Against a backdrop of families displaced by war, communities rocked by extremism, and whole nations on the brink of famine, the citizens of the world face an uncertain future. This feeling is especially acute for young people struggling to find their way through a shifting political and cultural landscape. They yearn to contribute to society in meaningful ways, but too often they’re being prepared for the world that was, not the world that is, much less the world that will be.
For 27 years, IYF has remained steadfast in our mission to walk with the youth of the world, offering support and guidance along the way—and that isn’t going to change. To serve the world’s youth, to help them overcome the challenges and embrace the possibilities, forging partnerships and collaborative alliances is more critical now than ever before. The future can be bright and stable for the youth of the world, but it will take committed cooperation and investment from the public and private sectors—government agencies, local and multinational businesses, nonprofit and for-profit organizations, members of civil society, and young people themselves.
At IYF, we find inspiration and purpose in the resilient spirit of young women and men worldwide. They have vision, enthusiasm, and limitless potential. They remain hopeful that, given the right skills, direction, and support they can reach their dreams, shape the future, and change the world in lasting ways.
They believe this, and so do we.
The 21st century world of work is changing at an unprecedented rate; however, the way we prepare young people has not kept pace. Addressing this discrepancy is essential because the world’s youth are eager to embrace the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as their own. Furthermore, so many already possess the passion, motivation, inherent talents, and innovative ideas to help transform the SDG vision into a reality. What they lack, far too often, is the opportunity, guidance, and skills necessary to have such an impact.
IYF is committed to helping bridge the skills gap and to preparing young people for lives in the 21st century. To do this will require reimagining what it means to learn. Twenty-first century learning can no longer be confined to academic institutions and needs to encompass more than basic literacy and numeracy skills. Twenty-first century learning must be available to all—regardless of ethnicity, social-economic status, or gender—and must not be seen as ending with the completion of a formal education, even college; rather, it must be a lifelong endeavor. Only then can the young people of the world be empowered to reach their full potential.
Industry-specific vocational, technical, professional, and entrepreneurial skills continue to be in demand, and many young people need a combination. Around the world, IYF and our partners are providing opportunities for young people to acquire and update these skills, and we’re doing so in a way that will make significant, long-lasting systems change that ripples far into the future.
“The hands-on experience helped me overcome a fear of failure … I decided to choose this [robotics and mechatronics] major thanks to Zangar.”
—Alibek, 17 Participant in Chevron-funded Zangar initiative in Kazakhstan
“African youth are being prepared for the Africa that was, not the Africa that we want to become.”
—Dr. Monde Muyangwa Director of the Africa Program, Woodrow Wilson Center
By themselves, vocational, technical, professional, and entrepreneurial skills do not guarantee lifelong success in the 21st century workplace. According to PwC’s 20th CEO Survey (2017), seventy-seven percent of employers say that life skills like time management, personal responsibility, critical thinking, and the ability to work on a team are imperative. The same employers also report that these very skills are often lacking in prospective employees and constitute a major part of the skills gap.
With this market knowledge, IYF’s initiatives feature a central life skills-building component that draws from our flagship Passport to Success® (PTS) training. Since 2004, PTS has been implemented in 50 countries and has supported more than 185,000 young people to earn their futures in fields ranging from construction to computer engineering, healthcare to hospitality, sales to social entrepreneurship. PTS includes 80 different lessons that are easily customizable for use in corporate, educational, and other settings. With a proven track record preparing youth for success in school, work, and life, PTS is a great fit regardless of one’s goals.
IYF’s partnership with Hilton offers a powerful example of how PTS builds skills and offers benefits for trainees and trainers, employees and employers alike. In 2016, Hilton team members from 13 different countries completed PTS training designed specifically for the hospitality industry.
“[PTS graduate] Thumeka communicates well and displays a mature work ethic. She is also able to set goals and prioritize very effectively … Those are the employees you are looking for in a business. They’re very rare.”
—Owen Francis Supervisor at Imperial Technical Training Academy and Hyundai Motors in Cape Town, South Africa
An accurate and thoughtful assessment is the first step to understanding and making progress on any challenge. When employers are looking to hire a young person, a resume alone won’t tell them how well the person works in a team, manages emotions, or takes ownership of responsibilities. Finding a way to assess and quantify these sought-after skills would be a boon to both employees and employers.
In addition, it’s critical for governments, businesses, organizations, and individuals to support those issues, policies, and initiatives that will advance youth development. Finding a way to facilitate targeted, strategic investments will be of great assistance to influencers and donors.
IYF has worked to tackle issues in support of young people and broader development through two major efforts.
“To harness young people’s energy, aptitudes, and ideas and to understand what specific actions should be taken to assist them in reaching their potential, we must listen to what they say and heed their advice.”
— Susan Reichle President and COO, International Youth Foundation
Dear Friends,
The future is always unknowable, and for many of the world’s young women and men this fact can feel daunting. However, despite a host of challenges, young people are not easily deterred—indeed, they possess inspiring determination, creativity, and resilience. IYF assembled the 2016 Annual Report in this spirit of hope amidst uncertainty.
Around the globe, young people have big plans for the future. Many dream of building livelihoods in the formal sector, others of going into business for themselves. Some will do a combination of jobs to provide for themselves and their families. In many cases, the youth of today are already becoming the leaders and social innovators of tomorrow, contributing to local, national, and international communities in myriad important ways. What the world becomes is in their hands, and with the right guidance, assistance, and investment they have a chance to shape it in ways that can make a significant difference.
For young women and men to be equipped and empowered to transform ideas, aspirations, and dreams into reality, it is critical they secure decent, sustainable livelihoods. This means developing foundational literacy and numeracy; digital fluency; specialized technical, vocational, and entrepreneurial skills; and equally critical work-relevant life skills such as teamwork, conflict management, and the ability to assimilate new information. For 27 years, IYF has worked to prepare young people to be healthy, productive, and engaged citizens—we view this not only as our mission, but also our privilege and responsibility.
Like the youth we serve, IYF recognizes the challenges, but we are not easily deterred. The world is an increasingly interconnected place, and our futures are inextricably linked. Now—more than ever before—progress will depend upon working together. That’s why in 2016, we continued work with partners such as Hilton, USAID, the Mastercard Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Inter-American Development Bank. Responsibility should not—and need not—be shouldered alone.
As we look to 2030—the target for meeting the global pledge to create a world of lasting inclusion, peace, and prosperity for all—and look back on 2016—a year characterized by remarkable changes and challenges, setbacks and opportunities—we must remember that whatever the world’s challenges are or become, youth will be an integral part of the solution.
We look to the future with hope and enthusiasm. Will you join us?
