NPH Bolivia promotes the Youth and Economic Empowerment Initiative, a program that seeks to strengthen young people’s abilities so they can pursue their life goals, gain access to educational and employment opportunities, and achieve an independent and sustainable life.
To learn more about this work and the impact it has on the participants’ lives, we spoke with Yessica Arando, who holds a degree in psychology and serves as coordinator of the Youth and Economic Empowerment Initiative at NPH Bolivia. She shares her experience supporting young people as they build their life plans and transition to independent adulthood.
A program created to support the future
What is the Youth and Economic Empowerment Initiative, and why was it created?
The NPH Bolivia Youth and Economic Empowerment Initiative is a program that seeks to strengthen young people’s abilities so they can pursue their life goals, gain access to educational and employment opportunities, and achieve an independent and sustainable life.
This initiative was launched in response to the challenges many young people face as they transition to adulthood—especially those who need support to continue their education, enter the workforce, and develop the skills needed to achieve financial independence.
How does the initiative help young people transition from education to the workforce?
The initiative provides comprehensive support through career guidance, life and job skills training, educational support, strengthening of workplace skills, and connections to technical training opportunities.
In addition, we focus on the personal development of each young person so that they can face the challenges of the workplace with greater confidence.
What are the main challenges young people face when looking for their first job?
Among the main challenges are a lack of work experience, limited access to professional networks in some cases, and a lack of confidence in their own abilities. There are also barriers related to the country’s economic situation and limited opportunities for formal employment.
Tools That Open Up New Opportunities
What skills and tools do participants receive to prepare them for the workforce?
Participants receive comprehensive training designed to strengthen both their personal and professional skills. Through financial literacy workshops, they gain knowledge about managing resources, budgeting, saving, and making responsible financial decisions.
Similarly, they participate in entrepreneurship workshops that enable them to develop skills for identifying opportunities, generating business ideas, and strengthening their management and innovation capabilities. Each young person receives personalized support in drafting and updating their résumé, preparing for job interviews, and developing job-search strategies, with the goal of improving their chances of entering the workforce.
In addition, the program promotes access to short-term technical courses in various fields of interest and in high demand in the labor market, helping to strengthen participants’ professional profiles and develop specific skills that enhance their employability.
Why is it important to also work on young people’s self-esteem, confidence, and independence during this process?
The Youth and Economic Empowerment Initiative recognizes that economic independence is not achieved solely through access to education or employment; it also requires a process of personal growth. Therefore, building self-esteem, confidence, and autonomy is essential for young people to recognize their abilities, make responsible decisions, and confidently face the challenges of adulthood.
When young people have self-confidence, they are better able to identify opportunities, persevere in the face of difficulties, take on responsibilities, and look toward the future with clear goals. Likewise, developing autonomy enables them to manage their resources, make informed decisions, and build a sustainable life plan.
Through this process, we aim not only to help young people gain access to employment and educational opportunities, but also to help them develop the personal skills they need to lead independent lives, generate their own income, and take charge of their own development and well-being.
The Impact of Generating One’s Own Revenue
How does a young person’s life change when they are able to secure a job or earn their own income?
When a young person secures a job opportunity or begins earning their own income, they take a crucial step toward independence and self-reliance. This process not only improves their financial situation but also transforms their quality of life and strengthens their ability to build a sustainable future. Having their own income allows them to meet their basic needs, access better housing, food, and healthcare, and live with greater dignity and stability.
In addition, work experience strengthens their self-esteem, confidence, and sense of accomplishment, as it allows them to recognize their abilities, develop new skills, and envision greater opportunities for personal and professional growth. At the same time, it expands their support networks and contacts, fostering connections with people, institutions, and environments that can contribute to their development and open up new educational, career, and entrepreneurial opportunities.
What kind of support does NPH Bolivia provide to young people as they develop their life plans?
NPH Bolivia provides comprehensive, personalized support aimed at strengthening young people’s abilities so they can build a solid, sustainable, and independent life plan. This support includes individual follow-up, educational and career guidance, psychosocial support, life skills training, and advice on decision-making related to their personal, academic, and professional development.
We work continuously to help them build and refine their life plans, assisting them in identifying their goals, recognizing their strengths, facing challenges, and developing strategies to achieve their objectives. Through this process, young people acquire tools that enable them to function with greater confidence, autonomy, and responsibility in the various areas of their lives.
The purpose of this support is to ensure that every young person has the skills, resources, and support networks necessary to achieve economic and social independence, access opportunities for growth, and take charge of their own development, building a future with greater opportunities and well-being.
Stories That Reflect the Impact
There are numerous stories that reflect the positive impact of the Youth and Economic Empowerment Initiative. Thanks to the personalized support provided by NPH Bolivia, many young people have been able to secure their first formal job, strengthening their economic independence and gaining experience for their professional development.
Another important aspect is that many young people have been able to set clear academic and professional goals and develop concrete action plans to achieve them. Currently, several of them are continuing their technical or college studies while working to build the professional careers they desire. In addition, the program promotes the overall well-being of young people, strengthening their mental health, self-esteem, and confidence so they can face personal and professional challenges with greater self-assurance and resilience.
Challenges Facing Young People in Bolivia
What challenges do young people currently face in accessing decent jobs and opportunities for growth?
Among the main challenges are the limited availability of formal employment, intense competition in the job market, the gap between academic training and market demands, a lack of work experience, and economic inequalities that affect access to training and professional development opportunities. These challenges make it necessary to strengthen partnerships among organizations, businesses, and educational institutions to create more opportunities for young people.
Investing in young people transforms entire communities
Young people represent not only the future of our country, but also its present. Young people have the potential, energy, creativity, and ability to generate new ideas and solutions that contribute to the development of a more inclusive, innovative, and sustainable society. That is why we believe that investing in youth is one of the most valuable decisions that companies, organizations, and society as a whole can make.
When young people are given access to education, training, job opportunities, and support for their personal development, they are able to discover their abilities, strengthen their independence, and build a life plan with a greater chance of success. Every opportunity a young person receives can transform their life and have a positive impact on their family, their community, and their surroundings.
At NPH Bolivia, we invite companies, strategic partners, and the public to become part of this transformation process, creating opportunities for more young people to develop their potential, achieve economic independence, and become leaders and agents of change.
Investing in young people means investing in a future with more opportunities, greater development, and a better quality of life for everyone.
