Wrapping up five years of working with youth in the three Southern Border provinces of Thailand to improve economic opportunities, USAID Achieve promotes cooperation between youth, public sector, local businesses, and communities through the development of life skills and professional expertise enhancing the ability for employment prospects.
The USAID Achieve, implemented by Save the Children Thailand in collaboration with a network of partners, has successfully created economic opportunities, fostered cooperation and relationships among youth outside the traditional educational system, and encouraged the development of life skills and professional expertise to enhance employment prospects and establish businesses that meet market demands. The project partnered with vocational institutes in Pattani province, such as Pattani Vocational College, Provincial Learning Promotion Office, Pattani Farmers Council, Pattani Community College, Pattani Technical College, Skill Development Institute 23 Pattani, and Pattani Vocational College. Short training courses were offered to youth to develop their professional and life skills in various fields, including food and services, tailoring, welding, electrical work, agriculture, tiling, painting, and other essential skills. Over the past five years, more than 1,000 youth have participated in the project.
The culmination of the project ended with Achieve Fest, an event showcasing works, products and services learned throughout the vocational training. A job fair also took place, promoting jobs that will sustain them as they graduate from the program. The project offered five interactive vocational training programs in: cooking and food preparation, welding, electrical wiring, agriculture, and masonry construction and tiling. Each program took 150 hours to complete and covers theory, practices, and entrepreneurial skills training. Working hand in hand with partners, after graduation, youth were provided with internship opportunities and job placement with local employers. Over the past five years more than 1,000 youth participated.
The USAID Achieve project receives primary support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). It also benefits from additional support from Avery Dennison under the Women's Empowerment in Professional Skills Program (WE Achieve) from July 2022 to March 2023. Furthermore, Marriott Hotels and Resorts have partnered with the project to develop the curriculum for the food and services course and to offer internships from September 2022 to June 2023.
Although USAID Achieve is ending, the peace and reconciliation that came from empowering the youth will continue on as their sense of self-worth and dedication to fostering relationships and improving their livelihoods will grow.