Publication Date: January 19, 2022
Publication Location: WASHINGTON
Contact: Abby Henson   |   [email protected]

With partners in 14 Wilayas, the two-year program will build personal finance and job skills for 27,000 youth

On January 19, HSBC Holdings plc and World Learning launched a new project to help Algerian youth manage their finances and earn an income.

In collaboration with local schools, student clubs, and youth organizations in 14 wilayas, the 21st Century Financial Resilience through Education and Employment (21 FREE) project will train more than 600 community mentors to teach youth personal financial management and job skills. World Learning will provide technical support to the mentoring institutions and educators over the two-year program, which aims to train 27,000 youth.

Modules will cover budgeting, communications, critical thinking, and job search skills. Following a three-month pilot phase in Algiers, Sétif, and Ouargla, the program will expand to an additional eleven communities, targeting underserved areas.

“In the face of the socio-economic challenges in Algeria and around the world that the Covid-19 pandemic has brought, HSBC and World Learning are committed to equipping youth with the skills they need to build successful careers and contribute to the development of the local economy,” said Leah Bitat, World Learning Algeria country representative.

“One of the four pillars of HSBC’s global strategy is to energize for growth, which means investing to attract, develop, and retain the talented individuals who will lead business into the future by nurturing a dynamic and diverse culture for people who want to make a positive impact in the community. The 21 FREE program is aligned with the Algeria National Vision 2030 where HSBC is investing in local talent and the development of Algerians as future leaders in the banking and finance sector,” says James Fielder, CEO of HSBC in Algeria. “The aim is to facilitate opportunities, generate meaningful income, and instill effective planning and managing of financial capabilities for disadvantaged communities.”

World Learning has worked in Algeria since 2005, partnering with local institutions to bring high-quality education for youth in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), English, and career development. More than 20,000 Algerians have received support as they started careers or implemented community and business ventures.

Schools, student clubs, and youth organizations interested in partnering to host trainings in their communities can contact World Learning at [email protected].

To learn more about World Learning’s activities visit: [email protected]. For HSBC in Algeria visit [email protected], Nick Edwards, +971 54 309 6285, [email protected].