Marginalized Youth

The percentage of youth (aged 15-29) in occupied Palestine comprises 30% of the total population. Unemployment rates among this age group have reached an alarming 40% for over 1.5 decades. Due to a large inter-generational gap, the youth are met with exclusion and marginalisation from decision and policy-making processes leaving them disempowered and vulnerable, without control over their future. Other than high unemployment and lack of jobs, the Palestinian youth also suffer from poverty, poor quality of education, lack of access to good health care, and gender-based labour segregation . This exposes our youth to risks of negative behaviours, school dropout, high levels of violence, as well as unsatisfactory civil and political participation.This reality is repeating the Arab Region

OPTIMUM takes pride in carrying out economic empowerment, youth-led civic engagement,  and gender empowerment missions and studies targeted at marginalised youth in the oPt and the region.

A large scope of OPTIMUM’s consultancy services is concerned with how to approach vulnerable youth and change their lives from vulnerable to empowered. For example, OPTIMUM developed a Career Guidance Framework, visual tools and four modules for the Career Guidance Program at the community level for drop-out youth and youth at risk in Jordan, for the IYF program in 2013.

We also provided employability training and preparation of training material for 100 youth in Hebron and Bethlehem, supported by Mercy Corps.