Youth Empowering Communities In El Salvador

Website

: www.eco-viva.org

The Idea

Young adults in rural El Salvador have few livelihood options. Many feel they must join a gang, or migrate to the U.S., in order to have a future. EcoViva will help 25 youth to gain skills, education, and employment locally so that they can contribute positively to their home communities.

The Specifics

EcoViva will sponsor youth leaders from villages throughout the Lower Lempa region of El Salvador who work with our local partner organization, the Mangrove Association. The young people are enrolled in degree programs at MEGATEC (a vocational college) in sustainable agriculture, aquaculture, civil engineering and other fields that are useful to rural and coastal communities. In return, they have made a commitment to use their skills to benefit their homelands. Funds from this challenge will allow us to sponsor these young leaders by paying for their lodging, transportation to and from their home villages, weekend training programs and local projects that keep them connected to their communities.

Discussion

9