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Trust for the Americas and Fundación Terra Open Two New Trust Training Centers in Honduras

Expanding access to technology training is essential for strengthening digital inclusion and creating new opportunities for learning, employability, and entrepreneurship. To this end, Fundación Terra, in partnership with The Trust for the Americas and Fundación Colaboración y Esfuerzo (FUNDAOES), and supported by funding from Microsoft, inaugurated two new Trust Training Centers in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, expanding access to technology training and skills development for hundreds of people.  The new centers (Santa Teresa de Jesús, in the Nueva Capital neighborhood of Comayagüela, and San Juan Apóstol, in the Monterrey neighborhood of Tegucigalpa) are part of the Trust Social Franchise model, a regional network that promotes educational and economic opportunities through access to technology, training, and tools for employability and entrepreneurship.  With these openings, the Terra Foundation now has a total of 12 Trust Training Centers in Honduras, consolidating a network of spaces that brings digital education to communities across the country and helps bridge the digital divide.  Each center is equipped with technology, internet connectivity, and educational resources that enable participants to develop digital skills aligned with the needs of today’s job market. In addition to strengthening basic digital skills, the centers offer training in high-demand areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, computer science, and life skills.  Beneficiaries will have access to more than 200 courses available on the Trust Virtual Classroom (Moodle), Microsoft Learn, and the Trust Toolkit, covering topics such as digital literacy, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, computer science, employability, entrepreneurship, and life skills.  The Santa Teresa de Jesús center will directly benefit ten communities, strengthening the education of nearly 3,600 students and 100 teachers at the Santa María, Santa Clara, and Virgen de Suyapa. For its part, the San Juan Apóstol center will expand learning opportunities for six nearby communities, as well as for students, teachers, and local entrepreneurs.  With these two new locations, Fundación Terra and The Trust for the Americas continue to promote more inclusive education and access to digital tools that prepare people to face the challenges of an increasingly technological environment. The expansion of the Trust Training Centers network reaffirms the commitment of its partners to creating opportunities that contribute to the economic and social development of Honduras.

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NADBank and The Trust for the Americas Launch the "Skills for Sustainability" (S4S) Water Workforce Initiative in the Rio Grande Valley at the Weslaco Grant Workshop 

Welasco, Texas — March 2, 2026. The North American Development Bank (NADBank), The Trust for the Americas, the RGV Partnership, and South Texas College are pleased to host the inaugural Water Workforce Grant Workshop on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The grant workshop will take place at the RGV Partnership offices in the Bill Summers Board Room, located at 322 South Missouri Avenue in Weslaco, Texas.   This informational workshop is designed for individuals and organizations based in the Rio Grande Valley who are interested in learning about a grant opportunity linked to a new water workforce development program for the region. The workshop organizers will discuss how local entities can benefit from available resources, build strategic partnerships, and contribute to building a sustainable future for water operations in the Lower Rio Grande River region.   “At NADBank, we are honored to partner with The Trust for the Americas, the Rio Grande Valley Partnership, and South Texas College to launch the ”Skills for Sustainability“ water workforce development initiative, which provides real opportunities for our communities,” said John Beckham, Managing Director of the Bank. “Building on the proven success of our El Paso–Juárez pilot, this expanded effort in the Rio Grande Valley will accelerate economic mobility, close critical workforce gaps in the water sector, and equip local residents with the skills needed to sustain the region’s infrastructure and long-term growth.”   This March 3 workshop in Weslaco will focus on expanding the Skills for Sustainability (S4S) project to interested partners across the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Developed by The Trust for the Americas and funded by NADBank, S4S is a demand-driven workforce development initiative that has already demonstrated significant success in the El Paso/Ciudad Juárez metropolitan region. In El Paso, S4S partnered with local educational institutions and public utilities to train and place workers in water and wastewater operations, helping El Paso Water close the gap in filling entry-level positions while creating stable employment pathways for participants from low-income backgrounds.   To date, S4S has graduated 431 participants from the El Paso/Ciudad Juárez metropolitan region, with 90% of graduates securing full-time employment or pursuing higher education. The S4S project’s successful model has since expanded to include specialized SCADA operator training, confirming its scalability and adaptability. This initiative for the Lower Rio Grande Valley region will apply the same proven S4S methodology, offering training tracks in Level 1 Wastewater Operations and Heavy Equipment Operations, with training to be delivered by South Texas College, The Trust for the Americas, and other regional educational institutions.  Among those who have already confirmed their participation in the March 3 workshop in Weslaco are the following: representatives from municipalities, including the cities of Donna, Lyford, and San Juan; water supply and irrigation entities, such as North Alamo Water Supply Corporation, El Jardin Water Supply Corporation, Brownsville Irrigation District, and Delta Lake Irrigation District; economic development corporations from McAllen, Edinburg, Elsa, and Weslaco; and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Workforce Solutions, and the Port of Brownsville. Please contact us if you are interested in attending the March 3 workshop. For further information, please contact: Jorge Marquez, The Trust for the Americas, (929) 258-4299 / jmarquez@trust-oea.org Irma Flores, North American Development Bank, iflores@nadb.org ***       About The Trust for the Americas:      The Trust for the Americas is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization affiliated with the Organization of American States (OAS). It was established in 1997 to promote public and private sector participation in social and economic development projects in Latin America and the Caribbean. Our initiatives, implemented through local partner organizations, seek to improve access to economic opportunities and foster innovation in vulnerable communities throughout the hemisphere. To this end, The Trust also promotes social inclusion and good governance. The Trust has offices in Washington, D.C., Colombia, and Canada. More information: www.thetrustfortheamericas.org  

NADBank and The Trust for the Americas Launch the "Skills for Sustainability" (S4S) Water Workforce Initiative in the Rio Grande Valley at the Weslaco Grant Workshop  Read More »

HP recognizes The Trust for the Americas in its 2025 Impact Report for the impact of the potencIA Project in Brazil

Washington, D.C. — The Trust for the Americas was highlighted in HP’s 2025 Impact Report for the impact of the potencIA Project, an initiative aimed at reducing the digital skills gap and democratizing access to artificial intelligence (AI) in Brazil. The potencIA Project is the result of The Trust’s participation in the HP Digital Equity Accelerator (HP DEA) 2024, an initiative by HP Inc. and the HP Foundation that selected only 10 organizations worldwide to strengthen their institutional capacity through a comprehensive process of mentoring, training, and support. This institutional-strengthening experience laid the groundwork for the project’s implementation in Brazil. With support from HP Corp, the HP Foundation, Microsoft, and Avanade Brasil, potencIA promotes an integrated approach that combines access to technology through technology centers, training in digital skills, and the responsible use of AI. The project is aimed at people aged 16 and older, including teachers, educators, and facilitators, and seeks to expand access to economic and educational opportunities. Through a network of nine organizations across Brazil’s five main administrative regions, potencIA offers training, mentoring, and ongoing support in digital skills and generative AI. At the same time, it strengthens the technological infrastructure, academic offerings, and human capital of partner organizations, positioning them as agents of transformation in their communities. Key results achieved in Brazil: These results reflect Trust for the Americas’ commitment to inclusive digital transformation and to building sustainable local ecosystems that amplify the impact of technology throughout the region. Learn more in HP’s 2025 Impact Report for the Digital Equity Accelerator.

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The Trust for the Americas Launches a SCADA Training Project to Strengthen the Water Sector Workforce in El Paso 

El Paso, Texas – October 2025. With one in three water sector employees nearing retirement and more than 10,000 new job openings projected each year, initiatives to reskill and upskill professionals in this sector are critical. In this context, The Trust for the Americas, in partnership with Workforce Solutions Borderplex (WSB), Western Technical College, and El Paso Water, officially launched the first training cohort of the Skills for Sustainability (S4S) Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) training program in El Paso, Texas—a cutting-edge initiative funded by the North American Development Bank (NADBank), Workforce Solutions Borderplex, and the Texas Workforce Commission to address the growing demand for skilled technicians in the water sector.  “This project is about more than technical training; it is about creating opportunities for our residents to thrive in the industries that keep our region moving,” said Leila Melendez, Chief Executive Officer of Workforce Solutions Borderplex. “Through collaboration and innovation, we are building a workforce that reflects the strength, skill, and resilience of the Borderplex community and advancing our region’s position as a leader in sustainable, technology-driven growth.”  The project aims to upskill individuals with backgrounds in electronics engineering to meet the growing need for expertise in SCADA system operations, integration, and diagnostics. By combining classroom instruction, lab sessions, and hands-on field experience, S4S equips participants with both the technical proficiency and professional readiness needed for immediate employment in modern water utilities.  “This program exemplifies how collaboration between education, industry, and workforce partners can produce real results for communities,” said Jorge Márquez, Project Manager at The Trust for the Americas. “Together, we’re ensuring that our workforce is prepared for the technologies driving sustainable water management.” For the Borderplex region, SCADA certification represents both a strategic and inclusive investment in the local workforce. As industries across water, energy, and manufacturing adopt smarter and more automated systems, the need for skilled technicians capable of managing, monitoring, and securing these technologies continues to grow. This training not only supports the modernization of critical infrastructure but also creates pathways to sustainable, high-skilled employment that strengthen both the regional economy and the resilience of border communities.  “The S4S SCADA project benefits the community by cultivating a pipeline of skilled workers to fill critical positions and build careers for participants,” said John Balliew, President and CEO of El Paso Water. “We are grateful to The Trust for the Americas, NADBank, Workforce Solutions, and Western Tech for turning a workforce challenge into a shared success.”  “At Western Technical College, we take pride in supporting the training of tomorrow’s technicians, working hand in hand with our partners to bridge the skills gap in the workforce and prepare today’s learners to become tomorrow’s leaders,” said John Nunez, Director of Customized Training at Western Tech.  A total of 37 participants will complete the SCADA training project by mid-2026, beginning with the first cohort of 9 trainees, who started on September 29, 2025, and will transition directly into positions at El Paso Water following graduation on November 13, 2025.  Skills for Sustainability (S4S), an initiative of The Trust for the Americas, empowers communities through workforce training that drives sustainable infrastructure and equitable economic growth. The SCADA Training Project represents a strategic investment in the future of water system operations, bridging the gap between technical education and employment. By equipping participants with high-demand IT and automation skills, the program not only addresses regional workforce needs but also strengthens the capacity and resilience of utilities that are vital to sustainable water management across the border region.  ***       About The Trust for the Americas:          The Trust for the Americas is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization affiliated with the Organization of American States (OAS). It was established in 1997 to promote public and private sector participation in social and economic development projects in Latin America and the Caribbean. Our initiatives, implemented through local partner organizations, seek to improve access to economic opportunities and foster innovation in vulnerable communities throughout the hemisphere. To this end, Trust also promotes social inclusion and good governance. Trust has offices in Washington, D.C., Colombia, and Canada. More information: www.thetrustfortheamericas.org        

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AquaTech: Innovation and commitment to water in Mexico

From September 2 to 4, I had the opportunity to visit AquaTech Mexico 2025, one of the world’s leading events in the field of water and treatment technologies. The experience was inspiring: walking through the exhibition halls allowed me to see firsthand the most advanced solutions for water management, purification, treatment, and reuse—a resource that now, more than ever, demands urgent attention. From advanced filtration and desalination systems to digital platforms for smart consumption monitoring, AquaTech made it clear that the technology is already available; what’s missing is the will to adopt it on a massive scale. Mexico is positioning itself as a strategic hub in the global water ecosystem, not only because of its technical capacity but also because of its potential to develop solutions at the local level. This visit allowed me to connect this experience with the work we’re doing as part of The Trust for the Americas’ “Jale por el Agua” (Skills for Sustainability – S4S) project of The Trust for the Americas, implemented in Mexico in partnership with Jóvenes Constructores de la Comunidad (JCC) and with support from NADBank and Microsoft. The project aims to train communities in digital, technical, and life skills, with a special focus on water management and conservation. Thus, while AquaTech showcases the cutting-edge technology available in Mexico, Jale por el Agua brings these trends to people who face daily challenges related to access to and the responsible use of this resource. The combination of technological innovation and human capacity building is key to ensuring a sustainable future. In Mexico, we already have the necessary knowledge, tools, and stakeholders; now the challenge is to drive the adoption of these solutions in communities, governments, and businesses. Leaving AquaTech left me deeply motivated: water conservation is not just the task of specialists, but a collective effort. Projects like Jale por el Agua—which has successfully connected more than 400 young graduates in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, to economic and educational opportunities—are opening up new possibilities for more people to join this transformation, from the local to the global level.

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Driving youth development in technology and innovation: our participation in the plenary session of the GOYN CDMX collaborative 

On May 12, we had the opportunity to participate in the plenary session of the GOYN Mexico City collaborative, a vital forum for sharing, reflecting, and developing strategies to support young people.   This event was organized by the GOYN CDMX Network and brought together various stakeholders committed to supporting young people in areas such as education, employment, entrepreneurship, and community development. During the meeting, Emilia Ramírez, director of the GOYN CDMX Network, presented an overview of the achievements made over the past year, including the number of young people reached, progress on strategic initiatives, and the valuable partnerships formed.   It was a pivotal moment to recognize the collective work and reaffirm the commitment to sustainable and inclusive transformation. As representatives of The Trust for the Americas, we were honored to be represented by Karen Castro, National Project Coordinator in Mexico, who was able to see firsthand the initiatives being carried out by the Network and share the progress of our recent partnership with GOYN CDMX.  Through this collaboration, we have worked together to train and empower members of the GOYN Network through workshops, webinars, access to courses, and other initiatives focused on technological, educational, and professional development, with a special emphasis on artificial intelligence. To date, thanks to this collaborative partnership, we have trained 40 organizational leaders, creating new opportunities for training and growth for young people.  The plenary session took place at CLAP’s new Hub in Tacubaya, a space brimming with collaborative energy; we would therefore like to extend a special thank you to their team for the warm welcome.   At The Trust for the Americas, we reaffirm our commitment to empowering young people and creating meaningful partnerships that enhance their capabilities and opportunities. We continue to learn and build together. 

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UTEQ presented the POETA DigiSpark 2025 Project to the new president 

In a key step toward digital transformation and technological inclusion, the Technological University of Querétaro (UTEQ) presented the POETA DigiSpark 2025 Project to the institution’s new president, Dr. Luis Fernando Pantoja. This initiative, driven by The Trust for the Americas in collaboration with Microsoft, has become a benchmark for impact since its launch in 2022. To date, more than 800 people have benefited from training initiatives that promote digital skills, access to technology, and tools for academic, professional, and personal growth.  During the presentation, Karen Castro, Project Coordinator for Mexico at The Trust for the Americas, shared the progress and results achieved thanks to this strategic partnership, reaffirming the commitment to continue creating real opportunities for more communities.  This event marks the beginning of a new phase for POETA DigiSpark in Querétaro, strengthening the synergy between the education sector, technology, and social development. We continue to connect talent with opportunities for a more inclusive and digital future! 

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Artificial Intelligence within everyone's reach!: This is how “WhatsappIAndo” was experienced at UTSC

In an atmosphere filled with curiosity and enthusiasm, students from the Santa Catarina Technological University (UTSC)—the local implementing partner for the POETA DigiSpark Project—participated in the interactive course “WhatsappIAndo,” taught by Karen Castro, Project Coordinator in Mexico for The Trust for the Americas. This innovative training session introduced the students to the world of artificial intelligence in an accessible and practical way, using an everyday tool: their cell phones. Through WhatsApp, the students explored how AI can be a powerful ally in their academic, professional, and personal lives.  During her welcome address, Rector Laura Mónica Madrigal González expressed her gratitude for the commitment of The Trust for the Americas and the positive impact of its projects:  Likewise, Lourdes Serrano, Regional Program Manager at The Trust for the Americas, emphasized the importance of this collaboration with UTSC and the team at the POETA DigiSpark Center, highlighting their key role in promoting digital skills and technological inclusion.  This event not only provided knowledge but also inspired participants to explore new opportunities through the ethical and mindful use of technology. Thank you to all the people and institutions that made this transformative day possible. We continue working to bring AI and digital transformation to more communities! 

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The Trust for the Americas and Alphard School are joining forces to promote education in technology and artificial intelligence in Morelos

Temixco, Morelos, March 21, 2025 – In an effort to bridge the digital divide and provide opportunities for development in technology and artificial intelligence, The Trust for the Americas signed a partnership with Alphard School in Temixco, Morelos. This collaboration aims to offer specialized training that will enable students and teachers to acquire key skills for the future workforce. The digital revolution has generated a growing demand for expertise in artificial intelligence, data analysis, and technological tools. In response to this trend, The Trust for the Americas, a nonprofit organization affiliated with the Organization of American States (OAS), has worked in various countries to strengthen digital skills. Now, with the support of Alphard School, this mission is expanding to Morelos, providing access to innovative educational resources. Through this partnership, students and professionals in the state will have the opportunity to participate in workshops and courses designed to enhance their skills in artificial intelligence and technology. These training programs will not only boost employability but also foster creativity and problem-solving through the use of advanced digital tools. Alphard School, recognized for its focus on quality education, has become a key strategic partner in bringing these programs to the community of Temixco and its surrounding areas. «Our goal is to provide knowledge that empowers new generations and prepares them for the challenges of the future,» said Verónica Philippe, senior project manager at The Trust for the Americas. Through initiatives like this, The Trust for the Americas reaffirms its commitment to creating positive social impact through education and technology. This collaboration is expected to inspire more institutions to join the digital transformation and provide training in essential skills for the modern era. The partnership between The Trust for the Americas and Alphard School represents a significant step toward a society that is better prepared for and more connected to the digital world. More details regarding course availability and registration dates for those wishing to participate in this educational initiative will be announced shortly.

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The Future of Business: Artificial Intelligence in Companies

In recent days, we had an inspiring session with nearly 100 business leaders from the COPARMEX network, where we addressed the importance of integrating Artificial Intelligence into business processes. As we move forward in an increasingly digital world, leveraging AI becomes a key factor for competitiveness and innovation. With the great support of IOTIC, we explored how AI is not only a technological tool, but a driver of transformation for decision-making, process optimization, and the generation of new business opportunities. From automation to advanced data analysis, artificial intelligence is redefining the way companies operate. During the session, we discussed success stories, emerging trends, and strategies for implementing AI effectively across various industries. The interest and participation of the attendees reflect the urgent need to understand and adopt these technologies to ensure sustainable growth. We thank all participants for their enthusiasm and contributions. Let us continue driving the future with AI and building together a smarter, more efficient, and innovative business ecosystem.

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