Displaced children PASA [participating agency service agreement]

The Peace Corps/B Youth Program has established its ability to improve the personal, social, and economic well-being of displaced children. The program has benefited over 1,100 children and youth. In 9 of the 16 cooperating institutions visited by the evaluation team, the health (social, physical, and psychological) of the children has improved, and 8 of the institutions have helped the children to find gainful employment. The gain in value of the student"s work time has varied by location and by trade. Daily wages have sextupled for trainees in bricklaying/roofing and have quadrupled for trainees in horticulture, shoemaking, craftsmanship, and carpentry. In addition, 10 of the 16 host institutions have increased their financial autonomy by 1%-5%, in some cases because of inputs from the project; 2 of the institutions have increased financial autonomy by approximately 30%, but not because of project inputs. It is recommended that the Youth Program, currently subsidized by A.I.D., be made a formal part of the Peace Corps/B structure, with the two programmatic objectives of vocational/life skills training and institutional development. It is also recommended that Peace Corps volunteers working with youth receive training in the developmental psychology of institutionalized youth, as well as in such areas as strategic planning, policy development, facilitation skills, and use of networks.