Economic security
A plumbing vocational training course in Timor-Leste
Children are often the first to feel the effects of poverty, being forced to go hungry or leave school to earn an income for the family.
Plan works with community partners to ensure that families in extreme poverty have the skills they need to increase their income and can access financial services.
In 2012, Plan trained 72,075 agricultural workers and provided vocational and business training to 72,788 people. We also supported 5,366 microfinance organisations and 34,100 local savings and loans groups, benefiting 15,468 communities.
Youth opportunities
Over the next decade, 1.3 billion young people will be entering the workforce, but only 300,000,000 new jobs are expected to be created.
To reduce poverty, one of our key priorities is to make sure that young people have opportunities for decent employment.
From financial literacy to vocational training and apprenticeships, we work to harness the tremendous power of this new generation to help break the cycle of poverty.
Loans and savings
Hundreds of thousands of people have achieved financial stability through our microfinance partnerships, which provide small loans to poor women and youths.
We also support village loans and savings schemes. Having access to lump sums and building savings, helps people to protect their households from emergencies and plan for the future.
Case studies
In pictures: Hopes and dreams in Kawangware
See how children and youths are working to create better conditions and opportunities in one of Africa’s largest slums.
Honing skills of young people to secure jobs
1.3 billion young people are set to enter the global workforce over the next decade. See how Plan is helping youths to gain the skills they need to secure jobs.
Salamatu's school dream comes true
Two years ago Salamatu was forced to drop out of business school in Sierra Leone when she could no longer afford the tuition fees – but now she's back with help from Plan.
In pictures: Building skills for Timor-Leste's future
Around half of Timor-Leste's youths are unemployed. See how Plan is helping them to build a future.
Microfinance: Helping families break the cycle of poverty
Plan-supported microfinance schemes are helping some of the poorest people in the world to access credit, invest in their businesses and break the cycle of poverty.