Kfc Tawar Program Set To Empower Youth Across Mena

A partnership between KFC and INJAZ Al-Arab will support 900 youth in the MENA region by uplifting skills and unlocking opportunities

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is home to one of the youngest populations. With 60% under the age of 25, youth across the region continue to face significant employment challenges. Despite this demographic advantage, the latest available data shows regional youth unemployment reaching approximately 24.5% in 2024, nearly double the global average. The need for impactful and scalable solutions has never been greater.

In response, and launched to mark International Youth Day on 12th August, KFC MENA and INJAZ Al-Arab have partnered to expand the KFC TAWAR program, an initiative dedicated to unlocking the potential of youth through skills training, mentorship, and job placement. KFC TAWAR will expand into Lebanon as its latest chapter, where the need for youth opportunity has grown increasingly urgent due to prolonged economic instability and rising youth disengagement. This expansion will support an additional 900 young people, many of whom have limited access to education or employment, through a combination of in-person workshops, online training, mentorship, and job placement of their choosing – at KFC restaurants and beyond.

The six-month program will feature spring and summer career camps, in-person workshops, and access to INJAZ Campus—a self-paced digital learning platform. Participants aged 15 to 18 will focus on foundational skills, while those aged 18 to 24 will receive mentorship, career coaching, and pathways to internships and employment opportunities.

The KFC TAWAR program was first launched in Egypt, where it demonstrated strong results, with over 500 learners enrolled in less than two years and more than 80% of youth continuing their education journey. The first expansion into Lebanon is a continuation of the program’s regional ambition to lead in youth development through inclusion and results-driven collaboration.

KFC TAWAR is fully funded by KFC MENA as part of KFC’s regional commitment to ‘Feeding People’s Potential’, a platform that extends the brand’s impact far beyond food, toward nourishing the career aspirations of youth across MENA.