Program Details: 
Investing In The Future

The bottom billion is young. More than half the world's population is under 25, making them the largest demographic group in human history. Over the next decade, more than a billion children will become old enough to enter the global labor market, but economic growth predicts only 300 million new jobs. With no other option, this generation is more likely to migrate, join violent movements, turn to crime or simply give up hope. But the youth bulge is also an opportunity. Young people are hungry to make a positive difference and envision a just and productive future.

As a result, Mercy Corps’ work reflects our commitment to empowering young people by not only building their capabilities but also providing opportunities for them to engage in peaceful change. In order to build secure, productive and just communities across generations, it is critical that we meet the physical, mental and social needs of children and youth.

Mercy Corps uses participatory, community based programs that help unleash the potential of youth and to build a vibrant civil society with
lasting change.

Healing from Conflict and War
In Liberia, Mercy Corps’ Youth Education for Life Skills (YES) program assists young people in 163 communities whose lives have been defined by conflict and war. The YES curriculum teaches them the skills they need to become active and productive members of the community through leadership, literacy and numeracy, conflict management and civic education. YES to Soccer, which combines sports with role-playing and discussions about HIV/AIDS, also addresses major gaps around social and life skills.

Engaging Youth with Civic Education
Mercy Corps engages youth in Timor-Leste in the process of democratic nation building, participating in local decision-making processes and effective government administration. Our staff train and assist established youth organizations to provide civic education and meaningful networking opportunities that improve the understanding between youth and government decision makers. This program will reach 65 percent of the population and target the most vulnerable youth, including those with disabilities and in prison.

Comfort for Kids
Mercy Corps’ Comfort for Kids program helped more than 100,000 children displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita along the U.S. Gulf
Coast. The program, which previously brought services to children affected by the 9/11 tragedy in New York, has trained 10,000 parents,
teachers, counselors and other caregivers in how best to provide the emotional support needed for children suffering from disasters. This successful program has been adapted to help children in Peru and China after recent earthquakes.

Creating Safe Spaces for Youth
Mercy Corps has reached more than 70,000 young people from a variety of backgrounds in Lebanon. Two Mercy Corps Youth Leadership
Centers in poor neighborhoods near Beirut help young Lebanese develop critical thinking, communication and advocacy skills through
projects-based learning with their communities.

Education for Conflict-Affected Children
Mercy Corps provides educational supplies and services to children in Darfur, Sudan. Working with Ministry of Education officials, PTAs and community members to determine optimal sites, we constructed 12 permanent classrooms and almost 300 temporary classrooms, nearly twice as many as planned. Despite the many challenges still faced in this region, by the end of 2007 nearly 60 percent of school-age children were enrolled in school — up from 37 percent a year earlier.

Healthy Nutrition for Children at School
In Indonesia, Mercy Corps trains children, parents and teachers to improve health, nutrition and hygiene. We provided 175,000 children with fortified soy milk and increased access to nutritious food, which reduces parasitic infection. In Kyrgyzstan, Mercy Corps also supplements children's nutrition and has repaired more than 1,000 schools and orphanages to create safe and comfortable learning environments for roughly 30 percent of the country’s students.

Youth Beyond Borders
Many Palestinian and Iraqi youth are hopeful for peace in their land and want to make connections with the outside world. At the same time, American youth are increasingly interested in Arabic culture. Mercy Corps’ Global Youth Connectivity Program is enabling 1,200 youth in the U.S. and the Middle East to engage in meaningful dialogues that bridge cultural barriers while promoting a sense of global citizenship. Through writing, multimedia projects and service learning, they enter each other’s world, opening doors for personal and global commitment toward peace
.
Assisting Orphans and Vulnerable Children
Mercy Corps is helping 5,500 children in Zimbabwe – many of whom have lost parents to AIDS – gain access to tuition-free schools,
participate in youth clubs and receive support from locally elected Child Protection Committees. With Mercy Corps’ financial help, 3,000 orphans have been able to attend school. Youth clubs at 20 schools are led by older youth volunteers and offer activities to encourage girls’ participation.

Promoting Peace and Goodwill
In Serbia and Kosovo, Mercy Corps is empowering multi-ethnic youth to promote tolerance and democracy and to take part in solving the problems facing their communities. Through exchange trips and journalism activities, youth groups share their concerns and develop a
better ethnic understanding.