Where is the IYF Staff today? In Peru (and Tanzania and Jordan and …..)
Read All PostsI've noticed that many of the offices in IYF’s headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland, have been empty for the past few days. That’s because a large contingent of IYF staff are in Lima, Peru, for a special event, and I’ve heard they’re racing around, participating in panels, organizing meetings, and not getting much sleep. The two-day conference is bringing together people from across Latin America and the Caribbean to focus on one of the most significant challenges of our time: youth unemployment and what to do about it. The rising number of young people who can’t find a job—some estimates range to 100 million or more—has reached a major crisis point, and IYF is committed to raise public awareness of the significance of the problem and is working with companies, governments, and NGOs to address it. This particular event in Lima is sponsored by IYF, the US Agency for International Development, and CEDRO, a leading Peruvian NGO.
Says Carmen Masias, Director of CEDRO: “We can only dream if our young people can dream.” I find that a particularly powerful statement—because it demonstrates the link between what we can all accomplish together if our young people have the skills and the opportunities to have a job, support their families, and lead a productive life.