Completed Project – 2

Youth unemployment in Somalia has reached alarming levels in recent years, pushing many young people—both men and women—towards harmful and high-risk activities such as piracy, illegal emigration, and organized crime. For young women, the situation is further exacerbated by a deeply entrenched patriarchal culture that limits their access to education and employment opportunities.

To address this challenge, Kaalo Nederland launched the Women in Leadership program—an empowerment-focused, two-year scholarship initiative aimed at building the capacity of young women from low-income backgrounds.

Project Highlights:

• 15 young women from economically disadvantaged families received full scholarships to pursue a Diploma in Office Management and Secretarial Studies.
• The program focused on developing market-relevant skills, including:
  • Bookkeeping and computerized accounting
  • File and document management
  • Communication and customer service skills
  • English language proficiency
  • Computer literacy and office software usage
• The curriculum included a one-month internship to give students hands-on experience in real office settings.

Impact:

• All 15 participants graduated successfully.
• Within six months of graduation, 85% were employed in various organizations, becoming financially independent and active contributors to their households and communities.

This project strongly aligned with:

• SDG 5 – Gender Equality
• SDG 4 – Quality Education
• SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth

By equipping young women with education, skills, and confidence, the Women in Leadership program played a transformative role in helping them break through systemic barriers and pave their own path toward self-sufficiency and leadership.