BRAC and Youth Maria May BRAC Social Innovation

BRAC and Youth Maria May, BRAC Social Innovation Lab Santhosh Ramdoss, BRAC USA www. brac. net

Goal Methodology Answer the question: to what extent has and is BRAC engaging with youth? Program data Conversations with staff Published literature www. brac. net

Youth The period between childhood and adult age Males and females This between the ages of Presentation 11 and 25 www. brac. net

Our vision for Youth A world free from all forms of exploitation and discrimination where young people have the opportunity to realise their potential. www. brac. net

Today you will hear a lot about activities and programs www. brac. net

But not from us! www. brac. net

Instructions 1. Take the green and red cards out of your folder now. 2. We will show a statement and read it aloud. 3. Please raise ONE card immediately to indicate whether you think the statement is true or false. 4. We will estimate the results of the poll and then share with you the answer. = If you think the statement is true = If you think the statement is false www. brac. net

Quick test of comprehension Brazil will win the next world cup. www. brac. net

1. BRAC has been working with youth for more than twenty years www. brac. net

TRUE: BRAC has been working with youth for even longer 2007 1987 Integrated program for girls Schools for older children in Bangladesh 2003 1990 Microfinance loans for young people Reading Centers 1993 Empowerment program for girls 2010 Protecting girls from harassment 2008 Girls program in Uganda and Tanzania 2011 Innovative Livelihood and Vocational training www. brac. net

2. BRAC’s “mainstream” programs reach more youth than BRAC’s youth-specific programs www. brac. net

TRUE: BRAC actually reaches a higher number of youth through its mainstream programs Youth-Specific Programs ~ 3 Million Young People Mainstream Programs ~ 7. 5 million Young People www. brac. net

3. Today’s youth live in a different world from youth 20 years ago www. brac. net

True: Today’s world is radically different 1980 s 1990 s 2000 s Today Limited mobility for girls Keeping girls in school Shifting cultural norms Skill training and jobs Getting girls into primary and secondary schools Delaying marriage and pregnancy Increasing women in the workplace Leveraging technology www. brac. net

4. BRAC’s youth-specific programs only work with girls www. brac. net

FALSE: BRAC has found ways to keep its focus on girls 60% girls Employment Training 75% girls Adoloscent Empowerment 57% girls Scholarships www. brac. net

5. Most participants are under the age of 15 in BRAC’s girl programs www. brac. net

FALSE: Over half of the members are over the age of 15 11 -15 Yrs 16 -20 Yrs 21 -25 Yrs 43% Girls Program (Bangladesh) 27% Girls Program (Uganda) 41% Girls Program (Tanzania) www. brac. net

6. Most BRAC programs have to date “missed the opportunity” to work with youth www. brac. net

FALSE: BRAC has a growing focus on youth across geographies Bangladesh Uganda Tanzania South Sudan Youth-specific programs in 6 out of 10 BRAC countries Haiti Afghanistan www. brac. net

However, Youth are hidden in our mainstream programs 22% Borrowers (Sierra Leone) 40% Borrowers (Afghanistan) Clients below the age of 25 33% Dabi Borrowers (Bangladesh) www. brac. net