Press releases

March 9, 2019: As part of the POETA Hemispheric Program—Program for Economic Opportunities through Technology in the Americas—the goal is to train at least 30 entrepreneurs. Guayama, Puerto Rico (March 9, 2019)— The Trust for the Americas, an affiliate of the Organization of American States (OAS), will implement the second phase of the project to create and strengthen entrepreneurship for local development in Guayama: “Empowering Innovative Entrepreneurship.” This initiative will train at least thirty entrepreneurs who have a business idea or an existing venture and wish to strengthen it.  This project stems from a needs assessment conducted in 2018 by The Trust and is part of the hemispheric POETA program (Program for Economic Opportunities through Technology in the Americas), implemented by The Trust in 21 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean, which seeks to sustainably strengthen new business ideas that contribute to the socioeconomic development of communities in southern Puerto Rico. This year, the “Empowering Innovative Entrepreneurship” project will feature five main activities for the entrepreneurs participating in the project: i) 40 hours of in-person training on developing business models using the CANVAS methodology, innovative leadership, and communication skills for delivering a successful pitch; ii) virtual mentoring by specialized mentors; iii) An entrepreneurship fair; iv) A “Pitch Tank” where startups present to an interdisciplinary panel; v) An awards ceremony offering financial resources to the five most outstanding business models.  The training sessions will be led by Luz Marina Correa, Project Manager at The Trust for the Americas, and will be free of charge. In this regard, Luz Marina Correa, Project Manager at The Trust for the Americas, stated: Providing the necessary tools to potential entrepreneurs to drive the creation of new businesses or strengthen existing ones has a positive impact by instilling skills and capabilities that allow them to reach their full potential and contribute to economic and social development on a personal level, within their families, and in the communities where they live. WHAT: Implementation of the second edition of the “Empowering Innovative Entrepreneurship” project. WHEN: In-person training from Monday, September 9, to Friday, September 13, 2019 WHERE: Olimpo Community Multipurpose Center, Guayama, Puerto Rico. WHO: The Trust for the Americas/OAS Supported by AES Puerto Rico About The Trust for the Americas: The Trust for the Americas is a nonprofit organization affiliated with the Organization of American States (OAS). Established in 1997 to promote public-private partnerships, The Trust has implemented projects in 24 countries and has worked with more than 1,000 organizations in the region. Our initiatives seek to promote educational and economic opportunities, as well as government accountability and transparency. Our unique partnership with the OAS gives us access to decision-makers throughout the region. This vital partnership is the foundation through which we build strong networks across all member states and the private sector. Through the development of our region, The Trust continues to help overcome challenges through strategic partnerships that promote cooperation for sustainable results. Visit: www.trustfortheamericas.orgFacebook: The Trust for the Americas Twitter: @Trust4Americas About AES Puerto Rico: Produces safe, reliable energy at the lowest cost. It generates 17 percent of the power for the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority’s customers through a 454-megawatt coal-fired cogeneration plant. Facebook: AES Puerto Rico Twitter: @AESpuertorico About AES Corporation: A Fortune 200 global energy company. It provides affordable and sustainable energy to 15 countries through a diverse portfolio of distribution businesses, as well as thermal and renewable generation facilities. Puerto Rico “Empowering Innovative Entrepreneurship”

More than 66.1% of Mexican women aged 15 and older have experienced violence (INEGI, 2016). * 16.4 million women in Mexico have no income of their own or derive their income from other sources. * In 2018, the VIVE Project trained more than 15,000 women, and more than 6,700 graduated from the “violence prevention program for girls and women.” Washington, D.C., March 7, 2019.- In observance of International Women’s Day, The Trust for the Americas, a nonprofit organization affiliated with the Organization of American States (OAS) and based in Washington, D.C., is launching, through its VIVE program in Mexico, the “Manual on the Prevention of Violence Against Girls and Women.” The manual is a guide designed to support women’s empowerment and is available on the Trust for the Americas website at www.thetrustfortheamericas.org. Regarding the manual’s launch, Klaudia González, coordinator of the VIVE program, commented: “Trust for the Americas, with support from the Walmart Foundation, launched the ”VIVE: Come, Be Inspired, and Sell“ project in 2016, with the goal of providing tools to foster women’s economic development and offer them alternatives to improve their social status and that of their families. Since we began the program, we have also identified certain factors that prevent women from breaking free from cycles of violence, such as economic dependence. With the goal of helping women identify these factors and learn how to overcome them, we are launching the Violence Prevention Manual today.” According to the independent evaluation (GENERA 2018), VIVE graduates have better employment prospects than their counterparts in the control group, as a large proportion of them have started a business, secured formal employment, or received a promotion following the training. In addition, VIVE graduates are more inclined to start their own businesses. More than 50% of the graduates in the group launched businesses after the training. More than 75% of the graduates also reported an increase in their ability to make decisions independently, with a difference of between 20% and 60% percentage points between the treatment group and the control group. Klaudia Gonzáles added that “in two years, more than 51,000 people have been trained, of whom more than 38,000 are women, and nearly 7,000 people were connected to economic opportunities (86% of whom are women). Of these opportunities, 35% were in the sales sector; 60% of the beneficiaries secured full-time jobs; and 21% became self-employed or started their own businesses. The profile of the women who participate in our programs is diverse and represents a significant commitment for us, as 40% of the women are heads of households.” The launch of the “Manual on the Prevention of Violence Against Girls and Women” aims to serve as a tool to support women’s development by promoting social and family well-being and providing the opportunity to continue working toward greater rights for more people. About The Trust for the Americas: The Trust for the Americas is a nonprofit organization affiliated with the Organization of American States (OAS) whose mission is to promote partnerships for economic and social inclusion in the Americas. Established in 1997, The Trust was created to foster the participation of the public sector, the private sector, and civil society initiatives in social and economic development in Latin America and the Caribbean. The organization’s initiatives improve communities’ access to economic opportunities, enhance public safety, and create opportunities for democratic expression and good governance.  The Trust for the Americas offers local partner organizations training tools, services, products, and technical assistance to better serve vulnerable communities in the region.  Visit: www.trustfortheamericas.org and www.trust-oea.org/vive Facebook: The Trust for the Americas/ProyectoVIVEmx Twitter:  @Trust4Americas/@ProyectoVIVEmx Mexico Manual on the Prevention of Violence Against Girls and Women.

Bogotá, D.C. (February 28, 2019) — María Juliana Ruiz, First Lady of Colombia, visited the Mi Llave Laudes Infantis Center, located in Ciudad Bolívar, one of the most vulnerable neighborhoods in the Colombian capital. The visit was led by Linda Eddleman, Executive Director of The Trust for the Americas, and Jaqueline Moreno, Director of the Laudes Infantis Foundation, which has been a local partner of The Trust for the Americas for more than eight years.  Also accompanying the visit were Andrés Umaña, Director of Corporate Affairs at Microsoft Colombia, and Natalia Serrano, a representative of Microsoft Philanthropy. The Mi Llave Bella Flor Center was inaugurated in July 2011 thanks to a partnership between the Laudes Infantis Foundation and The Trust for the Americas, with the goal of promoting educational and economic opportunities, especially for young women and adult women living in the neighborhoods of Ciudad Bolívar, Usme, and San Cristóbal, south of Bogotá. Since 2011, the Mi Llave Center has impacted the lives of more than 14,477 young people and has generated more than 143 economic opportunities, 70% of which have gone to women between the ages of 16 and 35. Thanks to its intervention model based on the barter methodology, the Laudes Infantis Foundation has enabled the community to access community and educational services in exchange for non-monetary contributions, thereby improving the situation of women and their families.  Under this model, the services offered to community members are provided in exchange for personal efforts, such as a commitment to change a behavior or habit, attending counseling or mediation sessions, or participating in training that equips them with the tools to improve their circumstances. During the visit, the First Lady toured the Technology Center, spoke with the participants, and discussed identifying potential avenues for coordinated efforts that would continue to generate opportunities for collaboration to foster the development of skills, abilities, and talents, as well as the social and economic inclusion of young people in Colombia, through the national “Sacúdete” strategy, led by the Presidential Council for Youth—Colombia Joven.   For her part, Linda Eddleman, CEO of The Trust for the Americas, thanked María Juliana Ruiz and Microsoft for accepting the invitation and seeking avenues for joint collaboration to support the Colombian government’s initiatives, thereby creating more rights for more people.  She also thanked Jaqueline Moreno, Director of the Laudes Infantis Foundation, for becoming a partner of The Trust for the Americas and for working alongside the institution’s initiatives and its POETA Social Franchise model. Also participating in the event were the Executive Director of The Trust for the Americas in Colombia, Myriam Stella Romero; the Director of Programs, María Liliana Mor; the Project Manager, Luz Marina Correa; and the Communications Coordinator, Manuel Matiz. About The Trust for the Americas: The Trust for the Americas is a nonprofit organization affiliated with the Organization of American States (OAS) whose mission is to promote partnerships for economic and social inclusion in the Americas. Established in 1997, The Trust was created to foster the participation of the public sector, the private sector, and civil society initiatives in social and economic development in Latin America and the Caribbean. The organization’s initiatives improve communities’ access to economic opportunities, enhance public safety, and create opportunities for democratic expression and good governance.  The Trust for the Americas offers local partner organizations training tools, services, products, and technical assistance to better serve vulnerable communities in the region.  Visit: www.trustfortheamericas.org Facebook: The Trust for the Americas Twitter: @Trust4Americas Colombia

San José (February 23, 2019). – The impact of migrant populations in the region has increased the need for governments to publicize available services and the best ways to access them. All governments that provide their citizens with the ability to access, use, and take ownership of government services through the use of ICT (information and communication technologies) make people’s lives easier by saving time on bureaucratic procedures. Migrant populations, often due to a lack of knowledge about the new rules and realities of the country to which they migrate, are unaware of these types of solutions and the technological advantages they can access. To address this reality, The Trust for the Americas, together with Hivos and La Red, organized a discussion forum to explore the importance of open government in advancing issues related to migrant and refugee populations in Costa Rica. The project is being implemented by La Red, a new collaborative initiative between civil society and the government, funded with seed funding administered by The Trust for the Americas. The goal of this project is to train 60 migrants during the first half of 2019 so that, based on the pillars of transparency, participation, and collaboration, they can access public services and complete general administrative procedures to facilitate their interactions with the public administration using open government tools. “The ultimate goal of this initiative is for Nicaraguan migrants currently living in the Pococí and San José areas to learn about the opportunities offered by open government to empower themselves and be able to replicate these efforts and generate a greater impact by making the public services they receive—or in which they themselves participate—more effective,” said Jorge Umaña, Coordinator of the Open Government Project for Trust for the Americas in Costa Rica. ‪Last September, Linda Eddleman, Executive Director of Trust for the Americas, presented Costa Rica’s First Vice President, Epsy Campbell, with a proposal to create a program to support the government in finding solutions to the critical situation facing migrants in the country. The project is aimed at Costa Rican communities affected by migratory pressure and will be implemented through a multidisciplinary program that has already been successfully tested based on experiences integrating demobilized and displaced populations in Colombia. In this regard, Linda Eddleman commented, “Trust for the Americas has more than 20 years of experience in integration programs for displaced populations and in promoting peace in the communities where they integrate. We believe that bringing innovative solutions to migrant populations and helping them understand the value of information and communication technology in their community life is of particular importance to our work regarding economic and social inclusion and development opportunities in the region.” The Trust for the Americas has a local presence in Costa Rica through six technology centers that are part of the POETA social franchise in the provinces of San José, Alajuela, and Cartago, which serve as spaces for inclusion, learning, and culture. About The Trust for the Americas The Trust for the Americas is a nonprofit organization affiliated with the Organization of American States (OAS) whose mission is to promote partnerships for economic and social inclusion in the Americas.  Established in 1997, The Trust was created to foster the participation of the public sector, the private sector, and civil society initiatives in social and economic development in Latin America and the Caribbean. The organization’s initiatives improve communities’ access to economic opportunities, enhance public safety, and create opportunities for democratic expression and good governance.  The Trust for the Americas offers local partner organizations training tools, services, products, and technical assistance to better serve vulnerable communities in the region.  Visit: www.trustfortheamericas.org Facebook: The Trust for the Americas Twitter: @Trust4Americas Costa Rica

Washington, D.C. (February 15, 2019) — Colombia’s First Lady María Juliana Ruiz Sandoval met today with Linda Eddleman, Executive Director of The Trust for the Americas, as part of her official visit to the United States. The meeting was held to follow up on plans for joint cooperation on innovation and training for young people in Colombia.     Reaffirming its commitment to the country, The Trust for the Americas strengthens the economic capabilities and social inclusion of vulnerable populations and develops vocational education and professional training projects with a focus on empowering women and youth. The Trust implements its programs in coordination with the OAS Mission, government agencies, international cooperation agencies, and private-sector companies.     At the meeting held by the parties in October 2018 in Bogotá, María Juliana Ruiz Sandoval emphasized the importance of preparing children and youth so they can fully develop their skills, abilities, and talents. For her part, Linda Eddleman highlighted that since 2007, The Trust for the Americas has worked with the Colombian government to empower young people and women through the use, access, and adoption of technologies, reaching more than 500,000 people over the course of 10 years through the POETA community technology centers. Today we have a network of 194 centers in 18 countries across the region, 25 of which are located in Colombia.      Regarding the meeting held on February 15, 2019, Linda Eddleman commented: “Our mission is to promote social and economic inclusion in Latin America and the Caribbean through multisectoral partnerships. The work we are doing in Colombia aligns with the priority issues of President Duque’s administration and First Lady María Juliana Ruiz Sandoval. We are interested in supporting the ”Sacúdete“ strategy led by the First Lady, address the needs of Venezuelan migrants and host communities in Colombia, and make progress on issues of gender inclusion and the use of innovative technologies that enable vulnerable populations to improve their economic and social conditions through training and creative entrepreneurship programs.”       For her part, the First Lady commented: “We appreciate the interest that The Trust for the Americas has shown in the Sacúdete strategy, and we are confident that we have found in them a great ally committed to youth, the discovery and development of their skills, abilities, and talents to solve social problems through critical thinking and, in the process, ensure that every young person has a legal and sustainable life plan.”     Also participating in the meeting were María Liliana Mor, program director at The Trust for the Americas, and Lara Bersano Calot, communications director at The Trust. About The Trust for the Americas: The Trust for the Americas is a nonprofit organization affiliated with the Organization of American States (OAS) whose mission is to promote partnerships for economic and social inclusion in the Americas. Established in 1997, The Trust was created to facilitate the participation of the public sector, the private sector, and civil society initiatives in social and economic development in Latin America and the Caribbean. The organization’s initiatives improve communities’ access to economic opportunities, enhance public safety, and foster opportunities for democratic expression and good governance.  The Trust for the Americas provides local partner organizations with training tools, services, products, and technical assistance to better serve vulnerable communities in the region.  Visit: www.trustfortheamericas.org Facebook: The Trust for the Americas Twitter: @Trust4Americas United States