What is the Junior Programme?

In 2006 the Junior Programme was created to offer young people a first professional experience in development cooperation.

Young people work a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 2 years in a project of BTC or of a Belgian non-governmental organisation; they are guided by a coach.
This programme, which was launched at the time by then Minister of Development Cooperation Armand Dedecker, has the following main objectives:

  • Respond to the sense of solidarity among young people by providing a structure and appropriate coaching in which they can put their services at the disposal of developing countries.
  • Give young people the chance to gain a first professional experience in development cooperation in the field, and thereby, in the long run, to contribute to a new generation of cooperation experts.
  • Help raise awareness about development cooperation among the Belgian public through the experiences of Junior Assistants in the field. The aim of sending out young people of different backgrounds and profiles is to promote understanding between peoples.

The project has been entrusted to BTC.


  Download the flyer of the Junior Programme (pdf - 400 kb) >>