Obra

Program Focus:

Work

The Initiative:

From 2009 to 2011, Obra (“work” in Spanish), a US$2 million initiative, operated with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and worked to ensure youth at risk in the LAC region have improved access to the programs and services needed to prepare them for citizenship, work, and life. Building on foundational IYF programs such as entra21, Obra generated concrete opportunities for youth at risk, developed mechanisms for identifying and sharing best practices, and applied these practices in specific education and employability projects through the creation of multi-sector alliances.

Outcomes:

When the program ended in 2011:

Three multi-sector partnerships mobilized to support youth at risk in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America engaging 75 public, private an civil society organizations.
1, 511 vulnerable youth in PERU, Jamaica and Guatemala were equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to pursue productive employment and continual education.
Three multi-sectoral partnerships influenced programs and policies for at-risk youth so that they were better designed and more effectively implemented in Guatemala (Escuelas Abiertas), Jamaica (YUTE) and in Peru (youth issues placed as priority in the Presidential elections).

Learn more at www.obrayouthalliance.org

Contact:
Susan Pezzullo, Program Director
Email: s.pezzullo@iyfnet.org

Countries:

Associated Partners:

Centro de Información y Educación para la Prevención del Abuso de Drogas,

Fundación Restrepo Barco,

Instituto CentroAmericano de Estudios para la Democracia Social - DEMOS,

Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica,

St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce,

Donors: