Youth and Community Development: El Salvador, Guatemala & Honduras

The program aims to promote the development of children and youth in vulnerable situations through various interventions. The Community Schools program, implemented by Glasswing, has been a key component of the program. Although it is the last year of execution with USAID support, the program's momentum has not diminished. Glasswing is working to ensure the continuity of the program, with a focus on community involvement and the transfer of methodology to local partners. However, the organization recognizes that maintaining the program's quality and impact requires the presence and participation of an implementer who can promote and monitor activities. The program has made significant progress in developing life skills among youth. The L.E.A.D. Club initiative, supported by Citi, has provided life skills and employability training to over 2,000 young people from the three countries. Participants have learned various skills, including national and international cuisine, costume jewelry, screen printing, and automotive mechanics. In El Salvador, 12 youth graduates of the program have been hired by companies such as Pizza Hut and Típicos Margoth. In Honduras, new companies have been created, including a barbershop, a gourmet food business, and a packaging company. The program has also fostered civic participation and leadership among youth. In Guatemala, Community Café sessions have started in three schools, with a total participation of 110 parents. In El Salvador, committees for coexistence and psycho-social support are being reactivated and strengthened in schools. In Honduras, a training was delivered to the Red Cross on mental health primary care and psycho-social support to victims of violence. The program has also initiated a pilot intervention to provide mental health services training to service providers who attend vulnerable populations in Guatemala and Honduras. The training has been delivered to 42 staff from Glasswing Honduras and mental health specialists from Guatemala and Honduras. The training has focused on providing knowledge and techniques on intervention processes, violence, and intervention actors. In Guatemala, two community workers were hired to support the implementation of the project in Huehuetenango and San Marcos. They have started working to identify key actors in both departments who are open to collaborating on the project. The program has also established an Emotional Wellbeing Committee, which aims to provide emotional support and containment techniques to individuals in crisis situations. The program has made significant progress in promoting the development of children and youth in vulnerable situations. The various interventions have had a positive impact on the lives of thousands of young people, providing them with life skills, employability training, and emotional support. The program's focus on community involvement and the transfer of methodology to local partners has ensured its sustainability and impact.