Vocational Education and Skilled Trades (VEST) Program

Across many communities worldwide, young people and adults face significant barriers to accessing formal education and practical training, limiting their opportunities to acquire marketable skills. This skills gap often results in high unemployment, underemployment, and dependence on low-income, unstable work. Communities are left with untapped human potential, while individuals struggle to achieve economic independence and improve their livelihoods. The lack of vocational education further exacerbates cycles of poverty and restricts local economic growth, particularly in areas where formal schooling may be insufficient to prepare youth for the workforce.

Vocational and technical skills are critical for creating sustainable livelihoods, fostering entrepreneurship, and enhancing local economic resilience. Many individuals are motivated to learn trades, start small businesses, or enter emerging industries but are hindered by the cost of training, lack of access to tools and equipment, and limited exposure to practical guidance. Without support, these talented individuals remain underutilized, and communities miss out on the benefits of their skills.

PASDO’s Vocational Education and Skilled Trades (VEST) Program addresses these challenges by providing comprehensive support for skill acquisition and practical training. The program assists participants with vocational course fees, access to materials, tools, and equipment, and mentorship where possible, ensuring that learners can fully engage with their chosen trades. Training may include fields such as carpentry, tailoring, electrical work, plumbing, information technology, food processing, and other market-relevant skills.

In addition to classroom or workshop-based training, the program emphasizes practical, hands-on experience, allowing participants to apply their skills in real-world settings. PASDO works with local training institutions, community centers, and vocational instructors to ensure that participants receive high-quality instruction aligned with industry standards. Where feasible, the program also promotes entrepreneurship by equipping participants with guidance on starting small businesses, managing resources, and connecting with potential markets.

Implemented in communities where needs assessments identify a skills gap as a critical barrier to economic opportunity, the VEST Program is designed to be flexible and responsive to local priorities and available resources.