Youth unemployment remains prominent in Lebanon, and according to the World Bank, the youth unemployment rate has hovered above 17% for a decade. In order to empower youth with technical skills and knowledge not only to help them find a job but also encourage them to live and grow independently, UNESCO Regional Bureau for Education in the Arab States launched the project entitled “Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Programme for Lebanese and Syrian vulnerable youth affected by the Syrian crisis in Lebanon” in September 2019 in partnership with Safadi Foundation with the support of Norway's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

This project aims to empower 200 Syrian refugees and vulnerable Lebanese youth aged from 15 to 24 in the North of Lebanon (Tripoli and surroundings, Dannieh-Akkar, Koura, Zgharta, Qalmoun and Batroun) to participate in the labor market through short-term TVET Programmes and Accelerated Vocational Training. It contributes to promoting youth employability and/or self-employment through market-oriented certified technical training programmes, so as to empower youth and equip them with the necessary skills to participate in the labor market and become productive members of their society. It also builds the capacity of TVET instructors from selected training institutions on life and work skills.

This web story features the success stories of the beneficiaries and how TVET plays a critical role in the country’s social-economic fabric, especially for youth and young adults.