UNICEF and Rönesans Collaborate to Enhance Vocational Training for Youth in Turkey

Collaborative Initiative for Youth Vocational Training in Turkey

In a significant step towards revolutionizing vocational education, Rönesans Holding has announced its collaboration with UNICEF under the initiative "From Learning to Earning for Youth." This partnership aims to improve vocational training for young individuals across Turkey, equipping them with essential skills for successful careers.

A New Era of Training

This groundbreaking initiative, executed in cooperation with Turkey's Ministry of National Education, sets out to address the pressing need for skills development among the youth. The program recognizes that many young people, particularly those aged 15 to 24, are not engaged in education, training, or the job market. Through this collaboration, Rönesans Holding aims to provide these individuals with access to quality vocational training, adapting to the fast-changing labor market demands.

As a pioneering partner in the program, Rönesans will open the doors of Gaziantep City Hospital—one of Turkey's leading healthcare facilities—to 120 vocational students. This will allow them to gain hands-on experience in various fields, including software development, food and beverage services, industrial maintenance and repair, plumbing and energy systems, and industrial automation technologies. By linking education directly with real-world job requirements, the program empowers Turkish youth to transform their ambitions into rewarding careers.

Bridging Ambition and Opportunity

Paolo Marchi, UNICEF's representative in Turkey, emphasized the importance of this partnership in fostering potential among young people. The initiative aims not just to provide vocational training but also to ensure that it is inclusive and aligned with market needs. The collaboration will also strengthen the educational system beyond the immediate beneficiaries by updating vocational education curricula, enhancing workplace safety and learning standards, and expanding teacher training capabilities.

Elisabetta Falcetti, the Managing Director of EBRD for Turkey and the Caucasus, expressed pride in contributing to a cross-sector initiative that promotes workforce diversity and elevates industry competitiveness. The partnership aims to tackle the unequal access to economic opportunities, focusing on gender equality and diversity to harness the full potential of a diverse workforce.

Rönesans Holding's Commitment to Sustainable Growth

Rönesans Holding's commitment to educational initiatives is not new. The company has already established science and technology high schools, supported over 14,000 scholarship students, and has been promoting sustainability awareness at the university level through their decade-long program "Sustainability by Design." Their partnership with UNICEF began in 2023, focusing on earthquake-affected areas to ensure access to quality education and psychosocial support for nearly 13,000 women and children.

İpek Ilıcak Kayaalp, Chairwoman of Rönesans Holding, detailed how the initiative will allow students to receive training under expert guidance in a state-of-the-art hospital setting. The program comprises four training days per week in the hospital, creating a model of collaboration that can serve as an example worldwide for partnerships between the private sector, international organizations, and the public sector.

Shaping the Future

As Turkey faces a critical challenge with nearly one in four young people out of education or training, the "From Learning to Earning for Youth" program addresses this gap by fostering a safe and supportive environment that bridges the skills divide. Hospital staff trained specifically for this initiative will ensure that trainees learn from the best while promoting workplace equality and diversity.

Rönesans Holding plans to expand its support for youth education in collaboration with UNICEF by deploying the learning model across new businesses and communities. Continuing to invest in Turkey's youth, they aim to forge deeper partnerships with universities and civil society, opening more opportunities for the next generation.

In summary, the collaboration between UNICEF and Rönesans Holding not only empowers individual youth but also contributes to building a more skilled and competitive workforce in Turkey, setting a precedent for future educational initiatives worldwide.