Studies show that a Guatemalan youth needs to complete 12 years of education in order to break the cycle of poverty. We are now working toward more direct pathways between education and employment to prepare students for post-secondary success as well. We will establish an Employment Hub to equip Rise students with additional career and technology skills to achieve the formal careers they aspire to--careers that are necessary to truly break the cycle of poverty.
In a country where 20% of students from under-resourced communities graduate from high school, CoEd's Rise Youth Development Program supports youth on the path to high school graduation and ensures more students can successfully complete 12 years of schooling. Many final-year students and recent graduates from these communities, especially Indigenous young women, lack digital, professional, market-relevant skills--and networking access--that can translate schooling into formal employment.
In 2026, we will expand the program to three additional cohorts of final-year Rise students and recent graduates (up to 100 youth, primarily Indigenous women). We will also develop a dedicated space for a new Employment Hub at CoEd's San Lucas headquarters to host these trainings in future years and serve as a co-working space for students with access to technology and business software. Each cohort will attend 3 months of workshops providing additional training and increase their job placement.
With practical training, technology access, employer connections, and internship opportunities, final-year Rise students and recent graduates will be in a much stronger position to transition into formal employment or post-secondary pathways. In 2026, we will develop the Employment Hub as a springboard from which students can position themselves well for post-secondary success. We will also embark on strategic partnerships to maximize student networking with employers and other organizations.
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