Adolescents to receive skill-building and mental health services aimed at employability

The transition from learning to earning will be facilitated for at least 600 young individuals aged 15 – 24 years through enhanced skill-building and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services (MHPSS). To this end, a capacity-building workshop was organised by UNICEF and the Ministry of Sport and Youth from 9^th to 11^thSeptember.

Funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the workshop aimed at scaling up the Adolescent and Youth Empowerment and Wellbeing Programme. This programme is set to empower adolescents and youth and facilitate their transition to decent job opportunities.

The workshop brought together 20 technical staff members from 11 selected NGOs alongside six representatives of adolescents and youth. Its primary goal was to enhance the capabilities of these NGOs to effectively implement the Adolescent and Youth Empowerment and Employability Programme.

This initiative builds upon the success of  pilot programmes in Kermanshah and Isfahan in 2021. In addition to granting adolescents and youth access to technical and vocational training and innovative skills-building, it connects these young individuals with entrepreneurship programmes in the private sector, facilitating a seamless transition from learning to earning.

The next steps in this transformative initiative involve UNICEF and the Ministry of Sport and Youth extending their support to expand this initiative to other parts of the country.

Since its establishment in 2021, the two Adolescent and Youth Empowerment and Employability Centres (AYECs) have made a significant impact, benefiting 1,395 young people with their services. With the recent capacity-building workshop, the programme is poised to make an even greater difference in the lives of adolescents and youth across Iran.