Session Overview: VET and Youth Livelihood

Comprehensive Approaches to VET and Youth Livelihood


Global Consultation 2009, Istanbul

Wednesday 1 April 14:15-18:15, Concurrent Working Session Block 4

Abstract

The working session will explore a)connections between the market and youth livelihood education programs, b) the integration of psychosocial support as part of livelihood preparation and c) the role of the policy environment on how youth are engaged in the road to recovery.

The crucial role of education and training in emergencies, post-conflict, and fragile contexts is to cultivate an environment in which all young people have a chance to develop a positive sense of agency and purpose in their lives, and to be actors for peace and stability through access to learning, skills training, and livelihoods.

Currently, youth are underutilized as a resource for recovery in crisis and post crisis contexts and there are few programs that address their educational and/or employment needs. The programs that seek to prepare youth for employment often overlook the role of the market in determining the skills young people need. In an emergency or post conflict setting, there are often clear and urgent skills that youth need to access the immediate and unique employment opportunities that are available. Government and non-governmental organizations can play a key role in assuring that these skills are included in training programs to prepare young people for employment. Mercy Corps and IRC will present case studies that highlight participatory approaches and links between youth education and market needs. ETF will present their work with developing and supporting national policies that support youth in recovery.

Market-driven approaches are not enough to assure that youth are prepared to work. In addition to the loss of educational opportunities, young people often participate in and witness acts of violence, and experience family separation and social upheaval. IRC will present how their ‘healing classrooms’ approach has been integrated into their youth livelihoods programming and Mercy Corps will discuss the value of connecting young people beyond their community and soft skills training not only as psychosocial support but also as foundation for peace and economic recovery in Iraq and the Middle-East.

Session Objectives

  • Objective 1: To explore a comprehensive approach to education for youth livelihood that is market driven, contributes to sustainable national policy for recovery and integrates psychosocial support for youth.
  • Objective 2: To develop a list of gaps and current resources/tools in programming resources that support comprehensive education for youth livelihood.
  • Objective 3: To establish consensus on the next steps for the AYTT including how to utilize the literature review, and identification of research needs and development of advocacy messages.


Expected Outcomes

  • Outcome 1: Capacity development in comprehensive approaches to youth education for livelihood.
  • Outcome 2: Development of list of tools and ideas for effective social and economic recovery (including VET) for youth
  • Outcome 3: Identification of AYTT research themes and advocacy messages.


Panel

Chair: Muriel Dunbar, European Training Foundation

Presenters:

  • Nicolas Servas, AYTT, INEE, The Foundation for the Refugee Education Trust (RET)
  • Lili Stern, IRC
  • Muriel Dunbar, European Training Foundation
  • Lida Kita, European Training Foundation
  • Natalie Wooller, Mercy Corps Iraq


For more information on this session please contact the Session Coordinator Lily Stern at {encode="lily.stern@theirc.org" title="lily.stern@theirc.org"}.

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