TUI Care Foundation Establishes Youth Support System on Cape Verde's Sal Island

The TUI Care Foundation is deploying a comprehensive support ecosystem on Sal Island, in Cape Verde, to empower local youth and accelerate small business growth. 

Implemented in collaboration with Sal Academy Vocational Training School and development agency Target 8.9, the initiatives position sustainable tourism as an active catalyst for long-term community development.

The expanding tourism economy on Sal Island faces a critical socio-economic challenge. A mismatch exists between available vocational training and the evolving workforce demands of the commercial hospitality market. This imbalance often restricts local communities, particularly disadvantaged young people, from accessing the immense direct financial benefits generated by the tourism sector.

To bridge this gap, the TUI Academy Sal programme provides fully funded, certified vocational education to 330 young people aged 16 to 35. It places a strong, intentional focus on driving the economic inclusion of women.

The Academy curriculum covers seven distinct and nationally accredited professional areas from the National Qualifications Catalogue.

These include accommodation reception, tour guiding, and small business management. Vocational learning is reinforced through theory, technical workshops, and mandatory 360-hour internships with local industry partners. Complementary field hands-on learning will form a core pillar of the academy experience to connect theoretical training with the market.

Future cohorts will participate in structured educational visits, including local hotel site assessments and prominent cultural exhibitions.

Meanwhile, the TUI Futureshapers Sal programme continues to strengthen entrepreneurship, women-led businesses and local economic participation in Sal. In recent months, the programme has delivered practical training and incubation activities focused on business management, formalisation, leadership, digital tools and business planning, helping entrepreneurs improve how they manage, structure and grow their businesses.

A strong focus has been placed on women entrepreneurs. Through the “Elas No Comando” Business Management Training for Women, implemented in collaboration with local community-based organisations, 36 women entrepreneurs were supported across two cohorts, with sessions covering business management, business formalisation, leadership and team management.

The programme also concluded the Women Fishmongers Business Incubation Programme, developed in partnership with local environmental entities, supporting women-led businesses with training and guidance on business formalisation, financial management, good production practices and preparation to meet national certification requirements.

The programme has also expanded support for digital transformation and business incubation. An AI for Business training introduced entrepreneurs and businesses to practical AI tools for marketing, communication and productivity.

Through the Expedientá Business Incubation Programme, entrepreneurs received practical training, mentoring and hands-on support to strengthen their business models, improve financial and digital management, adopt better production practices and prepare for market opportunities, including access to the hotel supply chain and participation in a business fair.

Together, these activities are helping local entrepreneurs move from ideas and informal practices towards more structured, resilient and competitive businesses connected to the opportunities of Sal’s tourism economy.

TUI Academy Sal is part of the TUI Care Foundation’s global TUI Academy programme, which provides vocational training for disadvantaged young people to access high-quality education, work experience, life skills coaching and a brighter future. Projects are currently active in Destination including Thailand, Zanzibar, Morocco, Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Montenegro.

TUI Futureshapers Sal is part of the global TUI Futureshapers programme, which empowers young people to turn social challenges into entrepreneurial opportunities in tourism destinations across the world such as Cambodia, Laos, Spain, Tunisia, Egypt, Colombia and Jamaica.