Pakistan
Background and News
Pakistan, a country with a population of over 240 million, has one of the youngest populations in the world. Despite a gradual recovery in economic growth, this remains insufficient to create the jobs needed for a rapidly expanding workforce. Job creation, particularly for young people and women, is now one of the country’s main challenges.
Furthermore, Pakistan faces a complex humanitarian situation. Recurring climate-related disasters, notably the devastating floods of 2022 and the particularly severe monsoon events that followed, have affected millions of people, destroying livelihoods and exacerbating food insecurity. According to estimates, nearly 38 million people, including more than 24 million children, are currently in need of humanitarian aid.
Women and girls are particularly affected by these multiple crises. Restrictive social norms, unequal access to education, early marriage and restrictions on mobility severely limit their economic participation. Today, only around 24 per cent of women participate in the labour market, whilst many young women remain excluded from training and employment opportunities.
For young women from vulnerable backgrounds or supported by SOS programmes, the transition from leaving school to entering the world of work presents a major challenge. The education system remains largely theoretical and offers few practical skills tailored to the needs of the labour market. Many young female graduates lack both the tools needed to look for a job and the personal and professional support required to secure sustainable paid employment.
SOS Children’s Villages in Pakistan
SOS Children’s Villages has been working in Pakistan since 1975, supporting vulnerable children, young people and families through an extensive network of facilities and programmes across the country. The organisation currently runs 14 SOS Children’s Villages, 11 youth centres, 12 Hermann Gmeiner schools, several family strengthening programmes, vocational training centres and a medical centre. Every year, nearly 13,000 children, young people and adults benefit directly from its work.
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