In colombiaõs caribbean region, covid-19 has exacerbated an already precarious situation for young people: youth unemployment has reached record highs and a lack of available virtual schooling options…

This $310,000 project grant from the Inter-American Foundation (IAF) supports Corporacion Taller Prodesal Promocion Popular Y De Alternativas Al Desarrollo in delivering entrepreneurship and skills training programs for at-risk youth in Colombia's Caribbean region. Under the IAF Assistance for Overseas Programs (CFDA 85.750), the grantee will work with young people to generate new economic and cultural ventures, provide business development and audio-visual production training, and offer $310K in seed capital to launch their business initiatives. This funding aims to assist economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic by growing small businesses led by trained youth entrepreneurs, at a time when pandemic impacts have severely limited education and employment opportunities for young Colombians. The three-year project completion date is December 2024.

In colombiaõs caribbean region, covid-19 has exacerbated an already precarious situation for young people: youth unemployment has reached record highs and a lack of available virtual schooling options has led many young people to desert the formal education system. In colombia, this often translates into young people being recruited by armed groups or participating in other illicit trades. However, IT can also lead young people to creating their own economic opportunities, starting small businesses, and mobilizing for positive change. The IAF supports young entrepreneurs in growing their small businesses to assist in economic recovery following the covid-19 pandemic. Our grantee corporaci-N taller DE promoci-N popular Y desarrollo alternativo (PRODESAL) is working with young people to generate new economic and cultural ventures, train them in business development and audio-visual production, and offer seed capital to launch their initiatives. This grant is part of the IAF's broader covid-19 response strategy.