At Land O’Lakes Venture37, we believe that youth economic empowerment is critical to the success of the rural and agricultural sectors for growth and food security. Together with our implementing partners, we work to support youth inclusion (ages 18-35) throughout our activities and demonstrate that helping youth makes a difference in their lives and in program effectiveness.
 
In our programs around the world, Venture37 adapts an integrated positive youth development (PYD) approach that promotes youth asset-building, youth voice, leadership, and gender equality to empower youth in market systems. Using PYD, we enable youth to take advantage of viable agribusiness options, spur income-generating potential across agricultural market systems, and facilitate access to information, skills, and opportunities to support successful business start-ups and sustained employment.
 
Venture37’s approach is built on our understanding that youth skill-building must be linked to youth access to opportunities and resources, to successfully create micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), become agro-entrepreneurs and to find higher-skill jobs. By building capacities, we strengthen youth assets and foster youth agency to succeed as entrepreneurs or job seekers, act as leaders and productive citizens, and lead healthy lives. By facilitating market linkages, we improve the enabling environment that supports youth in obtaining higher-skilled jobs and creating agribusinesses. Throughout our projects, youth are authentically engaged and recognized for their contribution.

Our areas of focus

• Incorporate youth voices from start to finish. As current and future leaders of their communities, both female and male youth are critical in informing our approach and implementation design.

 

• Enable youth to take on leadership roles in program activities and across market systems, including in producer organizations, MSMEs, processors, and other actors. Doing so capitalizes on their often unrecognized potential as community leaders and effec­tive change makers.

 

• Understand barriers that affect youth inclusion in economically productive activities and agricultural practices. By understanding these barriers, we can design and imple­ment interventions that increase adoption of new practices leading to improved livelihoods.

 

• Integrate technology & innovations. Just as our corporate affiliate Land O’Lakes Inc. uses cutting edge conservation and busi­ness technologies to enable its members to succeed, we use a similar ethos to promote agriculture as an attractive economic sector that builds youth interest and promotes viable income generating opportunities through appropriate technologies.

 

• Facilitate opportunities to build life skills, such as intrapersonal (self), interpersonal (self and others) and higher-order thinking. Through opportunities such as internships, professional development, and mentor­ships, including utilizing Land O’Lakes Inc. corporate volunteers, these types of skills help ensure youth succeed as entrepreneurs or in their employment.

 
 

Here are a few examples of our approach in action: