Colombianitos Young Adults’ Advancement Programs is available for young adults between 16-20 who have participated in the Goals For A Better Life Program and want to advance their education and/or employable skill sets. Participants are required to have previously demonstrated a strong commitment to and overall accomplishments in their studies and are regarded as responsible young adults dedicated to working hard as well as giving back to their community.
Young Trainers’ Program in Partnership with FundaColombia “I did not know how to spend my spare time. I didn’t know the things that I know now. Our community has changed a lot and for good, because boys and girls now have a place to go, play and learn. They are always welcome with a smile and good treatment. I just came for training and I stayed working for Colombianitos. I can try to teach them (the children) what I have been taught; it is very gratifying.” Female, 22 years old – Member of Colombianitos Young Trainers’ program.
FundaColombia (Colombian Foundation for Education and Opportunity) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to create better opportunities of education and work for children and young adults of Colombia. In alliance with FundaColombia, Colombianitos is piloting a two-year Young Trainers’ program to enable teenagers and young adults who have participated in Goals For A Better Life to become certified as football trainers and/or referees and form a business. Upon completion of the certification requirements, Colombianitos helps these individuals create a business plan and supports them in acquiring service contracts with Colombianitos and other external entities.
Technical Skills Development Program in Partnership with A Ganar “I am a 17 year old teenager girl, I leave with my mother and 3 brothers and sisters and my step father, and we leave happily. At this moment and thanks to COLOMBIANITOS, especially to Maria Antonia (Goals for a Better Life Coordinator in Puerto Tejada) I am studying ‘bookkeeping’ through “A Ganar” program. I finished high school, and my expectations are to be someone in life, I want to improve the quality of life of my whole family.
COLOMBIANITOS is not only helping me, also my brothers with their studies, and with health issues they both have. That is why I thank COLOMBIANITOS, because it provides us with a healthy place to be at. I want to demonstrate that if you want to succeed you have to fight for it and never give up. Thanks to music and dance my brothers and I can express ourselves better. “Female, 17 years old – Member of Colombianitos A Ganar program.
A Ganar is a innovative youth employability program that uses soccer and other team sports to teach children and young people in Latin America the skills they need to be competitive in today's job market. In alliance with the A Ganar/Vencer organization, Colombianitos has commenced a pilot program in Puerto Tejada to help young adults (former participants of Goals For A Better Life) learn technical and/or industry skills that will prepare and enable them to seek viable employment opportunities in their local communities.
University Scholarships “I have received a scholarship from FundaColombia through COLOMBIANITOS and thanks to this support, I am able to continue my studies” Maria Fernanda Torres Monsalve, former participant of Goals for a Better Life in Ciudad Bolivar, 20 years old. With funding from FundaColombia and A Ganar, some of the young adults who have had a successful participation in the Young Adults’ Advancement Programs receive a scholarship to study a professional or technical career. FundaColombia and A Ganar directly pay for their professional / technical studies and COLOMBIANITOS follows up on their performance and accordingly approve the continuation of their scholarship
