Youths Realizing “God-given potential” among Goals of Latest Ethiopian Spiritan Entity Training Initiative

“The goal is not just to provide information, but to empower these young men and women to contribute to their communities, achieve economic independence, and realize their God-given potential,” organizers are quoted as saying during the closing ceremony.

Implemented in collaboration with the Job and Skills Offices of the Chencha City Administration and Chencha Zuria Woreda, the program brought together 30 young participants from the mountainous Chencha area, including 19 women.

According to organizers of the SCORE initiative, the strong participation of women reflects the Catholic Church’s commitment to gender-inclusive development, particularly in contexts where young women are disproportionately affected by unemployment.

Mr. Beture’s report shared with ACI Africa details that the training curriculum covered a wide range of interrelated competencies. These included self-leadership, with a focus on building confidence, resilience, and goal-setting; professionalism, encompassing time management, communication skills, and teamwork; and an entrepreneurial mindset centered on creative thinking, problem-solving, and adaptability.

Participants were also introduced to financial literacy, including financial management skills and strategic planning as tools for predicting and sustaining business success.

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Beyond classroom engagement, the training offered participants a practical pathway toward employment and self-reliance.

As outlined in Mr. Beture’s report, the training sessions guided youths to identify specific business sectors they intend to pursue, laying an initial foundation for future income-generating activities within their local communities.

In the next phase of the initiative, SCORE plans to conduct feasibility studies on the selected sectors and provide seed capital and start-up support to help translate ideas into viable economic ventures, the report shared with ACI Africa on January 18 indicates.

The initiative comes against a challenging employment landscape in the Horn of Africa nation. Recent data from the Ethiopian Statistical Service (ESS) indicates that unemployment for those aged 15–29 in Ethiopian urban areas has reached approximately 27.2%. According to the report, female youths are disproportionately affected, with their unemployment often double that of their male counterparts. 

Within this context, the Spiritan-led training reflects a development approach that links employability with personal formation.

Through the C-SICD project, SCORE continues to demonstrate how faith-based initiatives can contribute to holistic human development by equipping young people not only with skills, but also with the confidence to recognize and act upon their God-given potential.

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