SOS Children’s Villages Sri Lanka (SOSCV SL) relaunched its transformative movement YouthCan! which focuses on employability and skills development empowering youth and creating a brighter future for them.
YouthCan! is a global partnership established in 2017 by SOS Children’s Villages and private sector partners, with a mission to empower young people to transition from school to work and independent life. The beneficiaries of YouthCan! are young people aged 14 and upwards who are seeking guidance, support and training to enhance their employability and life skills.
The program’s central mission is to support young people in various facets, focussing on empowerment through interventions including employability, skill development, personal growth, mentoring and vocational training support, with a special emphasis on those who lack adequate parental care.
Throughout the years, the main corporate collaborators, Akzonobel and DHL, have played an important role in making the initiative a success. Their involvement has forged impactful activities, including painting and infrastructure development projects, leadership and motivation programs, career guidance, employee engagement programs and exposure visits.
The YouthCan! relaunch comes at a critical juncture amid economic challenges, reaffirming the program’s commitment to uplift vulnerable youth driven by three critical needs; to provide timely skilling interventions amid global economic crises impacting youth employment, to expand the partner ecosystem which is passionate about uplifting vulnerable youth and to strengthen cross-sectoral collaboration networks focused on empowering young people.
The program aims to bring more partners on board, showcasing evidence of impact and fostering new connections. SOSCV SL seeks to engage more partners to nurture young people’s journeys towards employment and self-sufficiency. The relaunch also intends to galvanise nationwide action to equip youth with employability competencies and personalised mentoring support.
National Director of SOS Children’s Villages Sri Lanka Divakar Ratnadurai said, “We are proud of YouthCan! achievements in empowering young people through vital skills development and growth opportunities.
As we relaunch the program, we want to spotlight the tremendous positive change it continues to drive and invite more organisations to join our mission. The 2023 relaunch of YouthCan! will bring exciting new developments and initiatives to the forefront as we aspire to make a meaningful impact in the lives of young people and create a brighter future for them.”
SOS Children’s Villages Sri Lanka provides family-based care for children, who have lost parental care and are at risk of losing parental care, in eight locations island-wide through 172 family homes.
