In Laos, more than a thousand children living or working on the streets are being supported to return to school, while several hundred disadvantaged young people are undertaking vocational training in catering or mechanics, with psychosocial support and help finding work with local employers. This twofold approach, getting children back into school and giving young people access to a trade, is a concrete illustration of SECODEV’s commitment to education and vocational training.
Access to education and vocational training is one of the cornerstones of development, particularly for the most vulnerable populations. Lack of access to education is both a cause and a consequence of poverty, and it affects the poorest most severely. In rural and remote areas, children and young people often have little or no opportunity to attend school or learn a trade.
Yet without qualifications, young people struggle to find employment or become self-employed. It is a vicious circle. Because children and young people are among the most vulnerable, while also being key to the future of their communities, SECODEV focuses its work on schooling for children and vocational training for young people, with the aim of opening up genuine income opportunities for them. In particular, the organisation supports:
Building and refurbishing schools in the most remote areas
Developing innovative teaching models
Vocational training in fields with good employment prospects, including agriculture (agroecology), mechanics, catering and hospitality, baking and beauty, designed to lead to employment or self-employment
Training teachers in new teaching methods
This support does not stop once a qualification has been obtained: it also includes assistance with entering the job market and starting a business, so that young people can set up their own micro-enterprise or join a cooperative after completing their training.
In Africa, SECODEV gives priority to agricultural and livestock-related trades, with the aim of changing the negative perception often associated with these professions. In countries where 70% of the population depends on crop and livestock farming for its livelihood, training young people in these trades, including their entrepreneurial dimension, is crucial.
In 2025, 1’400 children and young people, including 750 girls and young women, benefited from improved conditions for schooling or vocational training.