Today, 42 percent of the world’s population is under the age of 25—the largest proportion of youth ever recorded. Because youth have the power to overcome the world’s greatest challenges, this is an unprecedented opportunity for economic and social progress.

At World Education, we believe that, if given the right technologies, resources, skills, and space, this generation of youth can reduce poverty, discrimination, and exploitation—in short, they can make the world a better place.

World Education’s programming seeks to meet the holistic needs of youth by increasing their knowledge, assets, and skills through access to high-quality learning, including technology training, and workforce development. That education, combined with integrated, multi-sectoral programs, including health and nutrition, are key components of our approach.

Embedded in all programs are activities to enhance protective factors and encourage participation in economic, social, and political life. To ensure that communities support the efforts of their youth, World Education also supports enabling environments to foster positive youth development.

Access to high-quality learning
World Education is a leader in developing face-to-face and digital youth curricula that are based on social, cultural, and economic realities. We work with youth, communities, partners, and education ministries to deliver interventions that help young people enter and stay in school, including higher and technical and vocational education and nonformal learning to build practical skills and attitudes and behaviors that help youth achieve better learning and life outcomes.
 
Technology training
World Education integrates technology into learning to prepare youth and teachers for the evolving digital world, training teachers in interactive programs and assessments to reach and involve young people, and creating mobile solutions to literacy and social challenges.
 
Workforce development
World Education equips young people with meaningful employment skills by creating programs and curricula in partnership with the private sector. Our programs develop technical and vocational skills, offer apprenticeships, assist with job placement and livelihoods such as micro-franchising, and emphasize the importance of life and pre-vocational skills training, including entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and knowledge about the world of work. Career counseling and mentorship support job readiness as youth transition into the workplace.

Health and nutrition
Youth are susceptible to a range of health problems, including sexually transmitted infections, malnutrition, and gender-based violence. Our programming improves health literacy skills and access to services that help young people make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing. World Education collaborates with partners to expand youth access to primary and preventive health care; a range of HIV and infectious disease prevention, care, and treatment services; nutrition services; and adolescent reproductive health services.

Youth engagement and leadership
Community and broader civil society engagement can help turn young people’s lives around for the better. World Education fosters positive youth development by creating opportunities for youth to get involved in their communities through volunteering, teaching, leading campaigns, and using art, theater, video, and technology to express their values, ideas, concerns, and dreams.

Enabling environment
World Education works with families, schools, communities, and governments to improve critical wrap-around services for youth, including health care and legal, psychosocial, and financial services. Our programs mitigate threats—such as livelihood insecurity, gender-based violence, exploitative labor, and unsafe migration—and give families and youth information and skills to keep themselves safe.
 
Learn about World Education’s work in girls’ and women's education, which aims to overcome obstacles that keep girls out of school and improve the lives of individual families.