SAN SALVADOR–USAID and the Salvadoran Ministry of Education (MINED) launched a new Education for Children and Youth activity that will support the creation of safe learning environments and will improve the quality of education for lower secondary students in 750 schools, thus optimizing learning results and increasing ninth grade completion rates to benefit at least 100,000 students.  Moreover, a safe learning environments program will be implemented to reduce school violence in 25 high-risk municipalities in support of the prevention programs that MINED is implementing to strengthen the Full-Time Inclusive School approach.

The U.S. Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), will invest a total of $25 million for this project over five years from January 2013 to December 2018.  The main objective is to increase equal access to education for children and youth living in municipalities with high crime rates.

The new project will also implement a strategy to increase access to educational opportunities for out-of-school youth by providing flexible education options, life skills, and technical and vocational training.

USAID will coordinate these efforts with the Foundation for Integral Salvadoran Education (FEDISAL) and its partners, FHI360, Salesian Association (AIS), Pro-Education Foundation of El Salvador (FUNPRES), Salvador del Mundo Foundation (FUSALMO), Education and Work Foundation’s (EDYTRA), and Don Bosco University (UDB). 

“This program is one of many that we are implementing along with the Government of El Salvador, with the participation of the private sector and Salvadoran organizations under a very special agreement between El Salvador and the United States known as Partnership for Growth.  We are confident that if we work together we can achieve a prosperous El Salvador with many economic opportunities for youth,” said U.S. Ambassador Mari Carmen Aponte during the project launch ceremony.

The launch ceremony, held at the Ciudadela Don Bosco’s gym, was presided over by Ambassador Aponte; the Minister of Education, Franzi Hasbún; the Vice-Minister of Education, Héctor Samour; the USAID/El Salvador Mission Director, Kirk Dahlgren; the President of the Salesian Association, Presbyter Salvador Cafarelli; and the President of FEDISAL, Carlos Lionel Mejía.  Guests included representatives from the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, and mayors and council members from Soyapango, Nejapa, Chalchuapa, Santa Ana, Zaragoza, Opico, San Antonio del Monte and Sonsonate.  Moreover, hundreds of youth participated in a youth festival as part of the launch ceremony.

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