company. Shaqodoon Organization (SO) is an organization for youth whose major mission is to promote the employment of trained youth that can plug the needed occupational skills of the businesses community. SO has been working to bridge the gap between jobseekers and employers with the use of innovative technologies and hence has a good track record in delivering results to children/youth. SO has technologies and skills that complement those of SCI and partners some of which are the InfoMatch- a cell phone and web-based technology to communicate between those offering career opportunities and youth looking for work.
Key Activities
720 previously trained youth have improved access to livelihood opportunities, through increased awareness, education, skills development and access to business start-ups.
6000 vulnerable youth from minority groups integrated into youth networks through multi-ethnic youth clubs, sports-based conflict management, training on negotiation, mediation and consensus- building skills that allow them to resolve conflicts peacefully
Impact
The overall objective of SYEP is “to empower Somaliland youth through strengthened livelihood and employment skills, access to wage and self-employment opportunities and youth network activities”
200 youth trained
Eight workshops conducted
100 linked to grants
More Details
Location: Somaliland | Hargeisa, Burao, Boroma
Start Date - End Date: 3/14/2021 to 8/15/2021
Donor(s): Save the Children International