YouthCan

260 million young people worldwide are neither in employment, education nor training, according to the International Labour Organization. For those growing up without the support of their families, the chances of falling into the NEET group are particularly high. Without the support network often provided by a family, it can be difficult to even begin bridging the gap between school and work.

YouthCan! - our global programme for youth employment and entrepreneurship - was launched in 2017 by SOS Children’s Villages and global partners from the private sector to promote decent work for young people without parental care or at risk of losing it.

In 2025, over 30,000 young people across 48 countries received holistic support through YouthCan!.

In this joint effort, employees from our corporate partners share their time, skills, expertise and own career stories. These volunteers plan workshops, facilitate exposure to professional environments and act as professional mentors. Volunteers and young people can connect in person or online through the digital platform YouthLinks Community, which enables worldwide collaborative learning.

YouthCan! combines mentoring, soft and technical skills training and first work experiences into one comprehensive approach. The programme is locally led, tailored to the local labour market and to the needs of each young person.

This is made possible through the commitment and engagement of 1,590 volunteers from 374 partners worldwide. While YouthCan! continues to grow and improve in both reach and activities that use digitalization to their advantage, the leading challenges for young people remain access to digital devices and connection to the internet.

The digital platform YouthLinks Community utilizes the power of technology to develop young people’s skills through training, mentorship and networking, all within a safe digital environment. It provides an opportunity for young people and volunteers to connect more easily, thus breaking geographical barriers. Through online activities, young people transitioning to independence gain digital literacy and employability skills that are crucial for them to succeed in the job market.

At the end of 2020, we decided to validate the success of YouthCan! by commissioning an independent evaluation of its outcomes in four countries.

Executive Summary

Partnering for impact

Working with our corporate and support partners, we aim to increase our impact on the lives of children, young people and communities, thus actively contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals.

As part of the YouthCan! network, corporate partners match local talent with corporate needs, generating business value and strengthening their reputation and brand among customers and employees.

There are many ways you can support YouthCan! at the local, national or international level.

Contact us for more information: youthcan@sos-kd.org.

Network of global YouthCan! partners

YouthCan! News

International Youth Day

Sweet success: A young Ethiopian entrepreneur turns beekeeping into opportunity

August 11 2025 - Like many young people, Amanuel, 28, set out to build a future by starting a business, but quickly ran into familiar barriers: limited financing, little training, and few market connections.

YouthCan!

The Youth employment crisis: How YouthCan! is creating pathways to work

July 14 2025 - Youth unemployment remains one of the world’s most pressing challenges, leaving millions without a clear path to independence. The latest figures from the International Labour Organization show that 20.4% of young people aged 15 to 24 are not in education, employment or training. The problem disproportionately affects young women, who make up two-thirds of the world’s NEET population.

YouthCan!

Partnerships key to reaching global goals on improving youth employment

August 13 2024 - New York - At a side event during the United Nations’ recent High-Level Political Forum, young people urged decision-makers to ensure support for youth in acquiring technical and entrepreneurial skills, which are essential for securing employment or starting their own businesses.

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