Youth Livelihood Program (YLP)
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Youth Livelihood Program provides training and skill building that evolves through employability training, hands-on projects, enterprise gaming, and business enterprise creation. The program equips young people with the tools they need to plan and achieve a successful future.
THE CHALLENGES YOUTH FACE TODAY
56% OF YOUTH
are unemployed in East Africa
(Aga Khan University)
95% OF YOUNG WORKERS
are working in low paying, informal jobs (East Africa – ILO-2022)
OVER 70%
of African youth subsist on less than $2 a day (UN-FAO)
WHAT MAKES THE PROGRAM UNIQUE?
Upon completion of the 3-phase program, participants have the necessary skills to enter the job market, start their own businesses, or pursue higher education to achieve their dreams.
YPL has three levels that build on each other:
FOUNDATIONAL LEVEL
Students Launch Fish Raising Project
Youth-led with Hands-on Projects
12-16 learning modules with hands-on activities. Students learn foundational Leadership and entrepreneurship skill.
The program is a youth-led club that is adult guided, and inclusive for all students. It includes skill building for income generating projects.
INTERMEDIATE LEVEL
Winners of the Enterprise Challenge
Enterprise Gaming and Employability
Foundational content is put to the test through gamified business tools and local projects. Skills deepen with job and enterprise readiness training.
ADVANCED LEVEL
Youth Start Businesses
Grow Your Business
Designed for youth who start an enterprise or launch a business. Students develop a growth plan and put their skills to the test.
Youth learn to build credit and secure loans, positioning themselves for long-term entrepreneurship.
Our Digital Employability and Entrepreneurship Program (DEEP) Initiative
The DEEP initiative provides out-of-school youth (ages 18-24) in rural areas with a 15-month intensive digital skills, entrepreneurship, and leadership program, training them in software development, business development, project management, and job readiness.
Through hands-on project-based training and partnerships with industry leaders like Google, Cisco, Salesforce, and Amazon, as well as local businesses and national governments, participants gain globally recognized certifications, more than 1,500 hours of field training, and the skills needed to secure employment or create their own job opportunities in the digital economy. Learn More
EVIDENCE-BASED IMPACT
We know our program works! Our youth are thriving on their chosen path, whether it be furthering their education, securing a career of their choice, or expanding their endeavors with job creation.
91%
Of students have developed a career plan with action steps (2025)
42%
Of youth businesses are green enterprises (2025)
96%
Of students have paid their knowledge forward (2025)
