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Solutions for Impoverished Youth in Asia

24 June 2004

Poverty and marginalisation issues affecting young citizens in Commonwealth Asian countries were discussed at a Regional Training Workshop on Youth Enterprise Development and the Commonwealth Youth Credit Initiative (CYCI) that was held on 14-19 June 2004 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

"An estimated 440 million people are living below the poverty line in South Asia. In light of global and regional concern over increasing youth unemployment, there is a need to examine methods of poverty reduction."

The workshop was organised by the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP) Asia Centre in collaboration with the host country's Ministry of Youth and Sports. Participants included Commonwealth member countries in the Asia region -- Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Singapore and Sri Lanka -- while resource persons were provided by the Grameen Bank of Bangladesh, the NGO BRAC, and the International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Career Development, India.  

During the workshop, participants examined successful micro-finance initiatives in the region. The main focus was on micro-finance models as effective solutions for youth poverty. Participants shared experiences and success stories from their respective countries, and were introduced to various models of youth enterprise development and micro-credit -- including scale-up finance and credit programmes -- as well as organised socio-economic group formation models. Participants also studied the CYCI, which aims to provide solutions for youth unemployment and poverty through opportunities for young people to create sustainable enterprises. CYCI achieves this by supplying low-cost credit for small enterprises and training in entrepreneurship development.

 Commenting on the aim of the workshop, Raka Rashid, Regional Director, CYP Asia Centre, said, "Youth poverty is associated with lack of opportunities, financial and infrastructural capital, skills and motivation. An estimated 440 million people are living below the poverty line in South Asia. In light of global and regional concern over increasing youth unemployment, there is a need to examine methods of poverty reduction. Small enterprises and micro-finance have proven effective in this regard.  

"Outcomes of the workshop included a cadre of youth leaders exposed to the operation and management of micro-finance programmes and youth enterprise development training. During the workshop, participants assessed the most suitable youth enterprise development or micro-finance model for their respective countries and they were also able to create action plans aimed at enhancing youth employment opportunities in their countries." 

The workshop was part of the commitment made in 1997 by Commonwealth Heads of Government to "work towards halving the proportion of people living in extreme poverty by the year 2015" and in particular "promote the role of micro-credit schemes in reducing poverty through increased assistance from the international community".