Holistic Development for Youth Leaders
SHARE currently supports two projects with the CCR: Women’s Empowerment Through Microfinance and Food Security and Holistic Development for Youth Leaders in Communities of the CCR. Read more about the Association of Communities for the Development of Chalatenango (CCR)!
Project Name: Holistic Development of Youth Leaders in Communities of the CCR
High School Scholarship Students
To continue the struggle for social justice through the formation of new leadership, the goal of this project is to p rovide opportunities, encouragement, and training for emerging youth leaders. Youth are encouraged to use their leadership skills and other training to become involved in organizing efforts that seek long-term, sustainable alternatives to migration, violence, and underdevelopment in the Chalatenango region. In a country where the average person completes school through 6th grade, high school scholarships are an important project element. This scholarship program is directed specifically towards young men and women who demonstrate leadership qualities in their communities and would not otherwise have access to financial support for studies.
Specific Project Elements:
- High school scholarships for 16 youth, who were selected for their demonstrated leadership qualities and academic performance, from 8 communities
- Leadership training and education around economic, social and political issues with scholarship recipients
- Bi-monthly youth assemblies to encourage and support academic performance and involvement in community activities, including cleaning campaigns, patron saint festivals, andother projects
- Training and support for youth to facilitate literacy circles, informal spaces for people to learn basic reading and writing skills, in their home communities
Melvin with his literacy students
Community Perspective
Mevlin Sabino Lemus is one of the 12 youth leaders to graduate from high school in 2011 thanks to SHARE and the CCR’s support. Melvin is highly active in his community:
“I am the coordinator of the youth group in my community. I particiate in workshops to learn about being youth leadership, and I give literacy classes to adults and seniors in my community. I am a member of the community radio and I participate in community council meetings.”
Project Supporters
Thanks to the following Grassroots Partners for their ongoing accompaniment of communities in the CCR region: St John Fischer Chapel MI, the Detroit SHARE Committee, Good Shepherd WI, St Sebastian’s WI, St. Mary’s Baltimore, St Patrick’s WA, the Paulist Center MA.
Read more about this youth development project:
CCR Scholarship Youth Assembly 2010
CCR Scholarship Assembly: The Literacy Challenge
Holistic Formation for Youth Leaders in Communities of the CCR 2010
SHARE CCR Integral Formation for Youth Leaders Project Recommendation 2012
CCR Youth Leadership Development Semester Report 2011
