Recently launched in 2008, this workforce preparation program assists minimally educated youth (ages 16-30) from East Timor’s most rural areas in gaining the necessary skills and expertise needed to find job opportunities and promising futures. Specifically, these rural men and women will benefit from the program’s 12-month combination of off-the-job classroom instruction, on-the-job training, and livelihood accompaniment. As part of this training, participants will have the opportunity to gain real work experience while applying new-found skills gained through formal instruction.

Objectives

• Prepare at least 2,500 minimally educated, rural youth to earn a better livelihood. Youth engaged in the program will achieve one or more of the following outcomes:
  • become self-employed in rural communities
  • be more productive in local industries and in family livelihoods
  • succeed in emerging job markets
  • pursue advanced vocational training for careers
  • build community assets and strengthen local opportunities for business
  • pursue formal education
• Build the capacity of Timorese institutions to prepare low-skilled youth to improve their workforce readiness and earn a better livelihood.

Activities

Livelihood Preparation Phase
Young people receive on- and off-the-job training combined into an integrated six-month program. During alternating weeks, participants gain hands-on work experience and complementary training and skill-building activities in the areas of literacy, employability, and life-skills, entrepreneurship, and vocational skills. The trainings help participants improve their work readiness and employability upon program completion.

Livelihood Accompaniment Phase
To improve work readiness, youth participants identify personal development goals with the direct support of project staff. These staff members mentor or accompany participants for an additional six months after the Livelihood Preparation Phase to support them as they gain real work experience and practice the lessons they learned through formal instruction. Counselors assist participants in taking the next step in their development, such as returning to formal schooling or vocational training, entering the workforce, or starting their own businesses.

Capacity Building for Local Partner NGOs
Project staff work closely with local partners to help increase their technical, financial, and managerial capacity. Multiple trainings, held throughout the partnership, ensure that project goals are achieved and that activities can be replicated in the future.

Partners

Implementing Organization
Education Development Center

Project Documents

Project Overview
This 1-pager gives an overview of the project and the types of skills participants will learn.

USAID East Timor PAS Program Fact Sheet

PAS Program Update Febraury and March 2009

PAS Program Update January 2009

Press Release January 2009

PAS Newsletter Vol. 1, October 2008

Program Update September 2008

Program Update October 2008

PAS Program Film

Development Now
PAS was featured in the inaugural edition of Development Now - USAID/Timor-Leste's news publication