Ethiopia: Career support for young people in Addis Ababa and Adama
Many young people in Ethiopia face severe challenges due to poverty, crises, and a lack of educational opportunities - a targeted career training project by SOS Children's Villages and the ChildInvest Foundation is opening up new opportunities for them and paving the way to a better future.
A majority of Ethiopia’s population lives below the poverty line - including many children and adolescents. The situation is further intensified by the effects of the civil war in the Tigray region between the Ethiopian central government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) from 2020 to 2022, the sharp rise in the inflation rate (20.16%), the high unemployment rate (16.5%), and the worst drought in 40 years.
Nationwide, 4,000 schools remain closed even after the official end of the civil war in Tigray. For 4.1 million students, this means no access to education. And this is despite the fact that Ethiopia has the second-largest youth population in all of Africa - 42 percent of the population is between the ages of 10 and 29.
Real Opportunities for the Future
SOS Children's Villages worldwide and the ChildInvest Foundation are providing humanitarian and psychological aid in Tigray. A particular focus is on targeted educational initiatives, such as the project for sustainable vocational training for young people in Addis Ababa and Adama, which is co-funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Artisanal craftsmanship instead of cheap fashion: This 24-year-old tailor from Adama is now successfully selling her creations in the neighborhood. Photo: Philipp HedemannOver the course of the three-year project (May 1, 2024, through April 30, 2027), a total of 4,500 socioeconomically disadvantaged unemployed youth, young mothers, and young entrepreneurs will benefit directly from the following measures:
- Training in vocational qualifications and soft skills
- Support in building income through better job and business opportunities
- Practical experience through internships and job fairs
- Continuing education for young entrepreneurs leading to a recognized certificate
- Improved access to credit and promotion of youth participation
The project not only empowers the participants themselves but also reaches 14,000 additional people, including the young people’s families, community members, training institutions, members of savings and credit unions, and government representatives.
Participants are between the ages of 15 and 29. Fifty-four percent of the participants are women.
An overview of the successes by now:
- 1,478 young people and mothers have already completed vocational training.
- 800 young people received internships through the program, and 703 of them have already successfully completed their internships.
- 202 startups were selected for business support.
- 1,058 young people working in micro- and small businesses improved their business management skills through tailored training and thereby increased their income.
Thanks to the ChildInvest Foundation, the project was almost fully funded in 2024 and 2025. With the support of our donors, SOS Children’s Villages were able to support and guide young people around the world as they transitioned into the workforce.