By Meritrina Baute | Meritrina Baute
During this time, we have taken new steps so that our vocational and professional guidance program can better respond to the experiences of more than 250 young people we accompany. In Ecuador, far from improving, the youth employment situation continues to worsen. Young Ecuadorians face three major obstacles to getting a decent job: no experience, very demanding requirements, and not having the specific skills needed.
For this reason, in addition to workshops, vocational workshops and visits to companies, we have strengthened the accompaniment of 130 young people in the last years of high school or recently graduated. We created study groups to prepare for the university entrance exam (4 are already in their first semester!), weekly meetings to discuss their interests and doubts, and the “School for Work” was born.
Thanks to new alliances, we have opened more doors: we now have 4 new allied restaurants where young people are trained in Gastronomy, an agreement with KFC (2 young people have already been hired and 3 are in the process), and another with the Instituto Tecnológico Superior San Antonio for professional training. In addition, the School for Work will continue to grow with the support of the International University of Ecuador (UIDE) and human talent areas of companies such as Mapfre, Loginet or Puente y Asociados Law Firm. Also, 24 young people are already studying Gastronomy (with 3 possible hires) and Mechanics.
Gabriel, 18 years old, has been participating in the vocational orientation program for several years. He says that thanks to these spaces he has discovered skills he didn't know he had. His favorite workshop has been carpentry: “I liked seeing how my effort turned into something useful”. He also highlights the conversations with educators and friends, which have helped him make different decisions for his life. "Before I used to say ‘I don't like this,’ now I understand that there are things that don't do me good. I prefer to do something that works for me." Gabriel wants to study for a career and start a family, and he feels that, thanks to the foundation, he is taking firm steps towards achieving this.
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