LEARNING NARRATIVE CONNECTING YOUTH TO LOCAL SERVICES
The objective of this narrative is to identify and analyze the strengths and limitations of services that Youth in Action (YiA) connects youth to in their communities. Some key findings in this area include:
Connecting youth to financial services is contextual: YiA acknowledges the role of financial services in equipping youth with the necessary tools to become economically productive and navigate financial challenges as they transition into their adulthood economic roles and manage their small businesses. Because YiA targets youth living in rural areas, the program confronted significant challenges in its attempts to link youth to financial service providers. Such challenges included limited access to formal financial services, as well as legal age restrictions for accessing services, high transaction costs, and negative stereotypes about youth.