Impact
Program Highlights
Discover what bold investments in youth can achieve.
With our partners, we’re building scalable models that close equity gaps, shift education to employment pathways, and deliver results.
Read these case studies which show how investing in youth leads to measurable impact for young people, stronger talent pipelines for business, and lasting value for society.
JuventudES
The Challenge
In Mexico City, nearly 800,000 young people aged 15–29 are disconnected from formal education, stable employment, or training. Many live in neighborhoods shaped by historic disinvestment, housing instability, and violence: conditions that impact their ability to pursue long-term goals.
Opportunity Youth (those not in education, employment, or training) are not lacking ambition or potential; they are navigating systems that were not designed with their realities in mind. Many want to return to school, secure better jobs, and build stable futures, but pathways remain fragmented, hard to access, or disconnected from local opportunities.
The Solution
Supported by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation and Hilton Global Foundation, JuventudES adapts IYF’s proven Órale model to strengthen Mexico City’s ecosystem of youth-serving institutions. Rather than working with public agencies alone, the program brings together government, private employers, community organizations, and civil society partners into a coordinated network that aligns services around young people’s goals.
Across a six-month implementation, trained tutors accompany youth as they explore career interests, build relevant skills, and develop a realistic life plan grounded in their aspirations. Participants receive intensive socio-emotional training through Passport to Success (PTS)®, technical preparation for high-demand industries, and personalized case management rooted in Positive Youth Development.
A core innovation of JuventudES is its system-strengthening approach. The program embeds tools, methodologies, and training capacities within public institutions, NGOs, and local implementers, transforming how the city identifies, engages, and supports Opportunity Youth. Companies also play a key role by participating in sensitization workshops, offering training aligned with labor-market needs, and improving their hiring practices.
JuventudES does not “rescue” youth; it strengthens systems so that opportunities are easier to navigate and accessible to all.
The Impact
Since its launch in 2022, JuventudES has become a trusted model for reconnecting Opportunity Youth in Mexico City. More than 2,159 young people have enrolled—surpassing initial targets—with 67% women participating. Through the intensive 6–8 week training track, graduates report a 92.6% improvement in socioemotional skills, 53.3% employment, and 63.9% enrollment in education pathways.
86.8%
Overall, 86.8% of participants complete the program, continuing to receive four months of personalized follow-up to pursue employment, return to school, or access essential services such as healthcare, legal guidance, and documentation support.
180
To ensure sustainability, more than 180 educators and staff from partner organizations have been trained to replicate key elements of the model, strengthening Mexico City’s capacity to serve Opportunity Youth.
Participants describe the initiative as a turning point in their journey.
The program also prioritizes peacebuilding and community bonds through dialogue, conflict resolution, and activities with cultural and sports organizations—helping create safer, more supportive environments for young people can thrive.
By strengthening young people’s skills, expanding their networks, and aligning multisectoral actors around shared goals, JuventudES is building more inclusive systems and helping thousands of youths create stable, meaningful futures in Mexico City.
“Before JuventudES, I felt lost. Here I found guidance, community, and a clear path forward. I discovered my strengths, set real goals, and even found my first job. This program changed my life.”
– Luis, JuventudES alumnus.
Date: 2022-2027
Country: Mexico
With the support of:
Jóvenes Con Entrega
The Challenge
Logistics is evolving quickly across Latin America, and companies are navigating new technologies, sustainability demands and shifting supply-chain dynamics. Yet many organizations struggle to find candidates with the technical knowledge and workplace competencies needed. Employers also highlight growing gaps in essential soft skills that are increasingly critical for effective performance in logistics environments. At the same time, thousands of young people are seeking meaningful career opportunities but often encounter training systems that do not reflect modern logistics practices. These parallel realities highlight a shared challenge: how to create learning pathways that reflect real industry needs and expand access to quality jobs.
The Solution
In 2018, FedEx and IYF launched an initiative grounded in a shared goal: strengthening the logistics sector while expanding meaningful opportunities for young people. Together, they co-created Jóvenes con Entrega—a program that embeds logistics training directly into public education and vocational systems, ensuring that companies remain active co-designers of both curriculum and career pathways.
Rather than operating as an external training initiative, the program strengthens institutional capacity within education systems. FedEx specialists contribute insights on emerging logistics trends, sustainability practices, and operational standards, while IYF translates these into classroom experiences that connect theory with real-world application. This collaboration has helped shape curricula, guide state-level expansion, and design new internship pathways that broaden access to hands-on learning.
Additionally, the program includes a strong socio-emotional skills component, supporting students in developing communication, teamwork, problem-solving, adaptability, and workplace readiness through IYF’s Passport to Success® (PTS) methodology. These competencies have proven essential for young people entering logistics roles, where collaboration, customer service, and decision-making under pressure are critical.
Today, this public–private partnership operates in Mexico, El Salvador, and Colombia alongside national training institutions, laying the groundwork for long-term sustainability.
The Impact
More than 34,000 young people have graduated from the program—reaching 50,000 youth across Latin America and the Caribbean through related efforts—reshaping access to quality employment and diversifying the future talent pipeline.
The curriculum’s integration of sustainability, automation, and energy-transition content prepares young people for an industry undergoing rapid transformation, while also equipping companies with talent ready to respond to emerging environmental and safety needs.
For FedEx employees, the program offers a meaningful avenue for engagement through curriculum co-design and advisory roles that strengthen both the sector and their connection to local communities. Young people, in turn, gain access to training and networks that align with their career aspirations and with current industry demands.
For IYF and FedEx, this collaboration demonstrates the impact of sustained, purpose-driven collaboration. By keeping young people and industry needs at the center, Jóvenes con Entrega continues to expand pathways to quality employment while supporting the long-term competitiveness of the logistics ecosystem.
With the support of:
Date: 2018-2026
Countries: Colombia, El Salvador and Mexico.
EquipYouth
The Challenge
Across Latin America, young people are navigating a labor market reshaped by rapid technological and industrial change. Sectors such as mining, advanced manufacturing, and logistics are expanding, yet employers often struggle to find workers equipped with the technical, digital, and socio-emotional skills required in modern production environments. At the same time, public education and training systems must continually adapt to new technologies—from automation and data analytics to safer, more efficient industrial processes— often without sufficient resources or updated tools.
This skills gap limits young people’s access to meaningful employment and constrains economic growth. It also underscores the need for education and training systems that can evolve in step with industry demands.
The Solution
EquipYouth—led by IYF with long-term support from the Caterpillar Foundation—strengthens TVET systems by co-designing solutions with education authorities, employers, and young people themselves. In the current phase, active in Brazil, Mexico, and Peru, the initiative modernizes technical curricula, equips teachers with updated tools and methodologies, and integrates life skills training that supports effective communication, decision-making, and teamwork.
The program focuses on sectors with the highest potential to drive regional growth:
- In Brazil, it is modernizing logistics and mining curricula to better reflect emerging technologies and industry practices, and embedding life skills to better prepare learners for industry demands
- In Mexico, the initiative is elevating manufacturing and data science tracks, introducing AI, data interpretation, and process-improvement skills that support the country’s industrial transformation
- In Peru, it is tackling a critical mining industry talent gap in logistics by expanding training pathways and implementing outreach strategies that elevate awareness and interest in logistics careers.
Across all countries, the model emphasizes capacity building and long-term systems change. Curricula are co-developed with employers; internship and employment pathways are co-designed with industry; and Ministries of Education lead implementation—ensuring ownership, relevance, and sustainability long after the program ends.
The Impact
EquipYouth demonstrates how long-term alliances between educators, communities, and the private sector can create meaningful pathways for young people while supporting more competitive and future-ready industries.
By aligning TVET systems with real labor market needs, the program helps education institutions deliver more relevant training, supports companies in building stronger and more relevant talent pipelines, and equips young people with the technical and life skills they need to thrive in high-demand fields.
With the support of:
Date: 2024-2028
Countries: Brazil, Mexico and Peru.
Burberry Inspire
The Challenge
Young people around the world face a shortage of programs that offer dedicated spaces to explore their creativity and develop skills needed for today’s jobs. As AI transforms industries, creativity—alongside problem-solving, collaboration, and adaptability—is increasingly vital for success. Yet, many youth lack environments where they can freely express themselves, build confidence, and prepare for meaningful careers. This gap limits individual potential and the ability of communities to innovate and thrive.
The Solution
Burberry Inspire, launched in partnership with The Burberry Foundation and IYF, is a global Creative Youth Development initiative. The program provides opportunities for young people to develop creative skills, gain new experiences, and build a more positive future. By combining flexible funding focused on creativity with a uniform Creative Youth Development framework, Burberry Inspire empowers trusted local youth-serving organizations to tailor programs to the unique needs of their communities, while maintaining high standards and shared goals. Each partner defines creativity in its own context and designs after-school programs in ART, STEM, or Leadership, fostering creative self-expression, skills-building, and workforce readiness. Youth are actively involved in shaping these programs, ensuring activities are culturally relevant and meaningful.
The Impact
Youth participants report increased confidence, a stronger sense of belonging, and greater readiness for civic engagement. Communities benefit from creative, socially engaged young leaders equipped to address local challenges and drive positive change. This impact is amplified through collaboration with expert youth-led local partners and funders committed to transforming young people’s lives. Ultimately, Burberry Inspire is helping young people shape their own futures and become catalysts for positive change worldwide.
With the support of:
Date: 2023- 2026
Countries: United States, United Kingdom, Hong Kong S.A.R, China, Italy, Japan, South Korea.
UP for Change
The Challenge
Across the United States, young people with learning differences—whether diagnosed or not—continue to navigate educational systems that were not designed with their diverse ways of learning in mind. Limited access to appropriate support, combined with systemic inequities, often restricts their ability to fully engage in and benefit from educational opportunities. At the same time, efforts to improve accessibility frequently overlook the expertise of youth with learning differences themselves, leaving out the perspectives that could most meaningfully shape lasting change.
The Solution
With support from Oak Foundation, Unique Perspectives (UP) for Change shifts how educational solutions are imagined and implemented. Through a participatory grantmaking model, IYF partners with youth with learning differences and allies to lead critical stages of a full grantmaking cycle—from co-designing a request for proposals and reviewing applications to awarding grants and conducting project evaluations.
Through the UP for Change Leadership Program, young people ages 14 to 25 become empowered with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to lead, manage, and learn from $600,000 USD grant fund. Program Participants, known as UP for Change Leaders, engage in virtual and in-person sessions, connect with peers and mentors, and contribute their insights to support organizations working to make educational opportunities more equitable for all learners. The program is grounded in IYF’s 35-year history of advancing youth-inclusive systems and recognizes young people’s right and ability to influence the spaces where they learn and grow.
The Impact
Since its launch, UP for Change has supported a community of 26 Leaders who have awarded $600,000 USD to seven youth-serving organizations across the country. The first cohort established the fund’s priorities and selected grantee partners; the second cohort—comprised of new and returning participants—led monitoring efforts, gathered insights, and helped shape shared learning spaces focused on what works best for diverse learners.
Their work is already influencing how educators and community organizations design programs, create accessible environments, and involve youth in decision-making processes. Through their grantmaking, UP for Change Leaders reached around 1,850 youth through direct and indirect services and programs. Additionally, they supported the professional development of 130 educators.
For many UP for Change Leaders, the program has transformed how they see themselves and how they understand their role and potential within educational systems. Averie, an UP for Change Leader, reflected:
“UP for Change gave me a sense of pride and self-confidence. I became more aware of the accessibility around me, and I felt like my experience could help others like me.”
As these Leaders support grantee organizations, their experiences, insights, and leadership are shaping a more responsive and inclusive educational ecosystem—one where all young people can thrive. Through UP for Change, young people are not simply participating in change; they are defining it.
Date: 2023-2025
Country: United States
With the support of:
Global AI TVET Training
The Challenge
The International Youth Foundation (IYF), in collaboration with Microsoft Elevate, is excited to announce the launch of the Global AI for TVET Institutions Training, to support AI skills development and AI adoption at TVET Institutions across the globe. The program brings faculty and staff together to advance AI learning.
Credentialed AI webinar trainings are provided for staff and faculty of all skill levels through Tablet Academy and are available in English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish. Online AI Credential courses are available for TVET students at beginner and intermediate levels.
Course Overview
- What is AI? Understanding AI terminology.
- Introduction to Copilot versions and features.
- Understanding how your data is used or secured.
- Basic prompt engineering.
- Generating images and text.
- Creating schemes of work and individual lesson plans.
- Producing learning activities and student resources.
- Using AI within Teams Assignments.
- Creating self-marking quizzes.
- Summarising and analysing assessment data.
- Advanced prompt engineering.
- Using Copilot within Microsoft Office applications.
- Chat with Copilot like a virtual assistant.
- Introduction to education Copilot Agents.
- Streamlining day-to-day administration tasks.
- Using Agents with your data.
- Supporting students to use AI within their studies.
- Differentiating content for students.
- Tools for supporting equitable access for all.
- Introducing Copilot Notebooks.
- Creating personalised student reports.
Upcoming Events
Past Events
About Microsoft Elevate
Microsoft Elevate is dedicated to empowering individuals and communities in the era of artificial intelligence. As part of Microsoft’s broader commitment to inclusive economic growth, Elevate brings together philanthropic investments, strategic partnerships, and educational resources to help people gain the skills and support they need to thrive in an AI-driven world. Through collaborations with schools, nonprofits, labor organizations, and policymakers, Elevate aims to build a more equitable future by expanding access to technology, training, and opportunity.
About IYF
The International Youth Foundation® (IYF®) transforms lives and tackles economic inequality at scale by equipping and empowering young people with the skills to thrive today and lead tomorrow. Founded in 1990, IYF is a global nonprofit with programs directly benefiting more than 8M young people and operations spanning 105 countries. Together with a network of local community-based organizations and some of the world’s foremost businesses, foundations, and multilateral partners, we are the leading experts connecting young people with life-changing opportunities. We believe educated, employed, and engaged youth can solve the world’s toughest problems. Our work focuses on three goals: building agency, expanding economic opportunity, and driving more inclusive systems—unlocking success for young people and value for business and society. Our vision is to see young people inspired and equipped to realize the future they want.
The International Youth Foundation: Transforming Lives, Together.
High Gear
The Challenge
South Africa’s automotive manufacturing sector—one of the country’s most competitive industries—has long faced a skills gap that limits growth and opportunity. Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges are essential to developing this talent, yet limited coordination with employers often meant that engineering courses lagged behind fast-changing technologies. Students rarely had access to workplaces for hands-on learning, and lecturers had limited exposure to current industry practices. These disconnects constrained young people’s pathways into quality jobs and undermined employer confidence in the TVET system.
The Solution
High Gear transformed how South Africa’s education and industry systems collaborate. Delivered between 2019–2024 by IYF in partnership with the National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers (NAACAM), the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), and the Automotive Industry Development Centre–Eastern Cape, the initiative strengthened the public TVET ecosystem through curriculum modernization, industry engagement, and large-scale systems reform.
High Gear introduced:
- Modernized engineering curricula and pedagogy, aligning N4–N6 Electrical and Mechanical Engineering courses with industry standards.
- Lecturer industry placements, providing educators with hands-on experience and new teaching tools through Effective Teaching (ET) and Project-Based Learning (PBL) training.
- Expanded workplace learning, enabling students to gain practical skills through placements with with leading automotive firms.
- An Electric Vehicle (EV) Competency Framework, positioning South Africa’s TVET system for the EV transition.
- Digital career guidance, including the Yakh’iFuture online platform, later integrated with the Presidency’s SAYouth.mobi network.
- Gender equity and inclusion strategies, informed by sector research and a guest lecturer series promoting women’s participation in engineering.
By strengthening coordination between colleges, industry associations, employers, and national authorities, High Gear built a replicable model for aligning TVET systems with labor-market needs.
The Impact
High Gear supported four public TVET colleges in modernizing engineering courses and informed the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations in redesigning national TVET qualifications. DHET is now integrating High Gear’s pedagogy, tools, and frameworks into national reforms—with projected reach of 15,000 students and 150 lecturers annually.
Across KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape:
- 2,839 students received updated course content (48% women).
- 174 students completed work-integrated learning placements in automotive firms.
- 1,188 young people secured jobs or became economically active, surpassing targets.
- 94 educators were trained in effective teaching and project-based learning.
- 53 lecturers completed industry placements, bringing workplace insights into classrooms.
Employers reported increased confidence in TVET graduates’ skills, and industry associations—particularly NAACAM—emerged as national leaders in strengthening training pathways and preparing the sector for the EV transition.
High Gear leaves behind a stronger, more coordinated, and more inclusive TVET ecosystem—one where young people gain relevant skills for a rapidly evolving sector, and employers benefit from a future-ready workforce.
“When education and industry move in sync, young people, employers, and the economy all move forward together.”
– IYF Industry Partner