Millions of young people in India and Bangladesh are unemployed or trapped in low-wage, low-skilled or unsafe jobs. Many lack the skills and capacities to succeed in today’s rapidly changing world of work, particularly regarding the adoption of digital technologies. Without access to a decent and stable income, young people struggle to provide a better future for themselves or their families.
Youth Business International and IKEA Foundation’s joint initiative recognises the potential of youth enterprises to become engines for job creation and provide opportunities for more young people to get out of poverty cycle. It aims to equip 3,200 young entrepreneurs in India and Bangladesh with the knowledge and skills they need to start and grow a business, creating over 6,200 quality jobs.
The programme will be implemented by YBI members Bharatiya Yuva Shakti Trust (BYST) in India and Youth Enterprise Advice and Helpcentre (B’YEAH) in Bangladesh. The regional focus will facilitate collaboration and sharing of learning, which can be scaled across the YBI network to serve young entrepreneurs around the world.
The programme has three key components: