The economic integration of marginalized youth in Sierra Leone

The economic marginalization of youth was one of the main reasons which leaded to the civil war in Sierra Leone. Therefore, youth employment programs in West African countries are viewed as a key tool for conflict prevention. But until now youth employment programs with a focus on sustainable job creation and demand-orientation are rare in urban areas in Sierra Leone. Youth are still living on the margins of society due to low access to education during the war. Their unemployment rate is at an alarming rate of 65 percent (2009). In addition, the majority of youth male are stigmatized as violent and unreliable, due to their involvement during the war. Therefore, it is important to implement employment programs to create demand oriented jobs in urban areas to reduce the risk of further frustration among youth. This study provides an analysis of the current economic situation of youth and implemented employment projects in Freetown. Moreover it presents different types of employment projects, features to create sustainable employment opportunities for marginalized youth and one successful project example.

Autorentext

Claudia Lotzwig (Diplom-Geographin); Volontariat im Dresdner Druck- und Verlagshaus, anschließend Studium der Geographie, Afrika- und Politikwissenschaften an der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin und Universität in Dar es Salaam, Tansania.