The Belgian Development Cooperation wants to offer these young people a new start: they receive professional training and financial support to start their own business. This gives them renewed confidence in their own abilities: they learn to fend for themselves and are able to support their families financially.
With training that meets labour market needs, young people are less likely to leave in the hope of a better life and they can contribute to the economy of their own country. A better performing economy, in turn, will lead to better health care, infrastructure and education, and thus to a stronger and more future-oriented society.
In the course of five years, Enabel, along with the German development agency GIZ, the International Trade Centre ITC, the UN capital development fund UNCDF and the development programme of the United Nations UNDP, wants to put 15,000 people to work. The Belgian development agency focuses on low-skilled people between 18 and 35 years of age. 6,000 young people, of whom 2,000 are returning migrants, will receive comprehensive support during 9 months. About twenty training courses are offered, e.g. for plumbers, electricians or bricklayers. These technical training courses are first organised in companies (Work-Based Learning), before becoming full-fledged training courses. Literacy courses and financial training are also offered.