Youth for Change Project Initiative

Transforming and Empowering Youth for Peace

Economic Reintegration for Youth

Youth for Change Project targeted 300 at-risk youth, youth associated with armed groups, and youth in conflict with the law. However, the Y4C also includes restorative justice, (understood as support for Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanism and Community Correction which provides the framework for alternatives to detention and Rehabilitation, Integration and Reconciliation).

The Youth for Change (Y4C) joint initiative was a program between the UNDP, ILO and UNICEF that was aimed to contribute to longer term stabilization of the three regions of Somalia. More specifically, it will empower Somali authorities and affected communities to have the means to sustainably reintegrate and rehabilitate children and youth caught in the cycle of vulnerability, crime and violence, resulting in a measurable reduction in crime and insecurity. It builds from the ‘Youth at Risk’ initiative through incorporating an improved program design, customized per location and for needs of the various target groups. Further, the Y4C was designed with the longer term vision of strengthening the justice and security sectors within the wider communities it serves.

The economic re-integration component of the Youth at Risk program was managed by ILO and implemented by MMC-International. Participants learned the basis of entrepreneurship and commerce on vocational skills, and were supported to start work placement and labor intensive works, which provides short-term employment for each beneficiary re-engaged in productive work benefiting the community..

MMC- International in collaboration with ILO promoted education and professional training, entrepreneurial training, public employment, private initiatives through skills development, information and referral services, cooperatives, on-job training and apprenticeships. This was closely linked with UN agencies to support in vocational skills training.

Existing vocational training centers was utilized, where MMC-International managed the processes of identification of skills training. Training included, but was not limited to, the following sectors: agriculture; construction services; business management related to livestock development; water and sanitation systems maintenance; welding and fabrication; rural industrial development; micro-businesses; electrical and electronic equipment repair; foreign employment; green jobs; basic information and computer technology skills; and skills for tourism industry (hospitality/handicrafts, etc.).

Direct assistance to youth was linked with community development program envisaged for the areas of implementation, Mogadishu and Baidoa. Employment-oriented and enterprise& vocational training program was managed and carried out by MMC-International partnering with ILO while taking into full account the requirements of the labor market, and the expectations of the youth.