In Tarija, in southern Bolivia, young people are gradually regaining hope for the future. Thanks to a project led by Esperanza Bolivia and Louvain Coopération, schools, businesses, local authorities and entrepreneurs are joining forces to create jobs, support entrepreneurship and better meet the needs of the local economy.

More than 700 students trained across various courses, 200 entrepreneurs – mainly young people and women – receiving support, around 20 young people now making a living from their own businesses, 12 better-equipped technical colleges… In Tarija, in southern Bolivia, young people’s career prospects are gradually improving. Behind these results lies a project led by the NGO Esperanza Bolivia and Louvain Coopération. Since late 2023, Esperanza Bolivia has been building bridges between training programmes, entrepreneurship and the needs of local economic sectors, with the aim of offering young people genuine prospects for the future in their region.

Ecosystems to boost employment

One of the cornerstones of this project is the creation of employment ecosystems – that is, networks comprising stakeholders from the education sector, the public and private sectors, SMEs, young jobseekers and the local authority – organised around a specific sector and working to implement the changes necessary for its development.

Ongoing training

The project also works directly with young people to support them in finding a job or setting up their own business. To this end, training courses are offered on entrepreneurship, soft skills for the workplace, marketing and financial management. In addition, secondary schools and technical colleges are supported, notably through the provision of equipment to improve learning conditions.

Promoting women’s entrepreneurship

Associations of women entrepreneurs are also benefiting from this project. Whether they are embroiderers, cheesemakers or ham producers, they receive support to improve their production techniques and gain access to local or national markets. In this way, they are able to secure a regular income and the independence that comes with it.

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