Donor: Save the Children International, Back donor: Save the Children Japan

BITA is implementing this initiative to up-skill deprived youth with the necessary knowledge, skills, and collective voice from 2022. The project has impacted 320 youth and 600 parents. The project’s objectives are to develop deprived youths’ entrepreneurial competency (behavioral, MHPSS, life skills) about their life and positive strategies to be resilient in taking advantage of economic opportunities. The project also empowers deprived youth through hands-on entrepreneurship training, guiding them to start businesses with a “learning by doing” approach. An online platform connects young entrepreneurs for market access and mentorship opportunities. Youth-Led Social Enterprise Hub supports trained youth in freelancing and IT/BPO sectors. The hub offers training in the mornings and workspace for outsourcing in the evenings. Youths develop business plans with industry partners and join an innovation lab to pitch and test ideas, with top concepts receiving private-sector funding and mentorship.

The project used a ‘Campaign on Wheels’ strategy using one large bus-treated Mobile Training Centre (MTC), which moved around different slum areas. Mobile Training Center (MTC) provides internet connectivity and skills-building training, and awareness through campaign videos, educational gaming, digital skills courses, and role models, to out-of-school youths aged 18 to 24 in disadvantaged communities of the Chattogram City area. The training combination is soft employability skills and technical skills. Technical skills applied to the fundamentals of computer application and graphics design. The MTC has seating arrangements, laptops, Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and TV monitor facilities. BITA implements this initiative in close collaboration with the district social service, youth development, women’s affairs, and child affairs departments, mobilizing families and communities to foster sustainable empowerment.