With an innovative approach, UNICEF continues to empower Lebanon’s most important asset – its youth

As the world struggles to stand back on its feet after over eighteen months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lebanon continues to suffer from the direst financial and social crisis in its history. The depression shows no signs of abating, and as the economy crashes, unemployment is rocketing. Amongst the first to be affected are the most vulnerable sectors of society, including its youth.

According to the latest International Labour Organization report, total unemployment in Lebanon has reached 33%, 62.3% of youth are not in employment, education, or training (NEET), and 66.8% of young graduates with technical, vocational or university education were outside of the labour force. For these reasons, UNICEF, funded by Germany through the German Development Bank KfW, continues to roll out an innovative approach aimed at building young people’s skills in line with market needs and providing paid work-based learning to thousands of the country’s youth while facilitating their transition to employability.

Significantly, according to Bassam El-Kadi, North Lebanon Field coordinator for the implementing partner Anera, youth enrolled in the programme “don’t just learn a profession, they learn how to love themselves and love life. They learn how to improve their skills and capacities and to create opportunities for their future.”

For the youth who benefited from UNICEF’s ongoing empowerment services including skills building, employment support services and Cash 4 Work, it has been an opportunity to increase knowledge, develop new skills and put them into practice while being engaged in income-generating enterprises, such as in welding and construction.

Mohamed, 21, recently completed a course of construction skills followed by a Cash 4 Work intervention. “Before I started training here,” he says, “I hadn’t worked; I simply stayed at home every day.”

Now, armed with metalwork and woodworking skills in addition to life skills, he feels empowered and equipped to approach potential employers within the construction sector.

Training alongside him, 21-year-old,Muhammad requested blacksmith training when asked what skills he would like to learn.

“They taught us to take measurements, how to cut, and how to weld,” he says.

“They offered me a chance to learn this profession, and it was too good an opportunity to pass up,” Muhammad adds enthusiastically. He now knows the correct technique for creating and installing metal window frames and looks forward to offering his skills to an employer in his search for full-time work.

For now, as both young men continue their job quest, they are better equipped to approach employers, empowered through their newly acquired knowledge and certified training.

Fellow trainee and UNICEF Cash 4 Work beneficiary Atallah wasted no time implementing his high level of skills. The 19-year-old now works on several different construction projects as a result of his training. Through these, he can pay his family’s house rent and cover their electricity bills.

“I now have a profession in which I can depend on myself. I have found work and can help my family,” Atallah says. “This training changed me. I now speak to more people and I have greater self-confidence.”

While Lebanon’s economic crisis may continue for some time to come, today, UNICEF funded by Germany through the German development bank KfW are focused on empowering its youth to become valuable human capital and, through the skilling, empowerment, and employment support service programme, are working to ensure youth are equipped to contribute to their society in practical ways.

“Before I started the training, I was below zero. I had nothing,” says Mohamed. “Now,” he smiles, “I feel I have purpose.”