Obra: Youth of the Americas Partnership Presented in Lima

Read All Posts

The Obra: Youth of the Americas Partnership launch and learning event will take place November 17 through 19 in Lima, Perú. Obra aims to strengthen and expand multi-sector alliances in order to ensure youth at risk have improved access to education and work opportunities and the skills to lead a healthy lifestyle. In 2009 the International Youth Foundation (IYF) and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) launched Obra with Centro de Informacion y Education para la Prevencion del Abuso de Drogas (CEDRO) as the Secretariat for South America.

The three-day event will engage representatives from civil society organizations, the private sector, and government officials from across Latin America. Their aim will be to examine the many challenges facing the region's youth, share learned lessons. and build alliances. The high level guests attending the event include well-known economist Hernando de Soto, Pilar NoresFirst Lady and President of the Instituto de Trabajo y Familia [Work and Family Institute], Programa Sembrandoand Pablo de la Flor, Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Antamina mining company.

"We can only dream if our young people can dream," says Carmen Masías, Director of CEDRO. "To solve these problems of youth unemployment and violence, we must recognize that young people are positive agents of change who have the power to transform their lives and move this region forward."

The Obra Alliance for South America, headquartered in Peru, aims to increase the impact of successful education and employment projects for youth by replicating them, taking them to scale, and using them to help shape public policy. Obra also emphasizes the need to share  successful experiences, encourage synergies and networking, and place youth on the national agenda. 

"So many of today’s young people are seeking to improve their lives and be productive members of society,” says William S. Reese, President and CEO of IYF.  “To be successful, they need viable options in terms of enhanced job training and citizenship opportunities, and that is what Obra is doing across this hemisphere.”  

Rose Likins, the United States Ambassador to Peru, underscored the critical importance of building partnerships to ensure real impact. ¨It is not just about local alliances, but about hemispheric alliances, since Obra is being implemented in Jamaica, Guatemala, Peru, and other countries in the region. The employment network for youth has to cross the borders and serve an increasing number of youth.”  

Obra was established in response to US President Obama´s call for renewed and strengthened partnerships in Latin America and the Caribbean at the April 2009 Summit of the Americas. To date, sub-regional alliances have been established with headquarters Jamaica, Guatemala and Peru, which serve as the seats for each partnership. The Obra Secretariat in South America is managed by CEDRO.  Current partners in Perú include: Alternativa, ASONEDH, CAPLAB, CEDRO, Empresarios por la Educación, Asociación Ferreyros, Enseña Perú, IPAE, Cámara Junior Internacional, Gobierno Coherente, Red Jesuita por la Infancia y Juventud, SASE y Tecsup, as well as the Fundación Restrepo Barco in Colombia. Also included in this partnership are representatives from the Ministerio de Educación (Oficina de Coordinación con la Sociedad Civil) and from the Secretaría Nacional de la Juventud).
 

Tags
event youth unemployment multi-sector alliances