Youth Economic Empowerment Training
This U.S. State Department Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund-supported program, "TradeRoots: Building Prosperous Markets Across Borders", convened forty students and twenty community leaders from my former Peace Corps Village. Over four days, they gained firsthand exposure to careers in conservation, tourism, aviation, trades, and entrepreneurship, along with the skills and confidence to imagine themselves in those roles. The other part of this program can be viewed here.
I partnered with Emma, whom I met during a USAID assignment in the Dominican Republic. She brought her background in sustainable markets and circular economic principles, while I drew on my local experience. Together, we then secured the funding for this project through a competitive application process, and designed a career education program that included both a mosaic of exposures to different career paths and practical hands-on training.
Although the community is located right next to a national park, most participants had never actually seen its wildlife. Tourism brings in significant money, yet local people rarely access or benefit from it. This program aimed to change that.
For nearly all participants, the game drives were their first chance to encounter elephants, giraffes, and other characteristic wildlife in person. Beyond the thrill, it opened their eyes to careers in guiding, park management, conservation research, and tourism: roles that can feel distant without access, mentorship, or clear pathways. On the drives, they talked with passionate guides about what those jobs involve, the skills and certifications required, local entry points/sponsorships, and how park revenue could better connect to community livelihoods.
We toured the local airport to introduce participants to aviation and aviation-related careers. It highlighted a side of infrastructure and opportunity that many were unaware of.
They even got to experience the horrors of airport security.
We toured Tribal Textiles and local craft markets, to learn from local artisans and entrepreneurs about creating and selling works of art to businesses and tourists.
At a local trade school, participants explored different vocational paths. This exposure broadened their view of education beyond academics, showing how skills training can directly translate into stable jobs.
We examined livestock enterprises connected to the national park, noting how tourism relies on local producers and how challenges in feed, animal health, and market access shape viability.
Visits to nearby farms showed how agroforestry and organic practices can improve resilience and income. Participants saw how sustainable production systems can diversify livelihoods while protecting the land and earning more money.
While it would have been easier to source from outside, we bought all food and workshop materials locally, channeling as much money back into the community as possible.
