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Microprojects for Young people
in difficult circumstances
The current 5 year programme started in July 2004 and intervenes in Mali, Burkina Faso and Togo. Stakeholders directly involved in the management of the programme include the young people themselves, their link organisations and local networks, a focal point in each country, Jeunesse & Développement and International Service. The latter provides technical support and Comic Relief is the main funder. The programme aims to improve life for marginalised young people through supporting them to develop and run microprojects to enable them to become economically independent and integrated into their communities. The programme grew out of the Bamako Declaration developed by young people in difficult circumstances from Ghana, Togo, Burkina and Mali, at a meeting organised by J&D in November 2000 as part of Oxfam GB's programme " On The Line ".

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Programme Objectives

  1. Provide funding, support and advice to establish microprojets with and for young people;
  2. Develop young people's self confidence and leadership qualities;
  3. Support young people in accessing education and training;
  4. Support young people in aquiring management and decision making experience;
  5. Promote a child centered and gener sensitve approach
  6. Facilitate the evolution of dynamic networks undertaking child rights advocacy initiatives.

 

young people's training session Training workshop for young entrepreneurs

Links to young people's stories:

 Cheick Oumar  and his apprentice  Lassina  have a carpentry workshop supported by the project.

Microproject Selection

4 young people discussing the projects

In 2006 a microprojects selection meeting brought together participants from Burkina Faso, Togo and Mali. The group was made up of one young man and one young woman from each country, 2 advisors from each focal point and the programme management team. The meeting was called to select the best microprojects from the 100 applications that had been received and also to discuss a number of important programme issues.

At the end of the meeting 68 microprojets had been selected for funding, of which 17 were from Burkina, 10 from Mali and 41 from Togo. The total ammount of funding for these microprojects was 29,396,990 FCFA and 82 young people were involved in their operation(33 boys and 49 girls).

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Extract from the 2007 evaluation...

"The idea behind the programme is a noble one. The development programme is unique of its kind and helps sub regional integration between organisations in the three countries of Mali, Togo and Burkina-Faso. It provides a framework for learning and sharing between young people in difficult circumstances who are implementing their microprojects in the 3 countries. Implementing organisations interpret the concept of marginalised youg people fairly broadly. While some work with youth living on the streets, others concentrate on those from poor families or those with learning difficulties..."

Young Entrepreneurs

3 hair dressers a carpenter 2 girls dying cloth a soap maker young girl and baby in her cafe 2 young men in thier kiosque