Formal employment is the final hurdle on the path out of poverty

A university education. Technical school training. Job and life skills tailored to fit community needs. Formal employment. These are milestone opportunities for every young person. The stakes are higher for young adults living in poverty. The chance to study more, learn more and finally become employed means these youth have a chance to break generational chains. Stable work is the final hurdle and most critical leap to breaking the cycle of poverty. Over the next five years, Children International has committed to building on our established strengths in health, education and youth development. Our capstone employability programs help youth make a successful transition to adulthood and break free from poverty. Each year, we see increased interest in these programs — not only from the youth vying to earn a coveted spot in the competitive programs but also from local employers. “I have realized there is a difference between Children International graduates versus the young people who do not come from your organization,” says Elsa Anchundia, head of human talent at Hotel Palace in Guayaquil, Ecuador. “Youth from Children International come ready with the knowledge of what they have to do, [with qualities] such as teamwork and proactiveness. We always receive young people prepared for the role.” Despite an economic downturn and business closures during the pandemic, half of our program graduates were able to retain their jobs, according to our Tracer Study conducted from November 2020–April 2021. And our staff continue to assist those youth who lost jobs by referring them to employment opportunities as the market recovers. Our employability programs unlock doors for graduates. They give youth the means to access the job market, create a path for a productive future, and to contribute to their communities. They serve an essential role in advancing Children International’s goal of ending poverty by helping youth make a successful transition to adulthood. “If I had not participated in the Into Employment program, I think I would be struggling on my own,” says 19-year-old Beyda, who lives in Guatemala. “Children International gave me the push to become an entrepreneur. I had the idea of starting a business, but I didn’t have the confidence. I gained the knowledge of [branding my business], organization, management and how to launch my company. I realized that I could do it.”