Employability and Internship Approach

Youth:Work Jordan – Our Mission The overall mission was to create an enabling environment for vulnerable youth, ages 15-24, by: Partnering with the public, private and civil society sector to improve youth employability practices and policies, Strengthening the capacity of youth-serving organizations, and Promoting the active civic engagement of Jordan’s young people. Enabeling environment: providing opportunities for youth, creating a healthy environment, through the integration with youth, parents, NGOs etc.

YWJ CBO Centered Approach: Youth Community Enhancement Model (YFS) Sound Organizational practices Youth effective participation Considerations in going to scale Context with family, community & Culture CBO Public Sector Private Sector Community & Youth Comm. Parents Youth Local Civil Society Sound Organizational practices: frame work for all activities and interventions Youth effective participation: youth committees and councils, building their capacities (M&E, technical employability, granting, etc) Considerations in going to scale: safe educational places physical infrastructure, local partners. Models and tools, youth workers, etc Context with family etc: activities based on the local community needs, values, traditions based on their credibility, engaging parents throughout the process, decision makers Standardizing the YFS in the YWJ communities Introducing YFS best practices tools and procedures Utilizing assessment tools and implementation processes Creating YFS locations: CBOs: laps, training rooms, creativity rooms, gardens, playgrounds Activities: youth clubs, recreational activities, libraries, systemized literacy classes, handicrafts Communities projects and services: I-SERVE

YWJ CBO Centered Approach: Youth Community Enhancement Model (YFS) Sound Organizational practices: frame work for all activities and interventions Youth effective participation: youth committees and councils, building their capacities (M&E, technical employability, granting, etc) Considerations in going to scale: safe educational places physical infrastructure, local partners. Models and tools, youth workers, etc Context with family etc: activities based on the local community needs, values, traditions based on their credibility, engaging parents throughout the process, decision makers Standardizing the YFS in the YWJ communities Introducing YFS best practices tools and procedures Utilizing assessment tools and implementation processes Creating YFS locations: CBOs: laps, training rooms, creativity rooms, gardens, playgrounds Activities: youth clubs, recreational activities, libraries, systemized literacy classes, handicrafts Communities projects and services: I-SERVE

Building an Enabling Environment (YFS) The Youth Intervention Model Building an Enabling Environment (YFS) Youth Outcomes Outreach & Recruitment Information Sharing ONE TO ONE SCREENING Selection I CAN / I Serve : employability readiness. PTS Career Guidance Civic Engagement & community service learning Trade-Specific Training Vocational Entrepreneurship IT & Business English Livelihood Transition Support Job Placement Services Business Start-up Support Community mapping Entrepreneurs Community Alliances Back to School Labor Market Assessments Employer Engagement Job Placement Parent Engagement Internships Youth-Adult Dialogues

Job Placement - Context Facts about Jordan: More than half of the population is under twenty years of age. Women’s participation in the labor market is among the lowest in the world(15%) The unemployment rate in Jordan is 18% and 24% for the target group we are working with.

Job Placement - Needs and Gaps Employers are not prevalent in targeted neighborhoods Market demand is higher thank youth readiness for internships Youth do not prefer to work in remote areas especially when housing and transportation are not provided. Gap between private sector needs and qualification of youth Low wages offered by the private sector. Limited knowledge among youth about existing employment opportunities. Preference to wait until jobs become available in the military or public sector. Youth rejection of labor intensive positions – (culture of shame ) Social factors, parents reluctant to let daughters enroll in vocational training or join the workforce.

Job Placement - Addressing the Needs Private sector engagement Consultation with private sector ( Visits, roundtables, job fairs, early engagement of the private sector in the design and implementation of training: Life skills, IT & English , demand driven Vocational training - Hospitality, HVAC, Secretary, Salon Services Work with companies to make their environment more friendly and attractive to youth. Launched the “Employer Ambassador Award” initiative

Job Placement - Addressing the Needs Public sector engagement Strategic partnership established with Ministry of Labor to ensure demand driven approach to job placement Matching YWJ youth with demand driven vacancies being promoted by the MOL in partnership with major private sector companies Initiated discussion on policy issues such as improving working conditions and adopting YWJ employability models with the vocational training centers as part of their programs. MOL with collaboration with YWJ is trying to fill semi-skilled job vacancies with Jordanian nationals Public sector engagement Strategic partnership established with Ministry of Labor to ensure demand driven approach to job placement Matching YWJ youth with demand driven vacancies being promoted by the MOL in partnership with major private sector companies Initiated discussion on policy issues such as improving working conditions and adopting YWJ employability models with the vocational training centers as part of their programs. MOL with collaboration with YWJ is trying to fill semi-skilled job vacancies with Jordanian nationals

YWJ Internship Approach: Win-Win Model Definition: short-term work experience emphasizing hands-on learning, and incorporation of education and professional development.  The principle of an internship is “shared value.” Learning and Outcomes: Guide the youth toward a professional career in a particular organization, field, or sector Provides a learning laboratory were youth experience the “real” working world.  Delivering services in a real work environment should be considered as an internship Youth contribution to the organization by performing tasks that are of continuing value to both parties.  The result: a win-win arrangement that leads to a proven record of success. .

YWJ Internship Approach: Youth Placement Tracks Technical Training: on the Job training Hospitality Training: Partnership with the Ammoun Secretary training: Partnership with Sanaya HVAC training: Partnership with LG Beauty Saloons training: Partnership with Al-Qudos Internship opportunities in the Youth local communities Main sector: services sector to include beauty saloons, hospitality, agriculture, Car repair and HVAC workshops

Job Placement - What did We Learn? Job Placement and Internship - What did We Learn? 1. Customize training courses according to market needs leads to: Higher success in employment. Satisfaction and trust from both youth and employers. 2. Develop referral system that complement efforts between the public and private sectors, incl. civil society , which leads to more effective implementation and utilization of resources. 3. The need to guide policies to support employability efforts 4. Use tools such as labour market assessment to identify main internship outlets and opportunities 1. Customize training courses according to market needs leads to: Higher success in employment. Satisfaction and trust from both youth and employers. 2. Develop referral system that complement efforts between the public and private sectors, incl. civil society , which leads to more effective implementation and utilization of resources. 3. The need to guide policies to support employability efforts

Employability Specialist at YWJ THANK YOU THANK YOU Wajd Safi Employability Specialist at YWJ w.safi@iyfnet.org