Skills and Work

Her next step

Girls have big goals for their futures. Too often, they don’t have the resources, networks, agency and access to pursue them.

Plan International USA focuses on building peer networks, developing self-confidence and preparing young women and girls for professional careers of their choice.

Our Skills & Work programs engage girls, young women and young men from marginalized backgrounds to make informed choices for their successful transition to adulthood. The results of their economic independence are greater control over their personal lives and financial resources, more economically-resilient families and societies and long-term community investment.

Plan’s programming approach is girl-centered and strives to be girl-led, because we believe that girls are our most important and valued partners in driving program design and content. Girls are eager to learn about career options and the steps they need to take to reach their professional goals, knowing that they can rely on Plan as a trusted ally and coach to help them navigate challenges along the way to achieving their goals. The best way to identify the challenges that girls and young women face and define the path forward is to ask the experts: the girls themselves.

Your impact in

Skills & Work

1.3 million
girls with improved skills and work opportunities.
6.7 million
people reached with skills and opportunities for youth employment and entrepreneurship.

Our programming is centered around four main focus areas


Integrated vocational training

Young people need to be prepared for a fast-paced and ever-changing employment and business landscape. Our programs are designed for young women and men to learn, practice and master skills and attitudes for workplace success. This includes an agile and entrepreneurial mindset, self-confidence, vocational technical skills, interpersonal skills, communications and technology acumen and financial literacy. We also aim to amplify youth voices within youth employment programs. To this end we partnered with Citi Foundation to create a roadmap for youth employment funders and implementers to strengthen youth engagement strategies.

In her own words

To speak with an expert, email Plan International USA’s Director, Youth & Economic Empowerment, Kate Ezzes.

Plan International USA

Your contribution is tax deductible.

Your gift to Plan International USA will be used where needed most, to help create sustainable change and address the root causes of poverty and inequality. Donations can support programs, innovation, and infrastructure required to deliver our programs to girls and children worldwide, in areas such as protection, education, health, sanitation, disaster relief and economic empowerment.