Quarterly Report: Mejorando la Educación para Trabajar, Aprender y Superarse (Improving Education for Work, Learning and Success)

This critical point reflects the maturity stage of the project's life cycle, which was not evident at the beginning. Throughout this report, the convergence of activities, results, and evidence of prior impact is reflected. The most outstanding achievements and headway made in the quarter (up to June 30, 2013) are summarized as follows: Result 1, which focuses on at-risk-youth support, has fulfilled 104% of its annual target. Institutional capacities of NGOs has been strengthened through trainings and tools such as project management, photography, and DAP. Result 2, which deals with Alternative Programs, has achieved 93% of its annual goal. The Alternative Programs Regulation was publicly presented to the Presidency, government, and civil society. Over 26 communities have been strengthened through local committees and management skills of 103 of its members have been improved. The Work Readiness Skills Program of Result 3 has reached its annual goal with an achievement of 98%. This program is currently being implemented in more than 80 educational centers and 26 new centers through an agreement with CENET and with young beneficiaries from the UN. Result 4, which focuses on Strategic Partnerships, has accomplished 100% of its annual goal through five agreements. The project has created a strong relationship with the private sector, generating agreements such as the triple alliance between COFEP, IPC, and METAS, and another one between Gildan and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Choloma. The project is about to complete its third fiscal year and is transitioning to its final year. The METAS staff will focus on the transfer and quality of programs and the overall compliance of goals, indicators, and expected results. This will enable the project to effectively and efficiently achieve its objectives. Technical and programmatic activities performed by Proyecto METAS directly address the objectives and results of the project. During the quarter April-June 2013, planned activities were successfully developed, expected results were achieved, and all the set goals for most of the indicators were fulfilled regarding all four results. The following technical activities include: At-risk-youth from neighborhoods, improving their social, life, and employability skills through comprehensive training processes and support services given by METAS partner NGOs. Secondary education facilitators and teachers are strengthening their social and methodological skills and improving the quality of educational services offered to young students. Community leaders, facilitators, and students are strengthening their skills and supporting secondary education programs in their communities to improve the access of youth and the sustainable operation of these programs. Young students in their last years of high school or non-formal education, as well as university students in their first year of study, young professionals of average level who do not study and do not work, are improving their levels of work readiness skills through their training and certification processes. Business and organizational actors in alliance with METAS are positioning the WorkKeys certificate through the training and certification of young employees and creating opportunities to improve youth employability levels. The project has successfully developed planned activities, achieved expected results, and fulfilled most of the set goals for all four results. This has enabled the project to reach a critical point of execution, with increased programmatic activities and tangible results for beneficiaries.