Sambo Be: Social and professional integration for young people

Context

In Madagascar, children count among the most vulnerable groups, facing significant educational challenges. Although access to basic education is compulsory and officially free, these regulations are only partially enforced, particularly for children in rural areas or in vulnerable situations. Child labour is often tolerated or even valued in some communities. This remains a major concern and is one of the reasons why an estimated 23 000 children are living in street situations just in the capital Antananarivo.

Most youth employment is informal, often poorly paid and / or abusive. The key challenge is to increase access to formal and decent employment through high-quality vocational training, offering diverse, innovative, and sustainable pathways that align with the needs of local employers.

Local partner

Graines de Bitume

Activities

The project aims to strengthen the social and professional integration of highly vulnerable young people. It works with the Employment Bureau to develop career guidance, counselling, and access to appropriate training, while fostering awareness of different professions and connections with employers.

Career guidance support is enhanced through the creation and presentation of job profiles, allowing young people to explore new professional pathways (including emerging professions aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals). Through counselling, participants also acquire life skills that enable sustainable integration into the workforce. 

The development of promising vocational pathways leads to an expansion of training opportunities available to young people. Support for youth–employer relationships is also provided to facilitate real employment opportunities.

Mobility and an openness to see beyond borders are central to the project, broadening young people’s professional horizons, particularly within the Indian Ocean region. Selected young people from Graines de Bitume will have the opportunity to participate in mobility programmes across the region, further expanding their professional perspectives.