Employability and soft skills for vulnerable youth

Who we are 

In an effort to empower Costa Rican youth facing social vulnerability, the High Opportunity Schools Program (CAO in Spanish) has emerged as a collaborative initiative aimed at strengthening institutional educational management and fostering successful student retention. This report explores the impact and significance of the CAO program, which is executed by Fundación Acción Joven, a private non-profit organization with a commendable 15+ year track record in creating more and better opportunities for Costa Rican youth.

Our Objectives

The CAO Program was initiated in 2015 and operates within the public education system, specifically targeting networks of educational centers located in areas characterized by high social vulnerability. With a primary focus on the provinces of Puntarenas, Guanacaste, Limón, and San José, CAO embodies the country's commitment to enhancing the quality of the education system and reducing student exclusion.

What we do

The CAO Program operates through a collaborative work vision, engaging key stakeholders, including school administrators, teachers, parents, and the wider community. By employing a holistic approach, the program tackles various aspects of educational management to ensure a conducive environment for student success.

Fundación Acción Joven works closely with educational institutions, providing technical expertise, capacity-building workshops, and tailored support to enhance their institutional management. Through collaborative partnerships, the program focuses on improving teaching methodologies, curriculum development, and the integration of technology in the learning process. Additionally, CAO facilitates the establishment of student support networks, fostering a sense of belonging and providing individualized guidance to promote student retention.

Our Impact

The CAO Program has demonstrated notable success in improving educational outcomes and reducing student exclusion among vulnerable youth. By strengthening institutional management, the program has enhanced the overall quality of education provided, resulting in increased student engagement and academic performance.

From January to June 2023, we have been able to:

• Work with 14 schools across the country.
• Reach 400 students, of which 204 are men and 196 are women.
• Develop 66 activities of the employability and life project module.
• Involve more than 56 teachers and administrative staff.
• Carry out 25 activities aimed at strengthening educational permanence.
• Organize a vocational tour and coordinate 4 others for the end of this month and the beginning of next month.

What we plan to do

The success of the CAO Program is attributed to the collaborative efforts between Fundación Acción Joven, educational institutions, government entities, and other stakeholders, like yourself who has been part of the project and helps us to reach more students.

In the next months, we are looking to bring CAO to others provinces and engage with companies to carry out more vocational tours, that allows the students to expand their knowledge, goals and opportunities. For that goal, we need to raise funds for food and transportation for the students, especially for those who live in the peripheral areas, where the journey is longer.

Finally, in August we will start a new cycle, with new groups of students in the same high schools, that we will be approaching and that will be participating in the activities and socio-educational modules that we develop.

Our final message

Once again, thank you for your donation and for making it possible that together we can strengthen the capacities and opportunities of the youth of Costa Rica. Stay tuned for more information and news of our projects.