Youth Pathways – Mexico: Quarterly Report April 1 – June 30, 2013

The program, led by YouthBuild International, in partnership with Jóvenes Constructores de la Comunidad, A.C. (JCC) and Servicios a la Juventud, A.C. (Seraj), focuses on six target communities in both cities, including Independencia, La Alianza, and Nuevo Almaguer in Monterrey, and Camino Verde, Granjas Familiares, and Mariano Matamoros in Tijuana. The program addresses two key objectives outlined in the USAID/Mexico Call for Proposals: improving the availability, relevance, and quality of youth leadership and workforce development programs in target communities, and creating economic, educational, and social opportunities for youth, women, and other vulnerable groups in target communities. To achieve these objectives, the program will mobilize the experience, resources, and expertise of its partner organizations, including two global corporations, Intel Corporation and PREI, which will provide training, mentoring, job, and internship placement opportunities to participating youth. The program's technical activities this quarter focused on developing materials to help YouthBuild International, JCC, and Seraj manage the Jóvenes con Rumbo (JcR) program as a single program and standardize operations and procedures for each program component. Key materials developed include the JcR Operations Manual, which describes how to execute the JcR program components, establishes procedures, expectations, and operational policies for the program, and provides guidance on data entry and managing the registry database. The JcR Operations Manual serves a critical function in articulating specific goals for each program component and explaining how each component supports the overall goals of the JcR program. It outlines the services offered at the Youth Encounter Centers (YECs) according to the goals and objectives of the program and provides guidelines on how to implement these services and programs. The manual will enable staff to standardize processes and procedures in both Monterrey and Tijuana, ensure program quality for all JcR programs and services, and facilitate consistent data entry and management of the registry system. During the past quarter, the primary accomplishments for Jóvenes con Rumbo (JcR) include defining the Operations Model (MO), strengthening and expanding partnerships, commencing youth training in the Youth Encounter Centers (YECs), and launching the JcR newsletter. The Operations Model allows JcR to standardize the way staff work with youth in the target cities and across the various JcR programs. The model provides each youth with personal attention and support throughout the three main phases of the program: orientation/induction, engagement, and follow-up; definition of each youth's Personal Development Plan and provision of relevant training and services; and placement of youth in jobs, educational opportunities, further technical training, and/or referral to specialized services. The program has established a network of over 250 institutions in the target cities and throughout the country, and is keeping them informed of JcR events and opportunities to support the program. The program has also commenced youth training in the YECs, reaching up to 115 youth in three of the target polígonos, and has launched the JcR newsletter to enhance marketing and communication efforts. For the upcoming quarter, YouthBuild International has set priorities to increase recruitment of young people into the JcR program, implement the dropout prevention program in at least one school in each polígono, and start the renovation of three YECs. The program aims to significantly diminish the barriers that impede a young person's ability to gather the necessary social, economic, educational, and leadership capital to secure viable livelihoods.