The 16th cohort of Eau Vive Internationale's Jeunes cadres engagés (JCE) program has completed its 12-month deployment in the organization's intervention areas. On October 3, 2026, the 13 graduates received their participation certificates at a ceremony. The program aims to facilitate the professional insertion of young graduates by providing them with essential work experience. Since its inception in 2010, JCE has supported around 150 young graduates.
The program addresses the challenge faced by young graduates in securing employment due to their lack of professional experience. According to Dieudonné Bationon, Country Program Director of Eau Vive Internationale, "When young people finish their studies, the first thing they are asked when applying for a job is experience. Unfortunately, they don't have any after their studies." The JCE program offers young graduates the opportunity to acquire this experience by deploying them in Eau Vive Internationale's projects and programs.
The 16th promotion, consisting of 13 young graduates, including 11 water engineers, an accountant, and a lawyer, was deployed from October 2025 to September 2026. The beneficiaries assert that this immersion experience enabled them to apply theoretical knowledge, develop their leadership skills, and enhance their administrative and technical capacities. Leslie Jasmine Yolande Sanou, a water, hygiene, and sanitation engineer, shared her positive experience, which included working in the organization's offices and in the Ganzourgou province.
During her six-month deployment in the offices, Sanou supported project teams in conducting activities and preparing missions. She was then assigned to the Ganzourgou province, where she worked with two project teams in the WASH sector and promoted behavior change among beneficiary populations by sensitizing them to adopt good hygiene practices. After completing her first professional experience, Sanou feels better equipped and ready to integrate the job market.
Since its launch, the JCE program has supported around 150 young graduates, with an estimated 84% employment rate. Lionel Sanou, a graduate of the 2019-2020 cohort, was recruited by Eau Vive Internationale as a project officer. He emphasized the program's relevance in providing young people with a platform to develop their technical competencies, leadership skills, and personal growth.
For the current promotion, four young graduates have already secured employment, representing an employment rate of 38%. The 17th promotion, which will run from October 2026 to October 2027, was welcomed during the ceremony and has received the torch from its predecessors. The new cohort expressed its readiness to take on the challenges and seize the opportunities offered by the JCE program.
Eau Vive Internationale's JCE program continues to provide young graduates with valuable work experience, enhancing their employability and contributing to the country's socioeconomic development. With a proven track record of success, the program is expected to continue supporting young people in Burkina Faso.
Key points
- The JCE program has supported around 150 young graduates since its inception in 2010, with an estimated 84% employment rate.
- The program provides young graduates with a 12-month professional immersion experience in Eau Vive Internationale's projects and programs.
- The 17th promotion of the JCE program has been welcomed, and the new cohort is expected to start its 12-month deployment in October 2026.
