Jul 18, 2012

Engaging Rural Youth

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A Pilot Project in Ethiopia

Getting a post-high school education is especially difficult for young people living in the rural villages of Ethiopia. This is even more problematic among the landless, who are not able to farm to support themselves. Without assets or financial resources, there are too few opportunities to take part in income generating activities. Often, with no other social security system in place, young people remain dependent on their families, even into their early 20s. It is a major concern for both young people and their parents.

Youth group members at nursery site.

With USC’s support, our Ethiopian partner EOSA (Ethio-Organic Seed Action) has launched a pilot program to address this issue. Youth have been consulted, and organized into groups that now rented land on a short-term contract basis. The program provides water pumps, field tools, and supplies for the nursery (e.g. hoes, rakes, spades, watering cans, polythene tubes), as well as money to buy seeds. These inputs are provided through a mechanism known as revolving fund, meaning simply that recipients are asked to pay back when they have generated income, so that the funds can continue to assist other farmers.

The program, run with the guidance of community seed bank management, has also provided skills training. Participants are now engaged in income generating activities, including vegetable production, fruit tree seedling production (mango) and growing of pulse crops that fetch a good price in the market (i.e. fenugreek and lentils).

This pilot initiative is reviving hope for young people who want to be productive and able to support themselves. By bringing participants closer together, encouraging discussion so they can share their common concerns, young people have built mutual trust and self-confidence. And most important, it has become a source of inspiration for others.

Transplanting onion seedlings in Harbu, South Welo program.

4 Responses to “Engaging Rural Youth”

1. Ute Gerbrandt says:

   August 5, 2012 at 11:55 pm

   Great to learn about this program. Question:

   How short-term is the contract with these young people? Long enough to give them a chance to practice their agricultural training more than one or twice to earn enough money to make some and then have enough means to rent that or other land? So that they can actually put their training to use over a sufficiently long time so that maybe they could even buy some land on a cooperative basis in the future?
2. USC Canada says:

   August 7, 2012 at 11:18 am

   Dear Ute,
   Indeed, we plan to support the youth groups for several years so they can build the capacity to sustain their agricultural activities over the long term. Based on last year’s successful pilot project, support is planned for at least three more years. Our partner, EOSA, will monitor progress and, in consultation with the group, decide how long the support should continue.

   As you point out, access to land is a major issue. Seeking more stable tenure arrangements will be very important for the long-term success of this initiative.

   One very encouraging development this year is that the youth groups will now be housed at their local Community Seed Banks, where they will have access to a small office with a computer. Run by farmer-led cooperatives, the CSBs are hubs for exchange of seed and knowledge among both men and women farmers who are running their own income generation and production activities. The youth will benefit by interacting with the more experienced farmers. They will also be able to access loans of locally adapted seeds and enjoy increased credibility and status within their communities.

   This is definitely a step in the right direction, and we look forward to reporting again on their progress in the next year!
3. Joe Carr says:

   August 29, 2012 at 1:41 am

   This looks very encouraging…for Ethiopia. What about Kenya and other African countries which have similar problems? I just read an article in the Vancouver Sun “In rural Kenya, men need new roles in a changing society”

   http://www.vancouversun.com/life/rural+Kenya+need+roles+changing+society/7149314/story.html

   The Kielburgers make an important point: “Billions are poured every year into education for girls, women’s health, and livelihood programs for women”. I have supported that effort through my donations to USC, but what about the young Kenyan men? It appears they have little secondary school options, and are just sitting around with nothing to do.

   It seems to be time to share the resources directed at supporting women, so the young men can be equal partners in relationships, and provide for their future families by acquiring useful skills. It looks like this is happening in Ethiopia, so why not elsewhere?
4. USC Canada says:

   August 30, 2012 at 2:50 pm

   Thanks for sharing the article, Joe. The youth groups supported by EOSA are composed of 50% young men and 50% young women, and indeed, in most of our programs in Africa, women and girls are not unduly favoured over their male counterparts. In many places, however, they face much greater barriers than men and require targeted support. Development strategies need to be context specific which is why careful participatory planning is so important. Any “one-size-fits-all” approach is likely to fail or lead to unintended consequences.