The Mali Support to Youth Entrepreneurs Project (known also by its French name Projet d’Appui aux Jeunes Entrepreneurs or PAJE-Nièta) accompanies out-of-school youth on the path to becoming more educated, economically productive, and civically engaged in their communities.
The PAJE-Nièta program aims to provide 12,000 rural out-of-school youths with improved basic education, work readiness and technical training, social and leadership development, as well as assistance with livelihood activities. Young Malians are offered seven technical-training options that can help them earn a livelihood in the Malian rural market.
The project is managed by the US-based nonprofit Education Development Center.
Listen to the audio interview with PAJE-Nièta Project Director Scott Isbrandt to find out more about this initiative.
1. WISE: What are the education challenges in Mali?
Scott: “Mali is a resource-scare environment. Delivering basic education and technical training in remote rural areas is one of the key challenges.”
2.WISE: What has been the response of Malian youth to the program?
Scott Isbrandt: “The participation has been very high and so far there is quite a lot of excitement”
3. WISE: What is the role of youth volunteers in this program?
Scott Isbrandt: “We’ve a Malian volunteer corps. Our program is delivered through and supported by existing youth associations at the community level”
4. WISE: Can you expand on EDC’s mobile learning initiative for youth in Mali?
Scott Isbrandt: The youth project in Mali is working to accompany 12,000 youth towards entrepreneurship, to help them create their own micro enterprises to help enhance their livelihoods. A key component of achieving this is not just working in the traditional education – formal and informal – training centres but also using the leverage and power of low-cost mobile technology.