Swisscontact Lao PDR welcomed the Employment Support Services (ESS) design mission team members from Switzerland and Albania last September 23, 2019. The group is comprised of the VTESS project team from the Lao PDR, Swisscontact’s consortium partner HSLU (University of Applied Sciences Lucerne), and members of Swisscontact’s ‘Coaching for Employment and Entrepreneurship’ (C4EE) project from Albania. ESS is the 2nd Component in the Vocational Training and Employment Support Services (VTESS) project. The focus of the project will be on the strengthening of the Integrated Vocational and Education Training (IVET) pathway in order to facilitate the school to work transition of early school leavers, to provide them with options for productive employment (wage and self-employment) and the opportunity to enroll in further education and training.
As support to the overall goal of the VTESS project, an expected outcome of the 2nd component will be — The Integrated Vocational Education System1 (IVET) in cooperation with Employment Support Service (ESS) consistently brings early school leavers into employment, self– employment, income generation or back into the education system. Additionally, the design mission team discussed on adaption methods of the successful model of C4EE in Albania to the Lao PDR context. From 23rd of September until 4th of October, the mission team together with potential stakeholders and partners became familiar with the ESS concept for Laos and its challenges. The team went to 4 locations around Laos: Oudomxay, Xiengkhouang, Khammouane and Salavanh. The next steps for the VTESS team will be to adapt the ESS concept according to the findings, contact potential partner organizations and define the process of the selection of coaches.
