Quarterly Report: Youth and Community Development Program

These activities provided participants with opportunities to apply acquired knowledge and diversify their experience. The program's focus on innovation and best practices led to the extension of cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness practice to 18 Community Schools in El Salvador, building on a pilot initiated in 2017. Josué, a 14-year-old student from PS Ramón Montoya Cerrato in Tegucigalpa, is a success story of the program. He initially struggled with his attitude towards school and his peers, but after participating in the Discovery Club, he improved his grades and changed his behavior. Josué now participates in the Soccer Club and has become a guide for his younger brother and other children at school. His mother, a volunteer, is proud of his transformation and sees him as an example for other children. The program's extracurricular activities promote healthy competition, discipline, and coexistence, while giving students the opportunity to apply their knowledge. The Debate Tournament, held on June 23rd, brought together 60 students from 10 Community Schools to debate topics such as gender discrimination and discrimination against the LBGT population. The Boys and Girls Soccer Tournament, held in El Salvador and Guatemala, involved 894 children from 40 schools and promoted teamwork and healthy competition. The TECREA Educational Robotics Fair in El Salvador provided 230 students from 16 schools with the opportunity to develop their robot-building and programming skills. The competition was held by the Ministry of Education in the departments of San Salvador, La Libertad, and La Paz. Soldier Oscar Ortiz Public School won third place in the intermediate challenge at the departmental level. Financial Education Week in Honduras involved 180 young people in workshops on saving and basic finance concepts. The activity was organized by the Banking and Insurance Commission of Honduras with the support of the apoleón J. Larach Foundation of BANPAIS. The L.E.A.D. Fair, held on June 30th, brought together 765 students and 105 volunteers to showcase 32 productive initiatives, including computer repair, acrylics, and international food. The intensive English program "English For Tomorrow" graduated 31 high school students and alumni from Capitan Gral. Gerardo Barriosn Public School in El Salvador. Four of the graduates have already secured formal jobs in customer service, accounting, and sales. The Robotics Club in Honduras visited the mechatronics workshop facilities at the Central American Technological University to strengthen their knowledge and promote skills such as reasoning, task completion, teamwork, and problem-solving. The Leadership, Debate, and Communications Clubs camp integrated the group and strengthened their values, while fostering a culture of peace. The activity involved 565 young people from 18 schools in Honduras and was supported by 85 volunteers and parents. The gender and masculinities program, initiated in Honduras and Guatemala with the contribution of the Summit Foundation, aims to change paradigms of perceptions and behavior towards gender. The program has recruited and trained staff and volunteer educators to lead the Children's Club and Girls Club in schools. Two hundred young people from the Víctor Manuel de la Roca Institute and 100 young people from the Zone 1 Institute in Guatemala City participated in a workshop on youth leadership and personal growth, discussing issues such as intimidation, failure, and lack of self-image. Each participant received a diploma of participation as part of the "Youth Max" program. Glasswing El Salvador's staff participated in the course Human Rights and the Law of Integral Protection for Children and Adolescents (LEPINA) to implement the proper fulfillment of these rights and train volunteers in the future. Glendys, a teacher and mother, has been teaching for seven years and has seen the two faces of Salvadoran society. She believes that the program's focus on civic participation and leadership is essential for the development of children and youth.