USAID LAUNCHES PROJECT TO SUPPORT YOUTH IN SAN SALVADOR, SANTA ANA AND SAN MIGUEL
Santa Ana – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and NGO Glasswing International launched the “NIDO: Building Safer Communities” project, which will be carried out in the departments of San Salvador, Santa Ana and San Miguel, with the aim of improving citizen security in communities affected by high rates of violence, and to reduce irregular migration.
With an investment of $20 million dollars ($10 million from USAID, $10 million from the private sector), the project will last five years and is expected to support 30,000 people, including more than 10,000 children and youth, and more than 7,000 people who will receive mental health services. The project expects to work in three national hospitals, 18 communities and 18 schools.
The project’s five initiatives are: (1) Community Schools: a program that turns public schools into safe spaces in the community with after-school programs run by volunteers; (2) YouthBuild: employability and entrepreneurship program for young people -who neither work nor study- for personal and professional development, with learning through community service; (3) Healing Wounds: violence prevention program that focuses on mental health and trauma recovery; (4) Núcleo: learning spaces to foster a culture of innovation and transformation among youth; and (5) Private sector engagement to de-stigmatize marginalized populations and promote access to opportunity.
“The Government of the United States, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is investing $10 million dollars, and the private company another $10 million in this program because we have faith in the Salvadoran youth and we believe they deserve opportunities to fulfill their dreams here in their country,” said U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Brendan O’Brien.
As part of the launch, the first group of “YouthBuild” participants was sworn in, with more than 45 youth from Santa Ana participating. The event was attended by the Chargé d’Affaires of the United States in El Salvador, Brendan O’Brien, the Mayor of Santa Ana, Gustavo Acevedo, Glasswing co-founder and president, Celina de Sola, members of the private sector and project participants.
