About Passport to Success

On their journey to adulthood, many youth around the world face daunting challenges in an increasingly complex, competitive, and often threatening world. Demographic data for young people in widely disparate countries indicate a high probability that they will be under- or unemployed, have low self-esteem, and be at high risk of problematic social behavior. In order for them to take their place in the global marketplace and prepare for positive healthy futures, these young people need to become self-motivated, reliable, productive, and confident decision-makers—able to overcome adversity, and be responsible through life’s many challenges. They also need to be able to exercise good judgment, work well in teams, know their personal strengths, and apply knowledge learned in the classroom.

An initiative that was launched in 2004 in India and Mexico with a grant from the GE Foundation, the Passport to Success (PTS) Program equips young people, ages 14 to 24, with a range of skills that will help them stay in school and get the education, professional skills, and confidence they need to succeed in life. In January 2006, the program was expanded to Poland and Hungary. The program targets youth who are either in school but at risk of dropping out, or are out of school, out of work, or working in dangerous environments, including on the street. A key measure of success is the extent to which young people are either in school or employed six months after participating in the program. To date, over 40,000 young people have completed the program in eight countries.

The goals of the Passport to Success Program are to help young people:

• Strengthen personal competencies, such as communication, self-confidence, decision-making, and goal setting.
• Learn about critical health issues that affect them within their country.
• Develop skills for successful employment, such as effective work habits, teamwork and cooperation, and financial literacy.
• Engage in planning and implementing community-based projects to address community problems.

The Passport to Success life skills curriculum, currently available in 12 languages, has been successfully tested in a variety of venues, including both public and private secondary schools, vocational technical institutes, teacher training colleges, and youth-serving nonprofit organizations. The curriculum and program model has been easily transported and adapted to a variety of cultures and languages according to local needs and market demands. To ensure the long-term sustainability of the program, IYF and local partners engage key institutions in local functions, such local universities and schools to conduct local assessments, teacher training, and teacher support for sustainable growth. 

Evaluations of the Passport to Success program have shown it to have a significant impact among participating young people in four essential life skills categories: Personal Development, Problem Solving, Healthy Lifestyles, and Workplace Success, as well as in reducing school drop-out rates and increasing employment, and in helping at-risk youth increase their levels of self-confidence and hope for the future.