Twenty years ago, EFE began in a single classroom in Gaza.

In 2006, we gathered a group of 18 young people united by one core belief: that access to work would change lives because a job is more than a job. It is opportunity. It is dignity. It is the ability to build a more positive future – for youth, their families, communities, and economies. 

After delivering 100% job placement thanks to EFE’s first employer partner, CCC, EFE became a movement across the MENA region and supported 225,000 youth to enter the world of work. After joining EFE’s programs, 80% of youth in jobs and 90% of entrepreneurs contribute to their family income - driving a 4x ripple effect beyond the individual. 

What have we learned over the past 20 years of impact?

Local leadership. EFE affiliates across MENA are locally run and leverage support hubs in the US, UAE, and Europe. This is central to building a track record and lasting impact.

Start with employer demand. Build programs around real hiring needs.

Placement is the goal. Training only matters if it leads to jobs.

Teach technical and “soft” skills. Employers want both. Youth benefit from both.

Wrap-around support. Under-served youth need support beyond training and job matching, such as transportation and mentorship.

Track outcomes, not just activity. Measure placements, retention, and income. Continuously adapt using data and evidence.

Update programs constantly. Labor markets change - so should training. AI is the most recent and dramatic example.

Be flexible in delivery. Integrating online and in-person training increases reach.

Design programs for inclusion. Diverse youth populations - rural/urban, refugees, education level, language, gender, and geographic differences can require tailored approaches.   

Scale through partnerships. Work with communities, employers, governments, and local institutions; build trust, add value, and change systems.

Never give up. EFE local teams across MENA achieved record numbers despite devastation in some areas and reduced funding. Youth rely on us to continue our work.

Young people who take steps to land their first job or start their first business are resilient, brave, and talented. This 20th-year milestone belongs to youth who showed up determined to learn, employers who opened their doors, teams who delivered results under extraordinary circumstances, and supporters who believed - again and again - that investing in young people is one of the most powerful forces for positive change. As we celebrate 20 years, we do so with pride in how far we’ve come, and with urgency about what lies ahead. The need for economic opportunity across the region has never been greater. Neither has the potential of its youth.

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With gratitude,
Ronald Bruder
Founder and Chairman