USAID Trains “Youth with Values” for Success on the Job

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2012-06-25
USAID Strategic Development Office: (503) 2501-3471
U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section: (503) 2501-2471
www.usaid.gov/sv

The Acting Director of the USAID Economic Growth Office, Thomas McAndrews, encourages the students present in the inauguration ceremony, saying that they are the future of the country. Photo by Rachel Burrage, USAID.

SAN SALVADOR– The U.S. Government, through its Agency for International Development (USAID), launched an initiative today called “Joven con Valor” (Youth with Values), part of the Joven360 program supported by USAID through its Improving Access to Employment Program together with the Search company.

The Joven con Valor initiative is the result of a regional study carried out as part of the Joven360 program regarding the principal causes of dismissal and dissatisfaction in the workplace. The study found that the lack of values has a large impact on the possibilities of on-the-job success. In response to this challenge, Joven360 proposed an innovative solution: “Joven con Valor.”

Joven con Valor consists of training 360 youth, who will receive a full scholarship for an eight-month certificate program called, “FORJA Training in Character and Values,” which includes the “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” program by Franklin Covy. At the same time, the youth participants will carry out an internship in which they will develop their attitudes, skills, human values, and workplace values. At the end of the training and internships, Joven360 will guarantee that they obtain a job in a private business.

The Joven con Valor certificate program is sponsored by 16 companies and institutions. Additionally, important media outlets have joined the initiative by providing media coverage. Among these are: La Prensa Gráfica, Publimovil, Publicidad Comercial, Fundación TCS, Imprecen Media Group, and Pencho & Aída.

Young people interested in forming part of Joven con Valor can apply through the www.joven360.com website, where, after creating a profile, they will have the option of applying to the Joven con Valor internship. The requirements for participation are: be at least in the last year of university or technical studies, be between 19 and 24 years of age, and be studying programs related to engineering, business administration, communication, marketing, or psychology.

Joven360 is an initiative of the USAID Improving Access to Employment Program in alliance with Search, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of El Salvador, and 14 universities in the country. The USAID program is an important part of the Partnership for Growth between the United States and El Salvador, and has the goal of improving the supply of skilled workers to meet private sector demand for labor.

The inauguration was celebrated with the participation of the Acting Director for the USAID Economic Growth Office, Thomas McAndrews, together with the Director of Search, Carla de Vanegas, and representatives of the businesses that have contributed to the initiative.