Education Argentina Project #4357

Give Argentine Youth a Chance

by Fundacion Cimientos

Project Report | Jul 23, 2024
Helping the youth shape their future

By Gimena Zeniquel | Project Leader

From the Graduates Network, we're proud to introduce our Red de Egresados (RED) program, a crucial initiative addressing the challenges faced by young people in Argentina. In Argentina, the youth unemployment rate is double the national average, and this group experiences the highest rates of informal employment. Forty-two percent of the population aged 16 to 24 faces socio-labor insertion problems. Many are unemployed, while others work in unregistered, precarious jobs, or neither work nor study.

We propose to support the post-school transition of socioeconomically vulnerable youth who have participated in our programs. The Red de Egresados aims to enhance the educational and labor insertion of these young people through various strategies. By partnering with companies, higher education institutions, other civil society organizations, and government agencies, we provide training and employment opportunities that meet the interests and needs of these young people.

Our key initiatives include:

Employment Training Courses: These courses provide young people with a competitive edge in securing their first job. They include workshops on labor competencies and employment tools offered by Cimientos, and technical training by partner companies. This training not only enhances the social capital of the young participants but also offers a valuable volunteering experience for the organization's collaborators.

Job Placement: To facilitate youth employment, we collaborate with companies and other organizations. Companies send us their job openings, and we disseminate them among graduates of our programs. We pre-select candidates and send their CVs to the companies. The companies then proceed with interviews and hiring, while Cimientos provides follow-up and support to the hired youth.

Higher Education Scholarships: We partner with higher education institutions to offer scholarships to our program graduates. We assist with the application process and provide ongoing support to ensure successful enrollment and completion of their studies.

Graduate Training and Exchange Days: In collaboration with our Future Graduates Program, we offer various activities for secondary school students, including life project workshops, vocational and occupational guidance, university fairs, and simulated job interviews. These sessions help students build their life projects and explore their career options.

Our program stands out for its comprehensive support during the post-school transition and its focus on meeting the specific needs of our primary audience—graduates of the Future Graduates Program—helping them construct their life projects.

Despite the challenges, our program has achieved significant results:

In 2023, 3,395 young people received training and employment opportunities.
In 2022, we conducted seven employment training courses with six partners, reaching 175 young people. The courses covered topics such as administrative assistance, financial skills, logistics, and introduction to technology.
Historically, over 80% of participants complete the training courses, with almost all rating the experience as "excellent" or "very good."
In 2022, 76 young people pursued higher education with scholarships facilitated by the Red de Egresados, in partnership with 15 universities and other civil society organizations.
That same year, we hosted three national virtual youth meetings, with 367 young participants from across the country and 53 volunteers from various sectors.

The employment training courses are short, intensive programs designed to meet the needs of young people and developed in partnership with different companies. They aim to train young people in specific job-related topics and socio-emotional skills, providing them with the tools to seek formal and quality employment. We help them recognize and enhance their skills, reinforcing the competencies and knowledge acquired through their social, academic, and work experiences. The courses are dynamic, combining workshops on socio-emotional skills and technical competencies, taught by Cimientos specialists and corporate volunteers.

To continue and expand our impactful programs, we need your support. Your donations will help more young people access employment and training opportunities, allowing them to escape poverty. Please consider making a donation and sharing our mission with your family and friends.

Thank you for your support,
Gimena Zeniquel

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Mar 21, 2024
Report - Fundacion Cimientos

By Gimena Zeniquel | Graduate Network Coordinator

The Graduate Network aims to accompany young people in situations of socioeconomic vulnerability, who have completed secondary school accompanied by Cimientos or who have participated in training programs for employment, in their life projects, promoting the development of socio-emotional skills and competencies. which contributes to continuing with their studies and obtaining a first formal and quality job. In some cases, they are the first members of their family group with a secondary degree.

This objective is met through different actions: Training Courses for employment, Labor intermediation, management of higher education scholarships, Training Days and exchange of Graduates, coordination with institutions and other educational centers.

During the year 2023 we had a total reach of 4,167 participants, with a main focus on the 992 students from the last two years of high school participating in the Future Graduates Program who were advised and participated in different activities to work on their life project.

Preparation for the life project integrates strategies of direct articulation and collaborative work between the Graduate Network and the Future Graduate Program (PFE) of Cimientos based on the development of specific skills and content for the completion of secondary school and the beginning of the post-secondary stage. -school, organized into two central axes: Higher Studies and Career Guidance.

Within this framework, 02 Virtual National Meetings, 05 In-Person Transition Conferences (school - post-school activities), 05 webinars, visits and informative talks with universities and 08 employment training courses were held.

Regarding the management of higher education scholarships, we closed the year with 6 young graduates and for this year we have 71 new applications, which are added to the 110 young people who study with university or tertiary scholarships managed by agreements between Cimientos and other organizations.

“Not only did it provide me with support when I was in high school, but it gave me one of the greatest opportunities of my life: to be able to study the career of my dreams. To this day I cannot think of one that I could have been as passionate about as Public Relations and if it were not this beautiful foundation I would not be able to narrate this dream come true” A graduate from the PR program at the UADE comments.

Through employment training courses, we provide tools to young people so that they have a competitive advantage when it comes to obtaining their first job. Cimientos provides workshops on socio-emotional skills and tools for employment. The technical training, provided by the company, also increases the social capital of the young participants and is an excellent volunteer experience for the organization's collaborators.

In the last year we have trained 195 young people in the topics of Administrative Assistant, Financial Skills, Introduction to the Business World, Introduction to Creativity in Advertising, Introduction to the Audiovisual World and User Experience, together with renowned companies and organizations such as Aeropuertos Argentina 2000 , BBVA, KPMG, Mediapro Argentina, Motorola Solutions Argentina and Ogilvy Argentina.

“Throughout the course we visited different companies where I was able to meet wonderful people who gave us a space to learn what their way and place of work is like. I am very happy to be able to have these experiences, super grateful to be part of this opportunity and to continue making the most of this course” A participant in the employment training course with Aeropuertos Argentinas 2000 tells us.

All these experiences were possible thanks to the accompaniment and support of 60 companies and 361 volunteers.

Regarding labor intermediation, last year 69 job searches were disseminated by organizations allied to Cimientos and 74 young people found employment through Cimientos.

During 2024, 2,521 students from the last two years of high school participating in the PFE will join the Graduate Network. To work with them, we have planned, among other actions, 10 training and exchange days, 03 virtual meetings, 11 Employment Training Courses, and personalized advice for young people.

We continue to promote more employment and higher education opportunities for all participants in the Graduate Network.

If you want to support our work so that more and more young people, have access to employment and training opportunities that allow them to get out of poverty, consider making a donation. You can also be of great help if you spread the word and share our link with family and friends.

Greetings and thanks for your support

Links:

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Nov 22, 2023
More and better opportunities

By Gimena Zeniquel | Coordinator, Graduates Network Program

From the Graduates Network, we are currently engaged in the following actions and projects:

EMPLOYMENT TRAINING COURSES: This year, we have conducted eight employment training courses, preparing young individuals in soft skills and specific knowledge relevant to various industries with which Cimientos collaborates. The goal of these courses is to equip young people with tools that facilitate access to quality employment. Currently, 88 young individuals are participating in various training sessions, totaling 188 participants for the year. This year's proposals covered topics such as Financial Skills, Administrative Assistant, Customer Service in the Airport World, Introduction to the Creative World, Audiovisual, and Advertising.

"Throughout the course, we visited different companies where I had the chance to meet wonderful people who provided insights into their workspaces. I am very pleased to have these experiences, grateful to be part of this opportunity, and eager to make the most of this course. " Participant in the employment training course with Aeropuertos Argentinas 2000.

"What I liked most about the workshops was the way they were conducted. The dynamics used were genuinely entertaining and stimulating. Each workshop was carried out dynamically, keeping everyone actively engaged. The overall experience was an enriching and fun environment that made learning a highly rewarding experience." Graduate of the Creativity in the Advertising World training, conducted in collaboration with Ogilvy Argentina.

YOUTH MEETINGS: Alongside two other local Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and with the support of EMpower, we are organizing the second national virtual youth meeting focused on career guidance. The objective is to provide tools and resources to enhance the employability of young people. We estimate the participation of at least 120 young individuals.

After the virtual meeting, we will host a session for simulated in-person job interviews, exclusively for graduates of Cimientos programs. Currently, we have confirmed the participation of 30 selectors from 17 companies and estimate the involvement of at least 75 young individuals.

JOB INTERMEDIATION: Throughout the year, 52 young individuals have secured employment. Additionally, seven companies have, for the first time, hired young individuals from our programs. In the coming months, leveraging the employment opportunities during the high summer season in Argentina, we will intensify efforts to contact companies interested in collaborating with Cimientos in terms of job intermediation.

VOCATIONAL AND JOB ORIENTATION ACTIONS: In coordination with our program that supports young individuals in high school, named "Future Graduates Program," we have conducted four in-person sessions in different areas of CABA, GBA, and Rosario (Santa Fe province), with the participation of 365 young individuals in their final two years of high school. Each session had different content tailored to the interests of each area, including workshops on vocational and job orientation, soft skills in job placement communication, job search related to technology, LinkedIn, panel discussions with professionals, and simulated job interviews. These activities were made possible thanks to the support of 130 volunteers from various companies. The opportunity to share and exchange experiences with professionals is a unique experience that allows young individuals to clarify doubts and find inspiration for their career and employment choices.

We have begun working on the design of a project for next year, which will enable us to enhance our support and strategies to further integrate into the digital world as part of our work with students.

HIGHER EDUCATION: We are promoting 14 scholarship opportunities for higher and university studies in partnership with private universities and other educational institutions. We provide guidance and support to young individuals interested in applying for these scholarships, assisting them throughout the documentation submission and general application process. Additionally, we continue to offer advice on other educational options to young individuals as part of vocational guidance processes.

If you want to support our work so that more and more youth have access to employment and training opportunities that allow them to escape poverty, consider making a donation. You can also be of great help if you spread the word and share our link with family and friends.

Greetings and thanks for your support,

Gimena Zeniquel

Links:

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