SOS Children's Villages International

07/14/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/15/2025 03:08

The Youth employment crisis: How YouthCan! is creating pathways to work

YOUTH EMPLOYABILITY - 15 July 2025

The youth employment crisis: How YouthCan! is creating pathways to work

Youth unemployment remains one of the world's most pressing challenges, leaving millions without a clear path to independence. The latest figures from the International Labour Organization (ILO) show that 20.4% of young people aged 15 to 24 are not in education, employment or training (NEET). The problem disproportionately affects young women, who make up two-thirds of the world's NEET population. In low-income countries, the outlook is especially dire: only one in five young adults aged 25 to 29 holds a regular paid job.

YouthCan! Facts & Figures 2024

Persistent unemployment can have lasting consequences for young people. Without the skills and support to enter the workforce, many struggle to build autonomy, access professional opportunities, or achieve long-term economic stability.

Young people growing up without adequate parental care face even greater challenges. Without a stable support system to fall back on, they are more vulnerable to long-term unemployment, which increases the risk of homelessness, poor physical and mental health, and deeper poverty. In the absence of positive guidance and opportunity, some may be drawn into unsafe or exploitative work just to survive.


Meaningful work for young people at the heart of peaceful societies

Decent, long-term work is not just beneficial for young people themselves, but for the world they are hoping to help shape. As the ILO's current Director-General, Mr Gilbert F Houngbo said just last year, "Peaceful societies rely on three core ingredients: stability, inclusion and social justice; and decent work for the youth is at the heart of all three."

The challenge lies with wider society to provide them with economic opportunities, skills, networks and support for a fulfilling and secure life in the workplace. Digital inclusion, gender equality and diversity, and green skills for sustainable employment are especially important in today's world.

It is for these reasons that in 2017, SOS Children's Villages established the YouthCan! programme. YouthCan! is a joint effort between SOS Children's Villages and partners from the private and public sector, where young people globally connect with professionals who share their time, skills and own career stories. These professionals can be corporate volunteers or expert trainers, who provide employment and entrepreneurship training, mentoring or support during first work experiences. They connect in individual and group sessions, either in person or online, supported by the YouthLinks Community - our safe digital platform that breaks down geographical barriers and enables global collaborative learning.

As the world of work evolves, YouthCan! is also evolving-actively integrating future-oriented themes such as green and digital jobs. In 2024, eight countries ran green-skills themed activities, including sector-specific highlights - such as Burkina Faso's green energy training in agriculture, or Jordan's innovation lab where discarded wood was transformed into up-cycled furniture.

DHL Group helps prepare young people for the world of work

"Through exposure to the real world of work, hands-on learning, and mentoring, young people gain meaningful insight into how global organizations like DHL Group operate," says Banalata Sen, DHL Group's Global Head of GoTeach. "These experiences help build the confidence, skills, and mindset needed to navigate the world of work-and reflect our commitment to developing the next generation of talent."

As a founding partner of YouthCan!, DHL Group integrates practical learning formats into the Practice pillar of the GoTeach Global Framework. Within this framework, a guiding roadmap for teams implementing partnership activities, the Practice Pillar offers young people an opportunity to experience the world of work firsthand - applying the employability skills they've developed through earlier phases of the framework.

Global apprenticeship programmes such as the 'My First Job' initiative in Latin America and the Caribbean are part of the Practice pillar. This initiative offers a one-year, full-time contract and includes a comprehensive training journey: onboarding, certified courses, and a foundational English training. Each participant is paired with a mentor who supports them in setting and achieving short- and medium-term professional goals. The goal is clear: by the end of the programme, participants are equipped to transition into regular employment-either within DHL Group or beyond.


Scaling up: YouthCan! grows by 29% in 2024

The YouthCan! annual Facts and Figures report, published each year to mark World Youth Skills Day on 15 July, details the positive impact that YouthCan! has had on so many young people. In 2024, the programme reached 23,020 young people across 48 countries, marking a 29 percent increase from 2023. With 399 partnerships involving the private sector, NGOs and public institutions, the programme indirectly benefited an estimated 69,000, including young people's peers, caregivers and communities.

Impact is powered not only by partnerships but by people too. In 2024, 1,941 volunteers generously contributed their time and expertise, providing mentorship and practical training.
Local engagement is a cornerstone of the approach, with 80% of partnerships being local and the remainder representing local offices of global partners. This local presence not only strengthens youth employability where it's most needed but also contributes to resilient local economies and long-term impact.

YouthCan! Youth Council shapes future direction of the programme

Youth participation is central to YouthCan!'s success. Through the YouthCan! Youth Council, young people play an active role in shaping the programme to better reflect their needs and preferences. Their feedback helps ensure that activities remain relevant, effective, and responsive to the realities they face.

For instance, Adi, a youth representative from Indonesia, makes the point that, "Young people need to know, how to use Microsoft? How to work online? How to use prompts in AI? How to use technology in a safe way? In some areas in Indonesia, my friends don't know how to use a computer. The infrastructure is very important, before getting to the problem of skills."

His point is echoed by Paloma, a former YouthCan! Youth Council member from Brazil. "One of the most required skills nowadays is digital," she says, "and when it comes to youth, they face notable challenges in utilizing computers for essential tasks. They are all the time on the cellphone, but didn't get enough exposure to computers."

Closing the digital gender gap: Why access matters for girls and women

"Companies, even for internship or apprenticeship positions, expect a minimum level of proficiency in using computers and professional software for performing daily tasks," continues Paloma. "A lot of young people are not used to it. A lack of preparation in this area can lead to candidates being excluded from selection processes."

Gender equality is also often cited as an area that needs further focus in the arena of digital access and skills. A young girl from Africa said that, "when it comes to technology, it is still stereotyped as something only men can operate and I believe that girls should have access to it because without it, girls are not able to equally participate in our ever more digital societies. Holding back girls and women in this area affects every aspect of their lives, including their ability to speak out and campaign on issues that affect them."


Providing a safe digital space for YouthCan! participants

YouthCan! has been committed to scaling up digital opportunities for young people, ensuring they can connect, learn, and grow in a safe online environment.

Since its launch in 2021, YouthLinks Community has constantly grown to reach over 4,800 members in 2024 -including young people and volunteers. The platform provides a safe online space where young people express themselves, share accomplishments, discuss challenges and inspire each other to learn and reach their goals. Continuously evolving, it is becoming a go-to space for self-expression, growth, and community building.

As part of its ongoing engagement plan, YouthLinks Community runs regular youth co-led digital campaigns - averaging two per year - that connect young people across the world and empower them to become agents of change on key issues such as youth participation and climate action.

Growing success of entrepreneurship training

Activities focused on entrepreneurship are also growing rapidly. While these activities were offered in less than half of YouthCan! countries in 2023, they were expanded to 81 percent of all countries in 2024. Young people participating in entrepreneurship activities consistently reported feeling better equipped with the skills needed to run their own business, as well as increased motivation and confidence.

Feedback on entrepreneurship training has been as focused as it has on other YouthCan! activities. Violet, a young participant from Kenya, told us: "a mentor's guidance is especially important in the beginning." In a similar vein, Thato from Lesotho pointed out that "pairing mentorship with training continues to be important in the stage when young people write their business plan".

Another young person suggested that the "approach should be adapted to young people's educational background, and emphasis should be placed, no matter the background, on the stage where young people explore and test the idea."

Paloma , the YouthCan! participant from Brazil, emphasises the importance of addressing young people's broader realities:

"Young people often face challenges like low self-esteem, indecision, and family or social pressure, which can lead to mental health struggles. Without guidance on how to manage their income, financial problems can quickly follow - adding to frustration and a sense of incapacity. In the coming years, I hope YouthCan! continues to focus on mental health, entrepreneurship, and financial education, because these are all closely linked to youth independence."

Looking ahead: A strategic vision for YouthCan! to 2030

Looking ahead, YouthCan! is entering a new phase of strategic growth. A roadmap to 2030 has been set to drive innovation, strengthen local impact, and deepen inclusion. The goal: to evolve YouthCan! into a global movement that welcomes more cross-sector partners and enables the replication of proven approaches in new contexts.

Future efforts will focus both on scaling adaptable, evidence-based solutions and on developing locally designed programmes that allow countries to lead with impact. At every stage, young people will play an active role in shaping these solutions - ensuring that all youth are safe, heard and supported, regardless of their gender or background.

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