Community Vocational Courses: A Way Out of Poverty

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Template:Project HELP Community Vocational Courses: A Way Out of Poverty Project Type(s):
Country:	El_Salvador
Volunteer(s) Name:	L Richter
Volunteer(s) Homestate:	Michigan
Funds community contributed:	$883.30
Percentage community contributed:	29%
Funds needed were:	$1035
Funds requested were:	$2121.38
PPCP #:	519-119
Year of project approval:	2009
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Projects started in El_Salvador 2009 (7).
A Course on the Biodiversity of El Salvador, Community Center (El Salvador), Community House Refurbishment, Community Vocational Courses: A Way Out of Poverty, Equiping a School Science Classroom, School and Community Basketball-Soccer Court, Women and Youth Development Scholarship Program
Other Projects in El_Salvador (7).
A Course on the Biodiversity of El Salvador, Community Center (El Salvador), Community House Refurbishment, Community Vocational Courses: A Way Out of Poverty, Equiping a School Science Classroom, School and Community Basketball-Soccer Court, Women and Youth Development Scholarship Program
Other Projects by Volunteers from Michigan (21).
A Course on the Biodiversity of El Salvador, Mary Abraham, Agroforestry Site for Nursery and Demonstration, Chris Bradley, Christopher Bradley, Gus Breymann, Chalite Community Center Construction, Chicken Raising Income Generation, Community Sports Facility, Community Vocational Courses: A Way Out of Poverty, Compost Toilets for Primary School, Chris De Bruyn, Education Materials for Special Needs Children, Equipment for Health Education, Gardening Improvement … further results
Other PCPP Projects by Volunteers (440).
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Info about the Community Vocational Courses: A Way Out of Poverty

“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime”

According to a study conducted in 2005 by the Ministry of Youth, 35% of Salvadoran youth finish high school, 10% go on to university, and only 1% actually graduate from university. As indicated by these statistics, few students have the opportunity to receive college, or even high school degrees. This lack of education greatly limits their ability to find work outside the home, which is not something be taken lightly when this is one of the only ways out of the cycle of poverty.

The proposed project will give youth the opportunity to attain marketable skills even when their families cannot afford to send them on to high school or college. Two five-month-long vocational courses, Cosmetology and Collision Repair & Automotive Painting, will be held within the community, and will be free of cost to students who are willing to show dedication to the course of their choosing.

Both courses will be taught by professionals in their field. The teachers are enthusiastic to share their knowledge with youth, have excellent references, and have many years of experience in both practice and teaching of their vocation.

Furthermore, the courses have a pre-requisite and follow up component which reinforce the application of these skills to generate income. In the pre-requisite course, taught by the Peace Corps volunteer, students will learn how to make a Resume, how to interview, and practice starting and running one’s own micro business. As a follow up, students will update their resumes, and both the course teachers and the Peace Corps volunteer will help interested students locate available jobs.

We plan to start the courses by the end of June, and hope you will contribute to help youth help themselves.

Note: This summary was provided by a Peace Corps Volunteer and the community administering this project.