What is Youth-Friendly Initiatives

This chapter outlines and describes a sponsored needs assessment process wherein a small group of researchers from various disciplines designed an approach for the burgeoning population of youth in Sierra Leone to learn literacy skills in a practical, motivating and sustainable way- “literacy-on-the-job”. In order to create a responsive and aligned intervention, the authors used a participatory methodology to understand the values and needs of representatives situated in industrial, governmental, educational and community-based youth organizations. The voices and perspectives of individuals across various businesses, schools, civic offices, and social groups were woven together to create a portrait of the complex landscape where young adults, in particular, are struggling to achieve and survive. Recommendations for a process of full implementation of the” literacy-on-the- job model” in both Sierra Leone and nations with similar landscapes are provided.