iLEAD – Sri Lanka
5 December 2017

Education of youth in the Northern part of Sri Lanka was hindered by the war and a majority of them have not completed their studies due to dysfunction of schools, internal displacement and restriction of movement. With poor economic background, they are unable to afford a course/training which would enhance their employability thus leaving them unemployed.

Sri Lanka’s lack of ICT literacy among the youth has deprived many opportunities, especially to the rural youth, to find employment in the ICT sector which is fast developing in the South Asia region. This is very much acute among the youth in the Northern Province which was affected by the 30 years long Civil War. Initiative for Livelihood  Education  and Development (iLEAD) is a major program  of Aide et Action (AEA) for promoting  market oriented  employability  and entrepreneurship  training,  targeted  at youth from economically  weakest  category. The project includes a Graphic Designing Course with the US Embassy’s funding in our Vocational Training Centre in Jaffna.  90 youth were proposed to be trained throughout the year in 3 batches (30 x 3) and facilitate self-employment for these trained youth in collaboration with the printing related industries. These youth were organized as a Cooperative Self-help Group under the already established iLEAD Alumni Association in Jaffna.  This helps them receive a decent income by producing designs for the fast growing printing industry in Jaffna.

Aide et Action promotes market oriented employability and entrepreneurship training targeted at youth from economically weakest section. AEA is operating 14 Skill Centres for youth in Sri Lanka of which 08 are based in Northern Province.

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