UNITED STATES AND GLORIA DE KRIETE FOUNDATION TO INVEST $14.2 MILLION IN YOUTH EDUCATION
San Salvador, April 2021- The U.S. government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Gloria de Kriete Foundation announced the creation of an alliance that will allow the expansion of the Opportunities Program of this Foundation thanks to a joint investment of $14.2 million that will benefit the education of 2,155 Salvadoran youth. The event was attended by the President of the Gloria de Kriete Foundation, Roberto Kriete; the Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy, Brendan O’Brien, the USAID Director in El Salvador, David Gosney, and the Director of the Oportunidades Program, Juana Jule.
The funds, ($7.1 million from USAID and $7.1 million from the Gloria de Kriete Foundation) will be used to operate six Oportunidades centers: two full-time, in San Salvador and Santa Ana, and the remaining four, in San Salvador, Santa Ana, Sonsonate and San Miguel, with Saturday classes.
“We are extremely pleased and grateful with this valuable contribution from USAID, which will allow us to expand the coverage of Oportunidades in the country. The signing of this alliance between Oportunidades and USAID ratifies the trust and validation on the part of international cooperation and indicates that the results of our programs are positive in the training of our young people,” commented the President of Fundación Gloria de Kriete.
“For the U.S. government, this goes beyond a donation. It is an investment in the future of El Salvador and is part of our commitment to create the right conditions for all Salvadorans to prosper, here at home,” said the Chargé d’Affaires during the event.
The Oportunidades Program has the operational support of Agape and has a solid organizational and administrative structure, covering 24.8 percent of the national territory. It serves young people for a period of 5 to 8 years, positively impacting their lives, education, health and family economy.
Youth in the Oportunidades Program go through three phases: 1) Complementary education in high school, where they receive courses in linguistics, science, mathematical logic, coding, computers, English, vocational orientation and values; 2) Higher education, technical or university, in which the participants continue their studies in the 21 allied universities, where there are currently 1,492 students; and 3) Labor intermediation, in which students receive Employability Certification after completing 80 workshops, laboratories and lectures that prepare them to enter the labor market. To date, more than 700 youth have entered the labor market through Oportunidades.
The Gloria de Kriete Foundation, through its Oportunidades program, has more than 14 years of experience promoting the education of Salvadoran youth. To date it has impacted thousands of young people. USAID supports this initiative as part of its Development Cooperation Strategy for El Salvador, with the goal of reducing the drivers of irregular migration by promoting a safer, more prosperous and well-governed El Salvador.
Contact:
Carlos Lopez – carlos.lopez@oportunidades.org.sv
