This case study documents learning from Fondation Zakoura Microcredit's (FZMC, or Zakoura) “Expanding Financial Services to Vulnerable Youth in Morocco,” or LYKOM (which means “for you” in Arabic), project.

The LYKOM objectives are as follows:

• Enhance and extend financial and non-financial services available to youth (15-24) and members of their households in Morocco;
• Develop a system to retain vulnerable youth in a program that prepares them to access appropriate financial services; and
• Foster inter-agency linkages for successful delivery of financial and non-financial services.

Lessons learned include:

• Entrepreneurial skills training is not appreciated by all youth;
• The notion of ‘small enterprises’ and of growing businesses gradually is not well understood;
• Current minimum savings levels at La Poste (post office) may be a barrier to youth savings;
• Parents’ influence is strong, and programs may need to change negative parental attitudes about entrepreneurial activity.