GALKAYO, Puntland, Somalia (26 July 2012) – Somali Family Services (SFS) provided seed capital grants to 100 at-risk youth in Galkayo on July 26th, 2012 to enable them to start their own businesses. The youth, who were formed into 25 cooperatives each consisting of four beneficiaries, were given a cheque of USD 2,000 per group.  The project had targeted 225 youth who were trained on entrepreneurship skills. The trainees entered a business plan competition where the best 100 business plans were selected. These grants, which targeted 100 individuals and accounted for USD 100,000, will provide the youth with the opportunity to economically sustain themselves and their families for the first time. The remaining 125 were given vocational skills training in wielding, electricity, plumbing, carpentry and office management, and SFS provided 25 of those with job placement.

Community stakeholders, including the Mayor, Deputy Governor, representative from the Ministry of Security, local government, traditional and religious leaders, media, UNDP and ILO were present during the event.

Government officals expressed their gratitude to SFS and advised youth to use the money to establish new businesses and sustain themselves and their families. During the event, Somali Family Services also awarded youth with certificates for successful participation in business enterprise and vocational skill training.

The aim of the Youth-at-Risk project is to engage youth with life skills trainings to direct their energies towards productive lifestyles. These life skills can prevent youth who see no future, due to the instability of recent decades, from joining violent groups and further destabilizing Somalia.

Somali Family Services is a non-governmental organization dedicated to fostering a peaceful and democratic Somalia through the support of civil society, women, youth and other marginalized groups.

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For more information, please contact Mohamed Hamud at mohamed.hamud@ussfs.org or visit www.ussfs.org.