MANAGUA, Nicaragua — Canadian-based child development organization Children Believe today launched EMPUJE, a project to improve the life skills, well-being and job prospects of 12,000 Nicaragua adolescents and young people aged 15 to 30, 7,200 of whom are women.
Funded by the Government of Canada and Children Believe, EMPUJE is supporting youth in nine Nicaraguan provinces, namely Managua, Masaya, Granada, Rivas, León, Chinandega, Estelí, Boaco and Matagalpa.
EMPUJE aims to increase employability among young people by providing them with technical knowledge and skills relevant to today’s work environment, as well as to encourage entrepreneurship.
Children Believe Nicaragua country director, María Isabel López, explained that the project will contribute to closing the gender gap in youth employability by opening up job opportunities in a more equitable, sustainable and inclusive manner for both women and men, encouraging youth to achieve their career aspirations.
Government of Canada helps young people reach their potential
The Government of Canada is supporting this initiative with a contribution of CAD$6.7 million over five years. “Despite all of the challenges in the global and domestic context, we are encouraged to see the hard efforts of young people in Nicaragua to achieve their maximum potential. This project will bring value to the youth of Nicaragua, especially young women,” said James K. Hill, the Canadian Ambassador to Costa Rica, Honduras and Nicaragua.
Closing the gender gap among young job seekers
EMPUJE is being implemented by Children Believe together with the Instituto Nacional Tecnológico (National Technological Institute – INATEC), Heifer International Project and Centro Empresarial Pellas (CEP).
“Through EMPUJE, we are applying Children Believe’s youth employability model, which emphasizes a gender approach. Young people will have access to a digital platform, in which the private sector plays a key role as generator of employment opportunities, networking and business opportunities for entrepreneurship,” López said.
Wendy Ruiz, a 26-year-old mother, who is participating in the EMPUJE project, said she wanted to be involved in the project because, “It will help me to position myself better economically and have an improved family life.”
David Lopez, a 17-year-old participant, said, “The project will help me acquire experience which will come in handy when it’s time for me to go find a job or to start my own business.”
Learn more about the EMPUJE project
Adolescents and young people wishing to participate in EMPUJE should follow the information on Children Believe Nicaragua’s Facebook and Instagram pages, INATEC, Heifer International Project and Centro Empresarial Pellas.