In rural Niger, the path toward adulthood is steep for many young people. Nearly half of all children aged 9 to 14 – 48.88% or close to 2 million young people, are out of school or have never attended school. With limited alternatives and scarce opportunities, many risk a future of inactivity or unsafe migration.
The experiences of ten young people show how different their lives can become when given a second chance through the Centres Communautaires d’Éducation Alternative des Jeunes (CCEAJ) part of Swisscontact’s Programme d’Éducation Alternative des Jeunes (PEAJ), implemented in consortium with Enfants du Monde and funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.
Young people typically arrive at the centers after difficult setbacks: repeated exam failures, illness, household responsibilities, or years spent at home without perspective. Aminatou Issa recalls the paralysis she felt before joining the center:
For many, the CCEAJ becomes a turning point, as a structured yet compassionate environment where learning becomes possible again. The adapted teaching approach, using local languages and participatory methods, helps learners reconnect with education. Nana Azima, once discouraged, shared:
These experiences show how culturally grounded, inclusive pedagogy can reuild confidence in young people who once felt left behind.
After completing their foundational year, youth thransition to hands-on vocational training with local artisans. Their chosen trades range from tailoring to welding, tyre repair, electricity, embroidery, cosmetics, and mobile phone charging, reflecting real economic opportunities within their communities.
For Moubarak Illa, apprenticed to a local tailor, the practical training made all the difference. His tutor proudly noted:
Swisscontact equips each learner with a professional starter kit at the end of the program, essential tools that make it possible to work immediately. Aminatou, who received her sewing kit, said:
These tools, combined with coaching and structured guidance, form the backbone of a proven insertion model developed through Swisscontact’s experience in Niger’s skills and employability sector.
The economic impact of the PEAJ reaches far beyond individual participants.
Ayouba, who once wandered without direction, now travels market-to-market with a phone-charging kit.
For Moustapha, mastering tyre repair gave him autonomy:
Some youth are now becoming economic pillars in their families. Moubarak’s mother noted:
“He often buys food for the household, and he even bought a goat, it’s pregnant!”
Others, like Mahfouz, have developed strong professional identities through welding.
Local leadership strengthens the program’s impact. In Gangara, the Administrator Delegate Mahamadou Seydou became an advocate after witnessing the results firsthand:
These stories demonstrate how alternative education, practical training, and community engagement can transform the paths of young people who once felt excluded. Supported by strong partnerships, the PEAJ is providing thousands of youth with the tools to reclaim their futures.
With the right support, they regain dignity, economic independence, and a renewed sense of purpose. And in a countr y where nearly half of 9 to 14 years old are out of school, the impact of such programs is nothing short of vital.