Green Growth: Empowering Youth for a Green Future is a transformative five-year project launched in August 2025 by SOS Children’s Villages, in collaboration with the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada.
This ambitious initiative aims to equip over 18,000 young people—with a strong emphasis on young women—in Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Somalia with the skills and opportunities needed to thrive in green and emerging industries.
Targeting Vulnerable Youth in East Africa
This project focuses on empowering the most marginalized youth in urban and semi-rural communities, including:
- Young people without parental care or at risk of losing it
- Youth who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET)
- Members of marginalized groups, such as single mothers and youth with disabilities
Why it Matters
Youth unemployment is a global challenge. According to the UN Sustainable Development Goals Report 2025, 1 in 5 young people are NEET, with young women twice as likely to be affected as young men.
Meanwhile, the climate crisis is compounding economic instability in vulnerable regions. In East Africa, recurring droughts, floods, and food insecurity are making it increasingly difficult for youth to secure stable livelihoods.
“Youth unemployment and climate change are twin crises that are deeply interconnected – especially in vulnerable regions like East Africa.
Green Growth offers a powerful solution by equipping young people with the skills, training, and opportunities they need to build sustainable livelihoods in sectors that are both climate-resilient and part of the solution to the climate crisis.”
Thomas Bauer, President and CEO, SOS Children’s Villages Canada
What Green Growth Offers
The Green Growth initiative is tailored to meet the needs of youth in under-resourced and crisis-affected areas. It promotes inclusive economic recovery by:
- Partnering with vocational and technical training institutions to deliver accessible, gender-sensitive, and practical education
- Removing barriers to education, employment, and entrepreneurship
- Providing green and market-relevant skills for sustainable industries
- Offering entrepreneurship training and business development services
- Building private sector partnerships to expand access to decent work and support youth-led enterprises
What is the Expected Impact?
- 18,000+ youth will receive training, mentorship, or entrepreneurship support
- 81,000 additional youth will benefit indirectly, creating ripple effects across families and communities
- The initiative will foster inclusive economic recovery in areas affected by climate-related crises
Building a Greener, More Inclusive Future
Green Growth is more than a skills development program—it’s a blueprint for climate resilience and economic empowerment.
By preparing youth for careers in clean energy, sustainable agriculture, and green technologies, the initiative ensures that no young person is left behind in the transition to a green economy.
Source: SOS Children’s Villages
