Internships and work for Syrian youth

Youth unemployment is one of the biggest problems facing the Middle East. Educated young people still lack the knowledge and skills to match the labour markets needs, which change rapidly.

SPARK and the Dutch Postcode Lottery are creating new routes for youth to enter employment or entrepreneurship. 400 internship places are available for both Syrian and young nationals of Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey, with a focus on young women. Interns receive career guidance from trained career counsellors and an internship culture is becoming embedded into businesses and education institutes.

Additionally, a loan guarantee fund to help safeguard SMEs from the impact of the COVID-19 crisis is available for those companies with growth potential. A particular focus is given to businesses providing critical services and products in the battle against COVID-19, such as personal protective equipment. The response is designed to boost already struggling economies and safeguard jobs for vulnerable youth, including women and refugees.