Addressing Guatemala’s Youth Education & Unemployment Crisis
Read All PostsA new regional alliance working to improve the lives and prospects of vulnerable youth across Central America and the Caribbean will be the centerpiece of a high level meeting that includes the US Ambassador to Guatemala, top representatives from USAID, and leaders from the country’s public, private, and NGO sectors. The event, hosted by the International Youth Foundation (IYF) and Institute DEMOS, a leading Guatemalan civil society organization, will highlight progress to date in the Obra program and promote ways to strengthen and expand regional alliances committed to improving the education and employment prospects among highly vulnerable youth. Dennis Alonzo, Guatemala’s Minister of Education, will give the keynote address. Participants also include Stephen G. MacFarland, US Ambassador to Guatemala; Mark Lopes, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Latin American Caribbean Bureau, USAID; and IYF CEO William S. Reese.
A major new initiative in the Caribbean and Latin America, Obra (“work” in Spanish”) is an IYF program in partnership with USAID designed in response to U.S President Obama’s call at the 2009 Summit of the Americas for renewed and strengthened partnerships to promote greater opportunities among the region’s youth. Launched in April 2010, Obra is working to ensure young people at risk have improved access to services and programs needed to prepare them for citizenship, work, and life. Obra is part of IYF’s global Youth:Work initiative that enables USAID missions to access IYF’s expertise in delivering job and entrepreneurship training among underserved youth.
In Guatemala, in addition to resources leveraged for new programs, hundreds of youth will benefit from expanded educational and employment support over the next two years. Instituto DEMOS serves as secretariat for the Central American partnership for Obra, and leads partnership development, planning and learning strategies of the alliance. Other countries participating in the program include Jamaica, St. Lucia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Peru and Colombia.
“Obra responds to President Obama’s call to work in partnership with public, private and civil society actors to address at-risk youth,” says USAID’s Mark Lopes. “By working together, we can elevate awareness of these issues and highlight their importance around the region. This event and conference allow us to share our experiences with creating alternative opportunities for youth and will help them continue to be agents of change in their communities.” According to William S. Reese, IYF’s President and CEO: “Far too many young people in this region are struggling to get a job and follow a positive path to adulthood. In order to have a real impact on the quality and direction of their lives,” he said, “leaders from all sectors of society must work together—and that’s what Obra is all about.”
Furthermore, says DEMOS Board President Frank LaRue, “Prevention of violence and providing educational and job opportunities for youth is a task that needs the combined efforts of all of us, working in alliances and coalitions: civil society, private sector, government agencies, media, universities and others. Broad-based partnerships are critical.”
IYF and Instituto DEMOS are also hosting a Learning Conference July 22 and 23 in Antigua, Guatemala, where experts, practitioners and other key stakeholders from across Central America will frame the key issues and challenges facing youth, learn about existing youth programs in the region, and help leverage new partnerships and resources to expand education and employability opportunities. Participants will also review progress being made in Obra’s three sub-regional partnerships and provide feedback on ongoing and future plans to benefit the region’s youth. These regional partnerships, based in Jamaica (for the Caribbean), Peru (South America), and Guatemala (Central America) serve as catalysts for new initiatives and dialogue around what is working in youth develop and ensure youth receive quality services and support.