IYF, Caterpillar Foundation & USAID Support Employment for Young Jordanians
Read All PostsThree hundred youth who completed intensive training to fill technician-level positions in several key industrial sectors of the Jordanian economy were honored at a graduation ceremony this week held under the patronage of the Ministry of Labor. Caterpillar’s EquipYouth program and USAID’s Youth for the Future (Y4F) program funded the training, which was implemented in partnership with the International Youth Foundation (IYF).
The trainings included heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC); industrial maintenance; automotive repair; heavy equipment operation; diesel mechanics; and bookkeeping. In addition to technical training, graduates received an integrated package of sector-specific instruction in English and Passport to Success®, IYF’s life skills program, to equip them with basic employability and workplace readiness skills. Career guidance and job placement support for the youth are also important elements of the program.
Commenting on the partnership with Caterpillar, USAID Education Director Allyson Wainer said: “Helping Jordan achieve this ambitious agenda requires strong and effective partnerships; the joint program with Caterpillar is a great example of how organizations can join forces and open doors for our graduates to access jobs in the industrial and automotive sector.”
In attendance at the event were the Minister of Labor, Caterpillar Foundation’s Head of Training for Europe and North Africa, representatives from IYF and USAID’s Education Office, Y4F’s program partners, as well as the 300 graduates and their parents.
“The industrial, general maintenance, and construction sector is a major employer and offers a wealth of job opportunities that we seek to tap into by providing underserved youth with relevant training and internship opportunities,” said Rana Al Turk, IYF Jordan Country Director. “By maximizing the impact of employability programs, we aim to respond to high demand for entry-level positions in these sectors, while providing youth with a comprehensive employability approach that includes the technical training and soft skills they need to enhance their employment prospects and lead successful lives.”
Al Asalah Academy (LG), Automotive Technology & Industrial Automation Academy (ATIAA), and Al Quds College (as part of Luminus Group) provided the technical training. Private sector partners included the International Labor Organization, CAT Jordan, The British Council, and Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization.