GlobalGiving.org: Jobs, Training and Education for Argentine Youth

Preparing for Christmas

Maria Hilaire — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 21:49:50 GMT

Monica graduated from University on 12-07!! :)

As we all recover from our Thanksgiving food comas and prepare for the next celebrations, my hope is that we still keep why we're thankful in the forefront of our minds. Many of us are blessed with loving families, thoughtful friends and bountiful food over these holidays, and for that we are all incredibly lucky. For that, I for one am incredibly grateful.

Others, like Cimientos' students, don't have the same support system that we do, and need a little more help than the rest of us to just get by. Many of our students lack the integral resources that are so easy for us to take for granted. The personalized mentoring Cimientos´ Graduates Network provides gives students that added push they need in the right direction, helping them reach for their dreams and gain the confidence and vital tools they need to succeed both personally and professionally.

To truly make a difference, please contribute to our cause today, and help change a student's life in an incredibly meaningful way, for the better. If you give a gift card a present, Globalgiving could donate extra money to our project! Together, we can help the students who need us most, and give them a great reason to be thankful this holiday´ seasons.

In this report you can find Mónica´s picture, one of our high school students who then received a university scholarship thanks to Cimientos´ Graduates Network and graduated last 12/07!!!! You can change low income youth lives like we already did together with Mónica!!!

S.O.S! Globalgivings last Bonus Day of the year!

Maria Hilaire — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 20:02:39 GMT

Cimientos first participants after its foundation

Dear friends,

On Wednesday October 19th, GlobalGiving is hosting its last Bonus Day of the year! If you donate to 'Job Training and Education for Argentine Youth' Project. on Wednesday, Global Giving will match your donation by 30%, increasing your impact!

As you can imagine, this is a wonderful opportunity for Cimientos to help fund our Project which will provide poor Argentine youth who graduated high-school and Cimientos programs with good job opportunities, employment tools and education resources so they can obtain jobs, receive a higher education and escape poverty.

If you want to make another contribution to our cause, Wednesday would be a perfect day. Another huge help would be just spreading the word with your friends and family about our project - share the link on your blogs or social networks, use the tell-a-friend feature on the project page to email your network, or just bring us up in conversation. This could increase our donors as well as our possibilities of reaching more poor Agentine youth!

October is a very special month for Cimientos. On Thursday 13th we celebrated 14 years of hard work promoting equal educational opportunities for children and youth from low income families.

Thank you again for all you have done yourself to help this cause and please write to us if you would like to recieve any other information about our work.

With gratitude,

María Hilaire

Cimientos Graduates Network Coordinator

PS Check out our new donation options that we´ve included in our Project´ page!

Celebrating important dates!

Maria Hilaire — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 15:06:25 GMT

Graduates at International Young Leaders Summit

*Versión en español a continuación

Dear Friends:

The months of August and September are full of important dates to be observed around the globe and on both sides of the equator: International Youth Day (8/12), Children’s Day (8/21 in Argentina), Labor Day (9/5 in the US), Student’s Day and Teacher’s Day (9/11 and 9/21, respectively, in Argentina), and of course, these months mark the beginning of a brand new school year in the US.

In the spirit of these special holidays, we’d like to share some of the things we’ve been up to in the past several months as well as relevant testimonies from the children, themselves:

- On August 12^th we attended the International Young Leaders’ Summit with 13 graduates, who were able to listen to inspiring leaders from different countries and share an enriching day with hundreds of young people from all over Latin America.

“I would like to thank Cimientos again for this incredible opportunity – I’m thrilled to have participated; the testimonies and advice shared by all of the speakers has motivated and inspired me! MANY THANKS!!!” – Daisy

- Today there are already more than 50 young people who have found employment in less than a year, and we are still collaborating with more than 20 businesses to continue providing opportunities to young people of minimal resources who are fighting to overcome poverty.

“Thank you, Cimientos, for helping me find a new job, and for always supporting me! I am truly happy!!” – Luciana

- We began negotiating university scholarships in collaboration with Argentine universities of the highest caliber, with the hope that in 2012, there will be more young people who will have access to a quality education at the college level.

“I am currently studying to be a surgical technician at an excellent school. Thank you again.” – Marcelo

Thank you for continuing to support equal opportunities in education for children from low-income families in Argentina, and also for supporting the professional development of our graduates as they enter the workforce.

María Hilaire

______________________

Queridos amigos:

En agosto y septiembre se están celebrando fechas importantes: el Día Internacional de la Juventud (12/8), el Día del Niño (21/8 en Argentina), el Día del Trabajo (5/9 en USA), el Día del Maestro y del Estudiante (11/9 y 21/9 en Argentina) y el comienzo de clases (septiembre, en USA).

Para celebrar estas fechas, les compartimos algunas de las cosas que hicimos durante estos meses así como testimonios de los propios jóvenes:

-El 12/8 asistimos a la Cumbre Internacional de Jóvenes Líderes con 13 egresados, quienes pudieron escuchar a líderes de diferentes países y compartir un día muy enriquecedor con cientos de jóvenes de América Latina.

“Nuevamente doy gracias a Cimientos por esta gran oportunidad, me gustó mucho haber participado y el testimonio y los consejos que nos dieron todos los expositores me sirvieron para motivarme e inspirarme. ¡¡MUCHAS GRACIAS!!”, Daisy.

- Hoy ya son más de 50 los jóvenes que consiguieron trabajo en menos de un año y seguimos trabajando junto a más de 20 empresas para continúen brindando oportunidades a jóvenes de bajos recursos que están peleando por salir de la pobreza.

“¡¡Gracias Cimientos!! ¡¡Por ayudarme a cambiar de empleo!! ¡¡Y por apoyarme siempre!! ¡¡Estoy feliz!!!”, Luciana.

- Comenzamos a gestionar becas universitarias junto a universidades argentinas de primer nivel, a fin de que en 2012, haya más jóvenes que puedan estudiar una carrera y acceder a docentes y una educación de calidad.

“Yo estoy estudiando Instrumentación Quirúrgica, es muy buena la facultad, gracias nuevamente.”, Marcelo.

Gracias por seguir apoyándonos para trabajar por la igualdad de oportunidades educativas de niños y jóvenes de bajos recursos socioeconómicos de Argentina así como por la inserción laboral de nuestros egresados.

María

Help us win $ 1.000 by “liking” our picture in FB!

María Hilaire — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 20:01:52 GMT

Photo which is finalist on the GG´s contest

Dear friends,

Our 'Jobs, Training and Education for Argentine Youth' has been selected for the first time as a finalist in GlobalGiving's Photo Contest! Whoever gets the most “likes” wins $1000 and this would help us organize Job-Training courses for more tan 400 low-income youth who are about to graduate from school!

To like our photo, first click “like” GlobalGiving ´s Facebook page and then click “like” on our picture, which you can find on this link:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150282554958749&set=a.10150282554713749.352286.5878048748&type=1&pid=7794883&id=5878048748 in the Give Knowledge category. Please spread the Word among your family and friends!

We've got until 8/17 to gather as many "likes" as we can!

Thank you so much for making the difference!!

María Hilaire- Cimientos Graduates Network Coordinator

PS You can check all of the project´ pictures we´ve been uploading if you go to http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/job-training-education-argentine-youth-alumni/photos/ Hope you like the new ones!! :)

On behalf of the freedom of our youth…

María Hilaire — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:34:18 GMT

Antonela´s testimony as a Cimientos scholar- 05.11

*Versión en español a continuación

Dear friend:

On the 4^th and the 9^th of July, respectively, both the United States and Argentina observed Independence Day. These are days on which we celebrate Liberty, pausing to gratefully remember the individual liberties we all enjoy – just as our nations won the right to pursue their own destinies and our forefathers won the freedom to choose how they wanted to live and who they wanted to be. Please collaborate with us so that every child in Argentina can also have the opportunity to choose his or her path in life.

In this issue, we’re sharing photos of some of the activities in which Cimientos graduates have volunteered their time and energy to help raise funds and brainstorm new projects. Also included are photos of the Graduate Network’s first meeting of the year, which was held in May and attended by 20 graduates.

Best regards,

María Hilaire (Cimientos Graduate Network Coordinator)

Querido amigo:

El 4 y 9 de Julio EEUU y Argentina respectivamente festejaron su Día de la Independencia. Son días en que se rinde homenaje a la libertad… Nuestros países tuvieron la libertad de elegir su camino, qué y quiénes querían ser y qué querían hacer…Ayudá a que los chicos de Argentina puedan tener la misma oportunidad de elegir su camino, colaborando con la Red de Egresados de Cimientos.

En esta edición, les presentamos fotos de algunas actividades en las que los egresados participaron como voluntarios para diseñar nuevos proyectos o recaudar fondos, así como otras del primer encuentro de egresados que realizamos en mayo y contó con 20 jóvenes participantes.

Saludos,

María Hilaire (coordinadora de la Red de Egresados de Cimientos)

Graduate volunteers at annual fundraising dinner

Graduate 1st. assembly in Buenos Aires- 05.2011

Sharing a mate at their first get-together- 05.11

Links:

If you speak Spanish you can check out Cimientos new campaign

Leandro´s Story

María Hilaire — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 21:53:14 GMT

Leandro at the law firm

* Versión en español a continuación

Dear friends:

This week, while many American students are enjoying Spring Break, thousands of Argentine teenagers are studying and looking for jobs in order to pay for college, which will afford them a more promising future and more opportunities to overcome poverty.

We rely on your continued support to enable more Argentine teenagers to study and work. You can help us give children like Leandro a chance to improve their circumstances…

“My name is Leandro, and I am 19 years old. In 2004 I was given a scholarship by Cimientos Scholarship Program, and Cimientos continued to sponsor me until I graduated from high school in 2009.

Cimientos Graduate Network continues to support sponsored students after graduation, offering career advice and job search assistance according to each student’s major and professional skillset.

Thus, as a beginning law student, I was contacted and offered a position at a prestigious legal practice. The group of lawyers reached out to me, extending me their trust and support despite my inexperience in the world of legal research. From the very beginning, I have felt entirely comfortable and at ease, and I know that everything I’m learning is essential to my future as an attorney.

I am as grateful to Cimientos as I am to the law firm for the opportunity with which they have jointly provided me. I feel truly happy given all that I have been able to accomplish during the past several years, and it is my hope that my experience will serve as an example to other businesses that could potentially hire and train young people seeking professional experience.”

La Historia de Leandro

Queridos amigos:

En estos días, mientras los estudiantes americanos están de vacaciones, miles de jóvenes argentinos están estudiando y buscando trabajo para poder solventar su carrera universitaria, que le permitirá tener un futuro con más y mejores oportunidades para salir de la pobreza.

¡Ayúdennos a que más chicos como Leandro puedan cambiar su destino! Necesitamos continuar recibiendo su apoyo para lograr que más jóvenes argentinos puedan estudiar y trabajar…

“Mi nombre es Leandro, tengo 19 años, fui becado por el Programa de Becas Escolares de Cimientos, desde el año 2004 hasta que egresé del secundario en el 2009.

La Red de Egresados de Cimientos continúa con el seguimiento a sus becados, ofreciendo búsquedas laborales de acuerdo a la carrera que cada uno continúa. Y así fue como se contactaron conmigo, que estudio Abogacía.

Me ofrecieron un puesto laboral en un estudio jurídico de gran importancia y prestigio. A pesar de mis pocos conocimientos en cuanto a lo jurídico, el grupo de abogados me brindó su apoyo y confianza desde un principio, por lo que me sentí muy cómodo y a gusto. Todo lo que estoy aprendiendo es importantísimo para mis estudios y mi futuro desempeño como abogado.

Agradezco tanto a Cimientos como al estudio jurídico por todo lo que me han brindado. Me siento realmente muy bien y estoy feliz por todo lo que he podido lograr en estos años. Ojalá esto sirva de ejemplo para que otras empresas puedan contratar y formar a jóvenes que quieran realizar experiencias laborales. “

Back to School for Argentine students!

María Hilaire — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 19:59:53 GMT

Jennifer(right) w/ Daiana & our Executive Director

*version en español a continuación

Dear Friends,

March has been an exciting month for us here at Cimientos, as classes have started back up and Argentine students that have the means to attend have headed back to school. One of these students is Jennifer, a college sophomore who was granted a scholarship to attend thanks to Cimientos’ support. Jennifer shares her inspirational story of personal empowerment, achievement and how Cimientos helped her surmount formidable barriers with us below.

In a month as important as March in Argentina, when so many kids are struggling to stay in school due to economic hardship, we are reminded of the importance of giving more students like Jennifer the chance to go to school, get a good education and escape poverty. By giving us your continued support by donating and spreading the word to your friends and family that also believe, like us, that education can change the world, you have the opportunity to give the gift of opportunity to those that need it most.

If you donate to low-income youth in Argentina TODAY (Wednesday, March 16th), Global Giving will match your donation by 30%, increasing your impact!

Thank you for helping make back to school an exciting and enriching time for anyone who wants to keep learning!

The Cimientos Team

Jennifer´s Story

“Thanks Cimientos!! Thanks to this wonderful NGO I got to go to high school…Not letting Cimientos down and not giving up on myself was a huge challenge. I received a scholarship for 5 whole years though to make it happen!!

Thanks to you, I now have the possibility of studying at a great university. I want to let you know that I love the place where I study and I´m trying to keep up with it. I’m studying Business Administration at the UADE University and I hope I’ll do really well! I´m gonna keep making an effort, studying and thanking Cimientos for all it did, does and will keep doing for me!!

Cimientos is one of the best things in life that can happen to you…if you take advantage of it!! Thanks Cimientos and thanks to its donors for making my life a life with bigger and better ambitions!!” - Jennifer

¡Alumnos vuelven a la escuela!

Queridos amigos:

En marzo, los jóvenes argentinos comenzaron sus clases, tanto en la escuela como en la universidad. Necesitamos continuar recibiendo su apoyo para lograr que más jóvenes como Jennifer accedan a una educación de calidad y así puedan escapar de la pobreza.

¡Si hoy (miércoles 16 de marzo) haces una donación a jóvenes con bajos recursos económicos, Global Giving donará un 30% adicional y tu impacto será mayor!

Gracias por tu apoyo!

Equipo de Cimientos

Testimonio de Jennifer

“¡¡GRACIAS CIMIENTOS!! Gracias a esta hermosa fundación yo pude estudiar toda mi secundaria con un gran incentivo....No decepcionarlos ni decepcionarme a mi misma... ¡¡Fui becada durante 5 años!!

Gracias a ustedes, yo hoy tengo la posibilidad de estudiar en una gran universidad. Quiero contarles que me encanta el lugar en el que estudio y estoy tratando de adaptarme al ritmo universitario. ¡Estoy estudiando Administración de Empresas en la Universidad Argentina de la Empresa (UADE) y espero que me vaya muy bien! ¡¡VOY A SEGUIR ESFORZÁNDOME, ESTUDIANDO Y AGRADECIENDO A CIMIENTOS POR TODO LO QUE HA HECHO, HACE Y SEGUIRÁ HACIENDO POR MI!!

CIMIENTOS ES UNA DE LAS MEJORES COSAS QUE TE PUEDEN PASAR EN LA VIDA...¡¡¡SI LA SABES APROVECHAR!!! ¡¡GRACIAS CIMIENTOS Y GRACIAS A LOS DONANTES POR HACER DE MI VIDA UNA VIDA CON GRANDES y MEJORES ASPIRACIONES!!”

- Jennifer

A Hands-On Approach to Reducing Dropout Rates

Clarissa Driban — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 17:05:39 GMT

Clarissa is a GlobalGiving In-the-Field Volunteer. She is visiting GlobalGiving's projects in South America and writing postcards to donors to let them know how their donations are having an impact. Read other postcards from the field here: http://www.globalgiving.org/inthefield/.

The numbers are staggering: Fifty percent of students in Argentina do not graduate from high school, and 25 percent of 18 to 24 year olds do not go to school or work! Even with a desire to learn, children are often robbed of the opportunity to attend school due to outside factors such as money, location, and access. If not for the work of Cimientos, a non-profit focused on improving Argentina’s education system, many of these children would simply become another sad statistic.

Over the past 13 years, Cimientos has helped over 80 thousand underserved Argentine high school students stay in school, receive quality education, and access the opportunities they need to succeed. They have proven successful due to their hands on approach and ability to understand the varying needs of each child and each community. Ranging from economic support to personalized monitoring to exchange opportunities, Cimientos has developed and implemented a series of innovative programs to keep kids in school. To ensure children’s ongoing success, they work closely with parents, families, teachers, principals, and community leaders, which aids in establishing a strong support system. The impact is clear and as the network of Cimientos graduates continues to grow, the organization is developing even more programs to help them succeed!

I had the pleasure of meeting with three Cimientos representatives to learn about their newest program, the Graduates Network, and how GlobalGiving donors are helping thousands of high school graduates realize their passions and achieve their goals. Started two years ago, the Graduates Network was created in response to a growing need to help students understand that graduating high school was not the end of learning, but perhaps just the beginning.

In the U.S. it is often understood that building a resume, establishing networks, and utilizing the internet to research opportunities are necessary to secure a job or attend university. These are skills we learn early and that are instilled in us by parents, teachers and peers. For a majority of students in Argentina, however, they are the first in their families to finish high school so they lack the knowhow and support needed to tackle future goals. As a result, Cimientos guidance is essential!

The Graduate Network’s staff - which by the way is an absolutely amazing group of individuals- works tirelessly to host job training workshops, research scholarship opportunities, and connect graduates with their growing network of professional contacts. Due to the caliber of students taking part in Cimientos programs, businesses and universities throughout Argentina are even tapping into the Graduate Network’s pool of students to fill openings!

The impact has been astounding and the proof is in the numbers – In the past year thousands of graduates received training to apply for employment or continue their education, 50 participants were granted scholarships to attend university, 28 students secured jobs, and over 300 new Cimientos high school graduates joined their peers in the Graduates Network. A stark contrast to Argentina’s norm and the success stories continue to pour in!

But, continued funding for the Graduate Network is crucial to keep up this momentum and continue to improve Argentina’s education system. To read personal success stories from Graduate Network participants and learn how a donation can shape the lives of Argentine youth visit the Cimientos project page on GlobalGiving.org!

Keeping Our New Year's Resolutions

María Hilaire — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 13:03:16 GMT

Students get their Job Training Diplomas

*versión en español a continuación

Dear Global Giving Friends,

We hope you have had a wonderful holiday season. Last year we worked hard to keep our New Years resolutions to help our graduates, meaning that in 2010:

1160 participants received useful information about education, employment or job-training opportunities.
343 graduates received vital job training such as how to search for a job, computer skills training and accounting lessons.
229 graduates are following our Graduates´ blog, which we created this year.
50 participants were granted scholarships to further their education.
28 graduates found jobs thanks to our help.
16 participants volunteered at Cimientos.
447 participants graduated from high school and Cimientos’ School Scholarship Program.
338 Cimientos new high school graduates became part of the Graduates Network.

Like us, was one of your New Years resolutions to do a good deed for someone else? Now you can! Help us keep our New Year’s resolutions for 2011 and keep yours to give back by supporting us or spreading the word to your friends today!

Thanks for making it possible for low income Argentine youth to get jobs and further their education this year!

María and Sarah – Cimientos Graduates Network Team

versión en español*

Estimados amigos de Global Giving,

Esperamos que hayan tenido muy felices fiestas. El año pasado trabajamos intensamente para lograr nuestros objetivos del año y ayudar a nuestros egresados… Fue así como en 2010:

1160 jóvenes fueron asesorados con información sobre oportunidades de formación, capacitación y empleo en todo el país.
343 jóvenes se capacitaron a través de cursos de orientación para la búsqueda de empleo y de conocimientos específicos.
229 egresados se suscribieron al blog de egresados que creamos este año.
50 jóvenes estudiaron con becas universitarias y/o terciarias.
28 jóvenes consiguieron trabajo por acciones realizadas desde la Red de Egresados.
16 jóvenes fueron voluntarios de Cimientos.
447 jóvenes finalizaron el secundario y su participación en el Programa de Becas Escolares de Cimientos.
338 nuevos egresados ya se sumaron a la Red de Egresados.

Como en nuestro caso, ¿alguna de tus metas de 2010 fue hacer alguna buena acción por otra persona? ¡Ahora podés! Ayudanos a cumplir nuestras metas para 2011 y cumplí las tuyas apoyándonos y difundiendo nuestro proyecto con tus amigos!

¡Gracias por hacer posible que jóvenes argentinos con bajos recursos consigan trabajos y tengan más y mejor educación!

María y Sarah – Equipo de la Red de Egresados de Cimientos

Sharing Joy this Holiday Season

María Hilaire — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 16:10:39 GMT

Emilse

*versión en español a continuación

Dear Friends,

As this year comes to a close we would like to share with you the joy of having more than 400 Cimientos scholarship recipients graduate from high school and begin their participation in our Graduates Network.

This has been a year of many achievements and concrete results in our efforts to help program graduates find employment and/or further their studies.

We bid farewell with the hope that the next year will find us together once again, working to improve opportunities for underprivileged youth in Argentina. We would like to take this opportunity to share the words of Emilse, a recent graduate who, next year, will receive her degree as a Surgical Technician:

“When I began high school in 2005 I was selected along with others for a scholarship issued by Cimientos. The mentor that I had was very supportive, always listening and giving me advice. We shared many individual meetings as well as group meetings with other students where we could all support each other.

During those 3 years the scholarship helped me a great deal. I was able to buy school supplies, books, clothes, and shoes.

When I finished high school, the Cimientos Graduates Network gave me the opportunity to take a training course and helped me apply for a university scholarship. I am now finishing my second year of university thanks to the support and mentoring that I receive every month. I cannot express how grateful I am to the Cimientos Graduates Network and the foundation that now provides me with a scholarship.

Thanks to all of you, in one year I will graduate with a degree in something I like; but even more importantly, I will enjoy the results of refusing to give up, of rising to the challenge no matter the odds.

Simply, THANK YOU!”

Thank you for giving Emilse the chance to escape poverty and have a better future.

Happy Holidays!

The Graduates Network

Queridos amigos:

Para cerrar el año, queríamos compartir con ustedes la alegría de tener más de 400 jóvenes que acaban de finalizar la cursada del secundario y podrán participar de nuestra Red de Egresados.

Este fue un año de muchos logros y resultados en nuestro trabajo por favorecer la inserción laboral y educativa de nuestros egresados…

Nos despedimos, deseando que el próximo año nos encuentre juntos para seguir trabajando por los jóvenes de bajos recursos socioeconómicos de la Argentina y aprovechamos para compartir unas líneas que escribió Emilse, una de las egresadas que el próximo año recibirá su título como Instrumentadora Quirúrgica.

“Cuando comencé el colegio secundario en el año 2005 fui seleccionada junto a otros para una beca otorgada por la Fundación Cimientos.

La tutora que tuve fue un gran apoyo para mí, siempre me escuchaba y me aconsejaba. Compartimos muchos encuentros individuales y grupales con otros chicos donde nos ayudábamos entre todos.

Esos 3 años que recibí la beca me ayudaron mucho. Pude comprar los materiales para estudiar, los libros, la vestimenta y el calzado.

Cuando terminé el secundario la Red de Egresados de Cimientos me dio la oportunidad de realizar el curso de capacitación y me ayudó a gestionar una beca universitaria. Hoy estoy terminando de cursar 2º año gracias a al apoyo y acompañamiento que recibo todos los meses y estoy más que agradecida con la Red de Egresados de Cimientos y con la Fundación que hoy me otorga la beca.

Gracias a todos ellos en un año me voy a poder recibir de lo que me gusta pero, más que nada, voy a disfrutar los resultados de no haber bajado los brazos y seguir a pesar todo.

¡Simplemente GRACIAS!”

Gracias por darle la oportunidad a Emilse a salir de la pobreza y tener un futuro mejor.

Felices Fiestas para todos,

La Red de Egresados

Our Graduates are Getting Jobs!

María Hilaire — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 20:27:57 GMT

Learning to find work in the classifieds

*versión en español a continuación

Helping underprivileged youths who have no work experience to find jobs is a tremendous challenge! According to a survey completed by 240 of our young participants, 60% were looking for work and 10% had been looking for work for over 1 year.

How are we helping? 269 youths have participated in training courses that teach the following: how to write a CV, how to identify their strengths, how to complete a successful job interview, and especially how to organize their job search.

Please find testimonials from several participants below:

“I wanted to tell you that today I am starting a job as a machinist at an industrial plant, with a good salary. I wanted to thank you and the Cimientos Graduate Network for your support with the job-training program. I am at your disposal for whatever you need! Thank you!
Leandro, Graduate of Berazategui, Class of ‘95

“I attended the course and they helped me a ton to put together my CV, and helped address concerns I had regarding job search engines.They taught me to look for a good job, among many other things. I had many job interviews thanks to them. Now my search is much more varied.”
Johanna, Graduate of Berazategui, Class of ‘08

We are also in touch with companies and HR departments in order to spread the word about job vacancies and recruit candidates who can then be interviewed. Recently, 12 young adults found work through the efforts of the Cimientos Graduate Network.

“I can tell you that thanks to your email with this job announcement at Manpower I found a job, and I am currently working. Thank you so much for acting as an intermediary and helping me to find something that I needed so badly.”
Antonella, Graduate of Capital Federal, Class of ‘09

“Thanks to you I am developing professionally at a publishing house, and I would even like to participate in a course that they are offering. Thank you very much."
Sebastian, Graduate of Capital Federal, Class of ‘09

Your donation is helping more than 1000 Argentine kids have a present and a future with increased opportunities.

Thank you for supporting this important cause!

-Gradustes Network Team

Nuestros egresados están consiguiendo trabajo

¡Ayudar a conseguir un trabajo a jóvenes de bajos recursos y sin experiencia laboral es un gran desafío! De una encuesta que respondieron 240 de nuestros jóvenes, un 60% estaba buscando trabajo y un 10% lo hacía hace más de 1 año.

¿Cómo lo estamos ayudando? 269 chicos ya participaron de cursos de capacitación donde se les enseña a: armar su CV, que descubran sus fortalezas, cómo afrontar una entrevista laboral con éxito y muy especialmente en cómo orientar la búsqueda.

Compartimos testimonios de algunos participantes:

“Quería contarte que hoy inicio a trabajar operario en una planta industrial, con un buen sueldo.

Quería agradecerles a ustedes y a la Red de Egresados de Cimientos por el apoyo brindado con el curso de inserción laboral. ¡Quedo a su disposición ante cualquier requerimiento! ¡¡¡Muchas Gracias!!!
Leandro, egresado de Berazategui en 2005

”Fui al curso y me ayudaron un montón en el armado del currículum, como también en las dudas que tenía con respecto a los buscadores de empleo. Me enseñaron a buscar mejor trabajo, entre muchas otras cosas. Tuve muchas entrevistas laborales gracias a ellos. Ahora tengo mayor variedad en la búsqueda.”
Johanna, egresada de Berazategui en 2008

También estamos en contacto con empresas o departamentos de Recursos Humanos para difundir búsquedas y reclutar candidatos que luego los derivamos para ser entrevistados. En este último tiempo, 12 jóvenes consiguieron trabajo a través de la gestión de la Red de Egresados.

“Les comento que gracias a su e-mail con este aviso para trabajar en Manpower conseguí empleo, y actualmente estoy trabajando. Desde ya muchas gracias por ser intermediario y ayudarme a conseguir algo que tanto necesitaba.”
Antonella, egresada de Capital Federal en 2008

“Gracias a ustedes yo estoy desarrollándome laboralmente en una editorial y me gustaría además poder participar del curso que ofrecen. Desde ya muchas gracias.”
Sebastián, egresado de Capital Federal en 2009

Con su aporte está ayudando a que más de 1000 chicos argentinos tengan un presente y un futuro con más oportunidades.

¡Muchas gracias por sumarse a esta causa importante!

-Equipo de la Red de Egresados

Reviewing CV's

Job Search Training Course Certificates

Our students at their course

Participants Complete their Job Training Course!

María Hilaire — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 21:10:19 GMT

Participants get their course diploma

*version en español a continuación

On September 7th, 21 students that are currently finishing their last year of high school completed their first Digital Literacy and Job Training Course. This course took place in the computer laboratory of a school located in La Matanza, province of Buenos Aires.

Roxana, one of the participants, thanked us for the opportunity Cimientos gave her upon receiving her diploma. ¨It was a good opportunity to learn about computing because none of us have a computer at home and we did not know anything about computers. Because of the course, we have learned how to use one as well as certain programs and can now use the internet. We also learned how to write a resume in order to apply for a job when we finish high school.¨

We will soon start a second course with students from the City of Buenos Aires, one of the many examples of how Cimientos will continue to support low income youth to empower them to get a job and succeed.

Thank you very much for your support!

El 7 de septiembre 21 jóvenes que actualmente están cursando su último año del secundario finalizaron el primer curso de Alfabetización Digital y Orientación para la búsqueda de Empleo organizado por la Red de Egresados en conjunto con otra ONG. Este curso se dictó en el laboratorio de computación de una escuela del Partido de La Matanza, provincia de Buenos Aires.

El detalle de los objetivos del curso ya se los comentamos en el reporte de junio pero queremos compartir con ustedes algunas fotos de la entrega de diploma.

Roxana, una de las participantes, aprovechó el día de la entrega de diplomas para agradecernos por la oportunidad brindada: “Fue una muy buena oportunidad para aprender informática ya que ninguno de nosotros tiene computadora en su casa y no sabíamos nada. En el curso aprendimos a usarla, manejando algunos programas y navegando por Internet. También pudimos armar nuestro CV para poder buscar trabajo apenas terminemos el secundario”. Próximamente iniciaremos una segunda experiencia con jóvenes de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires.

¡Muchas gracias por su colaboración!

Participants with their course diplomas

Maria and Gabriela show off their achievement

Low-income Youth Take a Job-Training Course!

María Hilaire — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:15:18 GMT

Students at their job training course

*versión en español a continuación

In August, 2010, the Graduates Network began a Vocational Development Orientation training course with the Employment Service of the AMIA (Asociación Mutua Israelita Argentina) in La Plata.

Participating Cimientos graduates are from Almirante Brown, Berazategui, Ensenada, Florencio Varela, and Quilmes. This program will last for approximately 3 months, and there will be 3 group meetings as well as 3 private individual coaching sessions related to creating a successful resumé and optimizing performance in a job interview.

Participants will also work on developing their strengths and skills in order to apply them to the workplace, and they will receive personalized support with regard to identifying potential jobs that are suitable to their skill-sets and interests so that they can successfully enter the workforce.

Finally, we are happy to announce that 175 alumni are logging onto our blog on a daily basis, using this forum to ask questions, communicate with each other, and access new information and opportunities posted online!

Thank you for your continued support!

-- The Cimientos Graduates Network Team

En el mes de agosto la Red de Egresados inició una capacitación de orientación para la búsqueda de empleo con el Servicio de Empleo de la Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA) en La Plata.

Están participando 20 jóvenes de Almirante Brown, Berazategui, Ensenada, Florencio Varela y Quilmes. La capacitación durará aproximadamente 3 meses, y se harán 3 encuentros grupales y 3 coachings individuales donde les enseñará a armar su Curriculum Vitae y a atravesar con éxito una entrevista laboral.

Asimismo, trabajarán en sus fortalezas y habilidades para desenvolverse en un empleo y recibirán apoyo personalizado para postularse a búsquedas laborales activas de acuerdo a su perfil e intereses para que puedan insertarse en el mercado.

Por último, en relación al blog de egresados sobre el que informamos en el report anterior, ¡ya son 175 chicos logueados que diariamente entran para hacer consultas, comunicarse con todos los usuarios y ver las nuevas oportunidades e información que la Red les va brindando!

¡Gracias por todo el apoyo!

-- Equipo de la Red de Egresados Cimientos

First job-training session in La Plata

Our new Graduates Network Blog is up and running!

María Hilaire — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 16:22:44 GMT

*version en español a continuación

Our new Graduates Network Blog is up and running!

Since 2009, we’ve needed a channel of communication with our graduates that would:

• Allow greater reach and better mass communication with graduates. • Synthesize all of the information and opportunities that we manage from the Graduates Network in one place. • Promote horizontal communication and information exchange between graduates. • Create a space where graduates can express themselves and communicate their concerns so that we would be able to assess them and respond to their interests and needs.

We decided to create a blog, as many of our graduates are already accustomed to this form of electronic communication.

After nearly a year of work and--with the help of a blogging expert—investigating approximately twenty designs targeting the needs of the Graduates Network, we’ve finally created and launched a blog exclusively for the use of our graduates!

Here, the graduates can find information to conduct job orientation and training courses, apply to university scholarships and job searches, volunteer with Cimientos and make contact with other graduates from all of Argentina. In this way, our blog continues to facilitate the social and professional inclusion of our graduates after they complete their secondary educations.

We currently have 130 graduates following our blog, and the number of subscribers continues to increase every week. The Graduate Network investigates and publishes new information and opportunities every week.

Below, we’ve included some testimonials left by graduates on our new blog:

¨Hello, my name is Leonardo and I am a 2007 graduate of the School of Technical Education N° 3 Domingo Fuastina Sarmiento. I’m in my second year of studying Systems Engineering at the Tandil University of Exact Sciences. To me, the new Blog seems like an excellent way to exchange information and keep in touch. I’m not sure if you’ve already heard, but in Tandil from the 1st to the 4th of July there will be a job fair in the Cultural Center. I found out through my university, and I thought it would be a good idea to share it with all of you in case you hadn’t heard about it. Greetings, Leonardo, graduate from Mar del Plata 2007.¨

¨Hello I’m Alejandra, a graduate of the School of Middle Education N° 1 of Berisso and a former Cimientos scholarship program participant. The truth is that I was so busy with college that I didn’t have time to really look at the page but today I was able to sit down and take a good look, and I realized that I had really been missing out because the truth is that there are some really interesting things on the blog! Kisses, see you soon  Let’s get more people to join the Network  Alejandra, graduate of Ensenada 2009.¨

To view the Graduates Network Blog login page, please click here: http://www.cimientos.org/egresados/

¡Ya está en funcionamiento nuestro Blog de Egresados!

Desde el año 2009 que necesitábamos una herramienta de comunicación con los egresados que permitiera: • Tener mayor alcance y mejor comunicación masiva con egresados. • Congregar toda la información y oportunidades que gestionamos desde la Red de Egresados en un solo lugar. • Promover la comunicación horizontal y el intercambio de información entre egresados. • Generar un espacio donde los egresados puedan expresarse y comunicar sus inquietudes para poder asesorarlos y responder a sus intereses y necesidades.

Decidimos armar un blog, teniendo en cuenta que es una herramienta a la cual los jóvenes suelen estar habituados.

Luego de un trabajo de casi un año, donde con la ayuda de una persona experta en el tema arrancamos relevando aproximadamente 20 diseños acorde a las necesidades de la Red de Egresados, ¡¡¡finalmente creamos y lanzamos un blog exclusivo para nuestros egresados!!!

Allí los egresados pueden encontrar información para realizar cursos de orientación laboral y capacitaciones, aplicar a becas universitarias y a búsquedas de empleo, ser voluntario en Cimientos y contactarse con egresados de todo el país en pos de lograr su inclusión social y laboral una vez finalizados sus estudios secundarios.

Actualmente ya contamos con 130 egresados suscriptos al blog y cada semana se van sumando nuevos. Desde la Red de Egresados, semanalmente buscamos y publicamos nuevas oportunidades e información.

Compartimos con ustedes algunos comentarios que los egresados fueron dejando en el blog:

Hola me llamo Leonardo (…), egresado de la Escuela de Educación Técnica N° 3 Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, año 2007. Estoy cursando segundo año de Ingeniería en Sistemas en la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas de Tandil. Me parece una idea excelente la del Blog, para intercambiar información y mantenernos en contacto. No sé si están enterados pero en Tandil del 1 al 4 de Junio hay una exposición de empleos en el Centro Cultural, yo me enteré por medio de la facultad, y me pareció buena idea compartirlo con ustedes por si no estaban enterados. Saludos. Leonardo, egresado 2007 de Mar del Plata.

Hola soy Alejandra, egresada de la Escuela de Educación Media Nº 1 de Berisso y ex becada de Cimientos. La verdad que con la cursada de la facultad no estuve con tiempo para revisar bien la página pero hoy me senté, la mire y ¡vi lo que me estaba perdiendo porque la verdad hay cosas bastantes interesantes! Besos, nos vemos :) Unamos a más chicos a la Red :). Alejandra, egresada 2009 de Ensenada.

Para ver cómo es la página de acceso al blog de Egresados de Cimientos, hacé click en: http://www.cimientos.org/egresados/

Digital Literacy and Job Training Courses

María Hilaire — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 19:44:11 GMT

Luciano, Santiago and Maxis´ 1st computer class

*versión en español a continuación

Dear Global Giving partner,

We want to tell you about a pilot project that we are very excited about that began in May. The project works to increase social, academic and professional inclusion for low-income youth by developing their ICT (information and communication technology) knowledge as well as provide them with necessary job-entry tools.

On May 3rd, 32 high school seniors from La Matanza, Buenos Aires province, strarted their program. They are participating in a three month basic IT training course that includes job search and job orientation workshops. Once this first project ends, we will start another one in a different region of Argentina, expanding our reach to approximately 60 students.

If you donate to low-income youth in Argentina today (Wednesday, June 16th), Global Giving will match your donation by 50%, increasing your impact! We would also like to take this opportunity to let you know that we have included new, alternative donation options relating to projects and activities that we are carrying out this year so please take a look at them.

Thank you for your support and for helping Argentine youth escape poverty!

The Cimientos Team

Estimado socio de Global Giving:

Queremos contarles acerca de un proyecto piloto que comenzó a implementarse en el mes de mayo, cuyo objetivo es favorecer la inclusión social, educativa y laboral de jóvenes en situación de vulnerabilidad a través del desarrollo de competencias en TICs (tecnologías de la información y la comunicación) y en herramientas de inclusión para el mercado de trabajo.

El 3 de mayo comenzaron a participar 32 alumnos del último año del secundario del Partido de La Matanza, provincia de Buenos Aires. Se les está brindando un curso de Informática básica y están participando de talleres de orientación para la búsqueda de empleo durante 3 meses. Una vez que concluya esta primera experiencia del proyecto, comenzaremos a implementarlo en otra zona del país para alcanzar a un total aproximado de 60 alumnos.

¡Si hoy (miércoles 16 de junio) haces una donación a jóvenes con bajos recursos económicos, Global Giving donará un 50% adicional y tu impacto será mayor! Aprovechamos para comentarles que hemos subido nuevas alternativas de financiamiento en función de los proyectos y acciones que estamos llevando adelante este año.

¡Gracias por colaborar y por ayudar a que jóvenes argentinos puedan salir de la pobreza!

El equipo de Cimientos

Students getting a basic IT lesson

Students in IT computer class

Lucas gets a scholarship!

María Hilaire — Thu, 13 May 2010 19:13:21 GMT

Lucas speaking at his last Student Retreat

*versión en español a continuación

Lucas lives on the banks of the river, in a house without electricity or basic services. He gets up at 4 am. to ride his bike 1 km on a paved road and 2 km. on a dirt road to the train station where he leaves his bike. After an almost 2 hour train ride, he arrives at the National University of La Plata to study Business Administration.

Thanks to the Graduates Network team, Lucas and 4 other Cimientos program graduates received a scholarship to study at universities.

In order to achieve this, the Graduate Network team researched what institutions granted scholarships throughout the country. Then, it contacted many of them and worked with them in order to nominate our program graduates. Our team determined which students were interested in studying business courses and then personally invited them to present the necessary documentation in order to apply for a scholarship.

Students participated in a career guidance workshop and on March 11th their scholarships were confirmed! They will receive a financial stipend and monthly tutoring and mentoring. They will also participate in study methodology workshops and in cultural and recreational outings organized by the non-profit organization that granted their scholarships.

If you want to get to know Lucas, please watch the following video on YouTube where you can see him when he showed his appreciation for having the opportunity to participate in the Cimientos Scholarship Program at a Student Day. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iECcrOmO0k

Thanks for all of your support and for having made it possible for Lucas and other Cimientos graduates to receive this well deserved scholarship!

The Cimientos Team

Lucas says: Hi, I`m Lucas Díaz, Cimientos graduate and I want to tell you that I`m studying at the university without any problems (only minor difficulties that can be resolved) and that I have been selected for a scholarship from the foundation that Cimientos recommended me too. I just wanted to tell you about me... Regards Lucas Díaz Cimientos Program Graduate 2009 Quilmes, Argentina

Lucas vive a la ribera del río, en una casa sin luz ni servicios. Se levanta a las 4 A.M. para subirse a su bicicleta, recorrer un 1 km de camino asfaltado y 2 km en camino de tierra hasta llegar a la estación de tren donde guarda su bicicleta. Luego de un recorrido en tren de casi 2 horas y caminar además 20 minutos, llega a la Universidad Nacional de La Plata para estudiar Administración de Empresas.

Gracias a la gestión de Red de Egresados, Lucas y otros 4 egresados de Cimientos obtuvieron una beca de una asociación civil para cursar carreras universitarias en universidades públicas.

Para lograr esto, el equipo de la Red de Egresados hizo un relevamiento de qué instituciones otorgaban becas a lo largo del país. Luego fue tomando contacto con varias de ellas y trabajando en forma conjunta para postular a nuestros egresados. En este caso, se detectó quiénes de nuestros jóvenes estaban interesados en estudiar carreras relacionadas con el mundo empresarial y se los invitó personalmente a presentar la documentación para aplicar a dichas becas.

Los alumnos participaron de un taller de orientación vocacional y el 11 de marzo se confirmó el otorgamiento de sus becas. Recibirán una ayuda económica y un acompañamiento mensual a cargo de tutores y participarán de talleres de metodología de estudio y de salidas culturales y recreativas organizadas por la asociación civil que otorga las becas.

Si querés conocerlo a Lucas, podés acceder al siguiente video en YouTube donde, en una Jornada de Encuentro de alumnos becados, él agradece el haber podido participar del Programa de Becas Escolares de Cimientos. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iECcrOmO0k

¡Gracias por todo su apoyo y haber hecho que sea posible que Lucas y otros egresados consigiuieran esta beca tan merecida!

Equipo de Cimientos

En las palabras de Lucas: Hola soy Lucas Díaz, egresado de Cimientos y quería contarte que estoy cursando la facu sin ningún problema (solo dificultades menores que se pueden resolver) y además quede seleccionado como becado de la fundación al cual fui recomendado por ustedes en Cimientos. Bueno solo quería informarles en que ando... besos y saludos a Cimientos Lucas Díaz Egresado 2009 Quilmes

Lucas and other program graduates

Lucas with his sponsors, the first time they met!

2009 Project Results

María Hilaire — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:50:53 GMT

Scholarship Candidates at the Universidad Católica

Dear Global Giving Partners, Thanks to your support, in 2009 Cimientos was able to provide employment tools and education resources to low income youth so that they could obtain jobs, receive a higher education and escape poverty. Some of our project results for 2009 are: • 105 youth participants received vital job training such as how to search for a job, computer skills training, English classes and accounting lessons. • 38 youth participants received university scholarships. • 875 youth participants received information about education, employment or job-training opportunities. • 30 youth participants became Cimientos volunteers. • We sent out the first 5 editions of the Graduate Network monthly newsletter. • We established partnerships with the company Manpower, the Tzedaká Foundation and the Universidad Argentina de la Empresa (UADE) in order to offer job-training and educational opportunities to our graduates. We additionally began working with a number of other organizations in order to provide project participants with even more education and job opportunities. To start off 2010, we are currently working on facilitating the digital inclusion of 480 students that are about to graduate from high school so that they can be better prepared for the job market and be better equipped to continue with their education once they finish high school. If you donate to low-income youth in Argentina today (Tuesday, March 16th), Global Giving will match your donation by 30%, increasing your impact! Thank you for your support and for helping Argentine youth escape poverty! The Cimientos Team Sebastian´s Story After graduating from high school with the support of Cimientos, the Graduates Network helped Sebastián get a job by sending his resumé to a publishing house. He has been working there since February, and is incredibly happy and grateful that Cimientos provided him with the resources he needed to take advantage of this profesional opportunity. Ivana thanks Cimientos “I want to thank the entire incredible Cimientos team that continuously supports us!!! All the information about job training sessions, workshops and scholarships that you provide us with is incredibly helpful! Thank you for always being there for us!” - Ivana, 2007 program graduate, Mar del Plata Estimados socios de Global Giving, Gracias a la colaboración de ustedes, en 2009 Cimientos pudo brindar herramientas e información acerca de oportunidades de formación, capacitación y empleo para que jóvenes de bajos recursos económicos pudieran conseguir trabajo y continuar con su educación. Algunos resultados del trabajo realizado en 2009 son: • 105 jóvenes se capacitaron a través de cursos de orientación para la búsqueda de empleo y de conocimientos específicos (computación, inglés, facturación en prestaciones médicas, etc). 38 jóvenes obtuvieron becas universitarias. • 875 jóvenes fueron asesorados por la Red de Egresados, con información sobre oportunidades de formación, capacitación y empleo. • 30 jóvenes participaron como voluntarios de Cimientos. • Se enviaron las primeras 5 ediciones de un boletín digital mensual exclusivo para egresados. • Se establecieron acuerdos de colaboración con la empresa Manpower, la Fundación Tzedaká y la Universidad Argentina de la Empresa (UADE) para ofrecer oportunidades de capacitación y de formación a egresados. Además, se articuló el trabajo con otras numerosas organizaciones. En el 2010, estamos trabajando para favorecer la inclusión digital de 480 alumnos próximos a egresar a fin de que estén mejor preparados para el mercado laboral y continuar estudiando una vez finalizada la escuela secundaria. ¡Si hoy (martes 16 de marzo) haces una donación a jóvenes con bajos recursos económicos, Global Giving donará un 30% adicional y tu impacto será mayor! ¡Gracias por colaborar y por ayudar a que jóvenes argentinos puedan salir de la pobreza! El equipo de Cimientos Sebastián, una historia de éxito Sebastián consiguió trabajo a través de la Red de Egresados de Cimientos enviando su CV a una editorial de libros. Está trabajando desde febrero y está muy contento de haber accedido a esta oportunidad brindada por Cimientos. Ivana agradece a Cimientos “¡¡¡Desde ya quiero agradecer a todo el equipo humano increíble de Cimientos que se sigue preocupando por nosotros!!! ¡Es de mucha ayuda la información de capacitaciones de empleo y becas que nos brindan! ¡Gracias por seguir acompañándome!” - Ivana, egresada 2007, Mar del Plata

Graduate Network Participants

Project Focus Group - Staff and Graduates

Program Graduates

Graduates-Tzedaká Job-Training Course w/ Diplomas