Between 2017 and 2021, Helvetas and Nuovo Fiore in Africa carried out the "SKY – Skills and Knowledge for Youth" project in the Amhara region, involving young people between the ages of 15 and 29 from the cities of Bahir Dar, Dangila, and Debretabor. The objective was to offer professional training and employment support to young people in situations of economic and social vulnerability, with particular attention to female inclusion.
The program offered courses in sectors such as catering, construction, electronics, tailoring, and aesthetics, combined with guidance and support for employment or self-employment. Thanks to this initiative, over 3,000 young people acquired marketable skills, with the creation of more than 1,000 new job opportunities.
With 50% female participation and an indirect impact on over 12,000 people, SKY represented a concrete response to youth unemployment, which in Ethiopia exceeds 25% among university graduates, also contributing to strengthening local training institutions and scaling up the model nationally.
Partnerships with NGOs allow us to broaden the impact of our interventions and better respond to the needs of local communities. Through these collaborations, projects are born that combine different skills, resources, and visions to build a future and hope.
Direct: 3,000
Indirect: 12,000
The Amhara region is one of the most populous in Ethiopia and hosts cities of great historical and cultural importance. Bahir Dar, overlooking Lake Tana, is a growing urban center with over 400,000 inhabitants, featuring lively markets and tourism potential. Dangila and Debretabor, smaller cities, maintain a rural and agricultural character, with communities deeply tied to cultivation and livestock. However, despite the cultural and natural richness, poverty is widespread: according to regional estimates, more than 30% of families live below the national poverty line. Schools are often overcrowded, with poor infrastructure and a shortage of teaching materials; in some rural areas, children have to walk for kilometers to reach classrooms. At the same time, the region shows great social vitality and a strong community spirit, making it a context rich in potential but also marked by strong educational and economic challenges.
With the goal of supporting basic education and vocational training, the Foundation invests in infrastructure and initiatives addressing educational challenges such as the empowerment of girls and women.
Each project is developed in collaboration with local communities and aims to promote education, personal growth, and sustainable development.
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The Nuovo Fiore in Africa Foundation is recognized as a public utility organization, registered with the Federal Supervisory Authority, and all donations made are tax-deductible.
