Youth Economic Empowerment

The cause:

Education and Poverty

The facts:

More than half of the population of Africa is under 25 years of age, and many youth, particularly girls, have not been able to complete even six years of primary education.

• Senegal: 54% of girls and 59% of boys between the age of 15 and 19 could be considered economically active.
• Niger: 62% of girls and 82% of boys between the age of 15 and 19 could be considered economically active.
• Sierra Leone: 31% of girls and 50% of boys between the age of 15 and 19 could be considered economically active.

In sub-Saharan Africa only 28% of girls and 32% of boys are enrolled in secondary education.

• Senegal: 22% of girls and 28% of boys are enrolled in secondary school.
• Niger: 7% of girls and 11% of boys are enrolled in secondary school.
• Sierra Leone: 20% of girls and 30% of boys are enrolled in secondary school.

The project:

Empowerment is about enabling youth to realize their rights and become change agents in their own communities. The Youth Economic Empowerment project increases economic opportunities for poor youth through financial literacy and skills training, as well as improving access to financial services.

The details:

Globalization, climate change, urbanization and migration, and civil conflicts and economic crises have changed the face of poverty in West Africa. Half of Africa