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Organization	Develop Africa, Inc.
Region	Liberia
Website	Website
Facebook	Facebook
Twitter	@Twitter
ProjectLeader	Sylvester Renner

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This project empowers individuals in Sierra Leone through vocational training such as tailoring/catering and computer/information technology to enable marketability and success in a challenging economy. Microfinance loans are provided primarily to young adults and women to effectively start and grow their small businesses. Small businesses are the life-blood of African economies and this is an excellent way to bring change.

Challenge

The International Labour Organization (ILO) reported in 2018, "The prevalence of working poverty in Africa is still so significant that the African working poor represented more than half (56%) of the world's working poor in 2018, while African employment represented only 14 percent of global employment." Many young adults are unable to gain the expertise that will enable them to become self-sufficient. These youths are caught in a vicious cycle of powerlessness and poverty.

Long-Term Impact

Technical and vocational training contributes to youth development by providing skills for self-reliance and entrepreneurship. This effective intervention combats poverty and increases the strength of local economies further uplifting the people of Sierra Leone. Individuals and small businesses are able to become self-sufficient; bringing one family at a time out of the cycle of poverty. As businesses become empowered, this contributes to a drop in overall poverty creating a stronger society.