Colombia's First Lady visits The Trust for the Americas at OAS headquarters in Washington, D.C.
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