We recently surveyed both new and former Educators hired by PJL to understand what motivated them to join our organization. Here’s what we found: for nearly 80% of them, the main reason was the opportunity to mentor young people!
This survey, along with the results of our research on the broader impact of our program, gives us a clearer view of the potential these young adults have as agents of change—not just for adolescents, but also in their communities. Their passionate work is at the heart of the enthusiasm our stakeholders and partners have for our comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) program.
After completing their Projet Jeune Leader (PJL) contracts, these young adults are eager to continue making a difference in Madagascar. But how can we best support them in this journey and with their future projects? This is the central question that led our team to create the new "PJL Educator Pathway."
So, what’s the purpose of this new "PJL Educator Pathway"?
Our first step was to learn more from our former PJL Educators. What are they doing now? What fields are they in? Which skills gained during their time as Educators have been most useful to them? Based on their feedback, we decided to create a full certification pathway throughout their PJL Educators experience. The goal? To highlight their time with PJL and unlock their full potential for the future!
This pathway is designed to professionalize these young individuals in the field of CSE, while also equipping them with additional essential skills to boost their employability and encourage entrepreneurship. Our focus is on recognizing the skills they've gained, continuously enhancing their abilities, and supporting them in developing their career plans by motivating them to set ambitious goals.
Each year, hundreds of young adults apply to become PJL Educators. However, in recent years, the number of available positions has been limited. To give more young people the chance to take on these roles, the new pathway now establishes a maximum duration of three years for each PJL Educator’s career. Each school year will represent a "level," with new training modules linked to our program, gradually preparing them for the transition after their experience with PJL.
As the first to experience and witness the impact of our program, we now understand the potential of former Educators to spread PJL’s mission and values on a broader scale. By creating or accessing decent jobs, these young people contribute to both economic and social progress, playing an active role in building a more sustainable and inclusive future for Madagascar. By taking part in the country’s development, they continue to be true leaders of change!
Supporting our PJL Educators, who were the first ambassadors of Projet Jeune Leader (PJL), toward successful socio-professional integration is essential to recognize the work they do every day for PJL. It is our NGO’s goal that these Eductors become lifelong agents of social change." – Charlotte, Program Director at PJL
How is everything coming together?
After successfully completing the recruitment process, PJL Educators begin a three-year pathway, with the option to continue their studies remotely if desired during this time. They start this journey with an initial training that includes various modules directly related to their future role as Educators, such as classroom management, the basics of counseling, and an introduction to trauma support and connections to health services.
The first year focuses on essential training around the tools, methods, and values that ensure the quality and effectiveness of our program. This helps them master the necessary skills for managing activities and build key abilities in areas like public speaking, instructional design, leadership, and adolescent development and psychology. The goal of this first year is to help PJL Educators establish themselves as trusted adults for young people and change agents within their communities.
Educators who demonstrate these year-one competencies will move on to the second year.
The second year centers around building their professional journey. It’s a chance for them to define their goals after PJL: what they want to achieve, why, how, and how we can support them in their plans. Training to improve their employability, such as CV writing, crafting cover letters, and enhancing computer skills, will be provided. This is also when women PJL Educators will participate in the "Girls Boss" training sessions from the Launch Girls program, which prepares women and girls for the workforce through entrepreneurial education. These sessions offer an opportunity to explore topics around leadership, entrepreneurial mindset, and problem-solving while setting future career goals. Additional modules are also created to prepare them for taking on more responsibilities in the third year when they will support the training of newly recruited Educators.
Women Educators participants become independent and no longer fear asserting themselves at work." – Feedback from a former PJL Educator, from a study conducted with them.
The final year focuses on bringing their professional journey to life, with internships and speed-dating sessions with partner organizations. PJL Educators will also be trained in project management and budgeting, with the option to take more personalized modules based on their career aspirations.
Throughout these three years, emphasis is placed on the psycho-social support of PJL Educators, who are often at the forefront of their communities. Our psychologist is available whenever they need assistance.
At the end of their journey, former PJL Educators are ready to enter the job market or start their own businesses. Those who wish can also apply to join PJL’s technical team and help expand our model and its impact.
This new pathway also led to the creation of a virtual community to support and motivate our many PJL Educators working in our partner schools, which are increasingly rural and difficult to access. Likewise, a community for former Educators will soon be created to support their transition after PJL, continue their connections, and allow them to become official ambassadors for our model!
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