Press releases

Bogotá, D.C., (March 3, 2019) POETA YouthSpark is a Microsoft Philanthropy initiative that seeks to empower vulnerable youth in Latin America and the Caribbean through technology. The goal is to provide opportunities for education, entrepreneurship, and employment through comprehensive training in digital literacy and computer science. The launch of the POETA center and the POETA YouthSpark Project in Colombia will take place on Thursday, May 9, 2019, at the Asojuntas Hall in the Kennedy neighborhood of Silvania, Cundinamarca. Carrera 7A No. 10-17, one block above the Concha Acústica. The event, which will begin at 9:30 a.m. and end at 12:00 p.m., will feature the international participation of Pierina Nepote, Project Manager at The Trust for the Americas. Also in attendance will be representatives from Acción Cultural Popular (ACPO), representatives from The Trust for the Americas, members of the Sumapaz Women’s Circle, officials from the Municipal Mayor’s Office, and representatives from local educational institutions. All stakeholders involved in the event will participate in a roundtable discussion centered on the theme “Young Entrepreneurial Leaders,” with the aim of learning about and analyzing the productive initiatives in the municipality, as well as their visions, scope, and obstacles. Finally, young entrepreneurs from the departmental educational institutions of Santa Inés and Subía, the Salesian ITA Valsalice High School, the Women’s Circle, and other youth groups will present their productive initiative projects and showcase the results achieved so far to event attendees. It is worth noting that this project will be implemented in the municipalities of Silvania and Manta, Cundinamarca, by Acción Cultural Popular (ACPO) in collaboration with The Trust for the Americas, an organization affiliated with the Organization of American States (OAS). Through activities such as “I Can Code“ and ”I Can Be an Entrepreneur,” the project will promote the adoption and use of computer science among young people aged 16 to 29 through January 2020. 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 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.thetrustfortheamericas.org Facebook: The Trust for the Americas Twitter:   @Trust4Americas About Acción Cultural Popular – ACPO Acción Cultural Popular is an organization that, since 1947, has been working effectively to promote the development of Colombians through its work in the educational and socioeconomic spheres using information and communication technologies, with the aim of contributing to the social, productive, and digital integration of the most disadvantaged people. Colombia

The roundtable is part of a continued effort to gather government, private sector, and civil society leaders to create innovative solutions for the Belizean community. Washington, D.C. (April 26th, 2019)- The Trust for the Americas and the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry will host a roundtable to uphold a dialogue about the potential of open data as a source for improvement of public services and economic revenue. This event will take place as part of the project “Promoting an open Government Ecosystem in Belize” and is funded by the Embassy of the United States in Belize. The Trust for the Americas has been working closely with the Belizean private sector to support both the Belizean government and its civil society to jointly create spaces for dialogue, collaboration, and deliberation of policies to provide public access to information and effective service delivery. The roundtable will provide a forum for business development authorities, academics, and other groups interested in discussing how to co-create and innovate with the private sector and how to match the available Belizean open data with business opportunities. About the meeting, Rodrigo Iriani, project manager of The Trust for the Americas said “The goal is to showcase how open government and open data can advance transparency and development outcomes. Bringing together the private sector, civil society, and government officials while introducing collaborative methodologies for finding solutions, enhances the prospects to serve better all citizens”. Mary Beth Goodman, former OGP Country Lead for the US Government and one of the experts invited to the dialogue, commented: “Data is a valuable national resource and a strategic asset to any government, its partners, and the public. Managing this data as an asset and making it available, discoverable, and usable – in other words– open – not only strengthens our democracies and promotes efficiency and effectiveness in government but also has the potential to create economic opportunity and improve citizens’ quality of life.” The panelists include Mr. Mike Mora, OAS Specialist, Department for Effective Public Management; Mr. Marvin Mora, President of the National Trade Union Congress of Belize; Mr. Ishmael Quiroz, Executive Director of Economic Development Council and Maurice McNaughton, Director of the Caribbean Open Institute (COI). This session is part of the extended schedule of activities under the Development the Caribbean and Code Sprint (DevCa2019) regional innovation event this May, coordinated by the Caribbean Open Institute (COI). This year’s theme will be “Smart communities, Smarter People”; Belize joins this initiative through the implementation of the “Promoting an Open Government Ecosystem in Belize” project, conducted by the Trust for the Americas and the Organization of American States with the support of the Embassy of the United States in Belmopan. This will be the first opportunity to evaluate the Community Tourism Platform being developed, and validate the “Smart Community” concept. DevCA will include a Hackathon event where developers across the region will be able to “test-drive” the platform by creating Tourism Apps and Prototypes.   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 alliances for economic and social inclusion in the Americas. Established in 1997, The Trust was created for 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, better citizen security, and opportunities for democratic expression and 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 Belize

2019/04/23 Washington, D.C., (23-04-2019) – The Trust for the Americas in partnership with the InnovaAP Public Administration Innovation Laboratory held the I DIA Social Innovation Summit in San Jose, Costa Rica from May 6 to 8. During the Summit, youth, NGOs, business and social leaders met to share their experiences and co-create innovative solutions to the challenges faced by each of their communities. In 2015, The Trust for the Americas created the program “Democratizing Innovation in the Americas (DIA)”. DIA is a regional initiative that encourages innovation and empowers new generations through access to advanced technology, creativity accelerators, collaboration spaces, personalized study programs, tutorials and financial resources for social and economic enterprises. To date, the DIA program has benefited more than 5,000 youngsters directly and has incubated more than 160 social and technological innovation projects in Belize, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Colombia, Mexico and Panama. Regarding the Innovation Lab and the DIA Program, Linda Eddleman, Executive Director of The Trust for the Americas commented: “The DIA program was designed to break stereotypes, deal with problems of daily life and create unexpected and innovative solutions with high impact in the communities. The added value of the program is based on its regional scope and the multisector commitment of all the actors and beneficiaries. The program has been successful in several countries and through the participation of different actors. That is why we can find government officials in Costa Rica, academics in Colombia, public servants in Belize, students in Mexico, and young people in the process of social reintegration, and entrepreneurs in Jamaica. This demonstrates the importance of creativity and innovation processes in our communities, and the importance for The Trust for the Americas to continue supporting governments to establish public – private partnerships that allow these programs to grow and benefit more people. “ On the first day of the summit the opening panel “Innovation at the service of citizens” to establish the mindset for the coming days. On the second and third day, participants had the opportunity to hear success stories from prominent speakers and attend the “Share” workshops where experiences were exchanged through interactive activities. During the summit, participants addressed urban solutions, as well as issues related to innovation for peace, inclusive innovation, profitable social innovation, open government and the creative economy, among other topics. Among the speakers were Melania Guerra, the Polar Tica, oceanographer and Fellow of the Homeward Bound expedition; Dinorah Cantú, Fellow GovLab NYU and Director of Innovation and Citizen Participation of San Pedro, Nuevo León, Mexico; Priscila Chaves, social innovator and entrepreneur representative of Singularity University in Costa Rica and Eduardo Aracena Navarro, legal and financial coordinator of the Government Laboratory of Chile. The summit was held at the San Pedro de Montes de Oca Research and Training Center for Public Administration of the University of Costa Rica. Social Media: Twitter: @Trust4Americas #DIASummit Facebook: The Trust for the Americas  Instagram: @Trust4Americas  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 alliances for economic and social inclusion in the Americas. Established in 1997, The Trust was created for 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, better citizen security, and opportunities for democratic expression and 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  Costa Rica DIA Social Innovation Summit 2019 – Concept y Registro Expertos invitados- DIA Social Innovation Summit Javier Monterroso invitation (Only Spanish) Schedule (Only Spanish)

2019/04/10 The NCB Foundation Digital Center will foster economic growth and citizen security through youth workforce development, technology training and leadership skills. Kingston, Jamaica (03/09/2019) — Aiming to promote the generation of wealth, digital skills, and leadership, NCB Foundation partnered with The Trust for the Americas, a non- profit affiliated to the Organization of American States (OAS), to create the NCB Foundation Digital and Innovation Center in Kingston, Jamaica. NCB Financial Group Chairman Michael Lee Chin, OJ, NCB Foundation Chairperson Thalia Lyn, NCB Foundation CEO Nadeen Matthews Blair, OAS Secretary for Hemispheric Affairs James Lambert, and Trust CEO Linda Eddleman signed a Memorandum of Understanding to launch the initiative. This Center will be part of the Trust’s larger initiative “Creating a Brighter Future for Jamaican Youth through Technology and Innovation,” which envisions to establish 11 technology centers and innovation laboratories across Jamaica to foster economic growth and citizen security through workforce development, technology training and leadership skills. The Trust for the Americas began designing the strategy in 2016 after receiving a generous grant from Citi Foundation to establish the first Innovation Laboratory in Jamaica, and additional support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). “We live in an era that is driven by technology and innovation. By democratising innovation, we give everyone Jamaican the opportunity to create wealth” said Michael Lee-Chin, Chairman of the NCB Financial Group.   During the signing, Trust CEO Linda Eddleman said, “The NCB Foundation Digital and Innovation Center will be the first to provide skills for the jobs of tomorrow to at-risk youth. Every Center designed by The Trust focuses on different challenges and opportunities. This time we are working to promote STEM Education, Leadership and Job Readiness, combined with Innovation and Entrepreneurship readiness. NCB is investing in the future of Jamaica.” In a one-year period, the initiative will offer 150 participants the opportunity to follow one of two tracks, Skills of Tomorrow, which includes Digital Skills, Coding, and Job Readiness, or Entrepreneurship, which provides innovation modules on business and opportunity to create micro-enterprises. N.C.B. Foundation Chairman, Thalia Lyn, noted: “As the digital economy continues to grow as a significant contributor to the global GDP, we anticipate that this initiative will help to position Jamaican youth to benefit from it.” Nadeen Matthews Blair, CEO of the N.C.B. Foundation also noted, “The ultimate goal is to increase employment, entrepreneurship, and wealth creation among Jamaica’s at-risk-youth, which in turn will help to foster economic growth and crime reduction.” For 27-year-old Bryanna Chang, a beneficiary of the programme, the benefits came from having all the tools needed to build a prototype for her innovation, as well as training on the business side of things. “While I’m a techie and I have the skills needed to build my prototype, learning about the business side of things and the legal measures I needed to take were a big part of the benefits for me. The programme really helped to broaden my perspective, and look at how I could grow my business through partnership, all while protecting my ideas from a legal standpoint.” About The Trust for the Americas: The Trust for the Americas is a non-profit 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 as well as to foster innovation in vulnerable communities in 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.trustfortheamericas.org Facebook: The Trust for the Americas  Twitter: @Trust4Americas       About the Organization of American States: The OAS has 34 member states and it is the world’s oldest regional organization. The Organization uses a four-pronged approach to effectively implement its essential purposes, based on its main pillars: democracy, human rights, security, and development. In Jamaica, the General Secretariat of the OAS, through is Department of Public Security, is implementing the project “A New Path”, which seeks to improve the lives of at-risk youth and youth in conflict with the law. A priority of “A New Path” is to offer support for youth to address their emotional, social, educational, and economic challenges.  It works with key areas that can enable the successful economic and social integration of the youth. More information: www.oas.org About the N.C.B. Foundation: Established in 2003, the N.C.B. Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the NCB Financial Group Limited. With its focus on three primary areas – Education, Community Development and Sports, and Youth Leadership and Entrepreneurship—the N.C.B. Foundation embraces charitable causes that are sustainable, and contribute to the acceleration of national development. From investing in scholarships at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels, and empowering youths with skills in leadership and entrepreneurship, to enhancing trainees lives through training in various skills-based programmes, the N.C.B. Foundation is committed to elevating and empowering the people in the communities it serves. To date, the N.C.B. Foundation has donated over J$1.5 billion to various charitable initiatives, positively impacting the lives of over 250,000 Jamaicans. Jamaica

2019/04/09 Since 2016, the DIA Urban Lab – Democratizing Innovation in the Americas – has benefited over 1,100 youth and provided grants to 68 innovative projects. Kingston, Jamaica (04/09/2019) — During the weekend, the DIA Urban Lab Project held an Innovation Camp, where 20 finalists, selected from a pool of 37 qualified participants attended to refine presentation skills prior to pitching projects for seed funding. Today, 15 youth received financial support to jumpstart their ventures. In the event, participants received feedback and congratulations from businessman Michael Lee Chin, Citi FI Head Christopher Johnson, PSOJ President Howard Mitchel and Organization of American States Secretary for Hemispheric Affairs James Lambert, and Trust CEO Linda Eddleman. In addition, The Trust for the Americas and PSOJ-Private Sector Organization of Jamaica signed an agreement to create a program that will support DIA Pitch Tank winners with guidance, career development and mentorship. PSOJ President Howard Mitchell said, “The private sector recognizes that investment in human capital is perhaps the most important investment that can be made. Our members are eager to play their part in imparting knowledge and offering guidance to the next generation of business owners and contributors to the economy through this mentorship program’ DIA Jamaica is an initiative created by The Trust for the Americas, an affiliate of the Organization of American States, to empower a new generation of young entrepreneurs and innovators, who will act as agents of change in their communities. Launched in 2016 with support from Founding Donor Citi Foundation and collaboration from local partner the Institute of Law & Economics (ILE), the DIA Urban Lab – part of Democratizing Innovation in the Americas program– has awarded 68 seed funding opportunities and benefited over 1,100 young people through innovation training and access to state-of-the-arts technology. The DIA Lab in Jamaica is part of the DIA regional network with chapters in Belize, Colombia, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Panama. Eva Lewis, Citi Country Officer, said, “For three years our Citi Foundation has been a major supporter of Jamaica’s first DIA Urban Lab for Youth Innovation, where youth can hone their entrepreneurial talents and creativity with the ultimate goal to build and strengthen their communities and to date, we are pleased with the results” DIA is part of Citi Foundation’s Pathways to Progress global initiative to prepare young people with the career readiness tools and opportunities needed to thrive in today’s economy. Pathway to Progress is comprised of programs, research, and partnerships like the one with Trust of the Americas, which help youth build an entrepreneurial mindset and acquire leadership. About The Trust for the Americas: The Trust for the Americas is a non-profit 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 as well as to foster innovation in vulnerable communities in 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. For more information: www.trustfortheamericas.org Facebook: The Trust for the Americas  Twitter: @Trust4Americas      About the Organization of American States: The OAS has 34 member states and it is the world’s oldest regional organization. The Organization uses a four-pronged approach to effectively implement its essential purposes, based on its main pillars: democracy, human rights, security, and development. In Jamaica, the General Secretariat of the OAS, through is Department of Public Security, is implementing the project “A New Path”, which seeks to improve the lives of at-risk youth and youth in conflict with the law. A priority of “A New Path” is to offer support for youth to address their emotional, social, educational, and economic challenges.  It works with key areas that can enable the successful economic and social integration of the youth. For more information: www.oas.org Twitter: @OEA_Seguridad About The Citi Foundation: The Citi Foundation works to promote economic progress and improve the lives of people in low-income communities around the world. We invest in efforts that increase financial inclusion, catalyze job opportunities for youth, and reimagine approaches to building economically vibrant cities. The Citi Foundation’s “More than Philanthropy” approach leverages the enormous expertise of Citi and its people to fulfill our mission and drive thought leadership and innovation. For more information, visit www.citifoundation.com. About ILE The Institute of Law & Economics (ILE), is a private non-profit organization based in Kingston, Jamaica, established in 1998 to foster collaboration, innovation, research/consultancy, public education and discussion between the legal and economic professions, with a view to promoting a multi-disciplinary approach to sustainable development locally, and in the Caribbean Region. ILE has been working towards this through stimulating public discussions, high level training and debate in an objective, non-partisan and democratic manner, with a view to empowering our citizens while influencing national and regional policies that affect our lives. Jamaica CVM Television – Young innovators provided with funding for entrepreneurial pursuits

2019/04/04 Washington, D.C. (4 de abril de 2019) The Trust for the Americas bajo su modelo de Franquicia Social POETA, organiza el Primer Encuentro Virtual de Jóvenes POETA de América Latina y el Caribe el próximo 07 de mayo, con el objetivo de generar un espacio para que los jóvenes de diversos países se contacten para intercambiar ideas, logros, desafíos y soluciones sobre el aprendizaje a través de las Tecnologías de la información y la comunicación (TIC), el mundo del empleo y el emprendimiento. Actualmente, los participantes están en proceso de capacitación tecnológica en los Centros POETA y Mi Llave dónde se implementa el modelo de la Franquicia Social POETA, oferta metodológica compuesta de recursos, servicios y beneficios para la promoción de la inclusión social y la generación de oportunidades económicas y educativas en poblaciones vulnerables. Además, los jóvenes propondrán formas creativas de mapear o crear redes de comunicación en sus comunidades y en otros países de la región. En Brasil, se realizará un encuentro previo entre jóvenes de los Centros POETA de habla portuguesa. Durante el encuentro los participantes conversarán sobre: a) ¿qué comparten o no los jóvenes de un mismo continente? b) ¿cuáles son los proyectos de vida que visualizan? c) ¿cómo identificar procesos que los fortalezcan? d) ¿cómo crear y mantener a una Gran Comunidad de Jóvenes trascendiendo las fronteras? e) ¿por qué promover la equidad de género? y f) ¿cómo elegir democráticamente? “Este encuentro virtual forma parte del impulso que da la Franquicia Social POETA a decenas de jóvenes que pertenecen a las nuevas generaciones y que están decididos a ser los protagonistas del cambio. Así mismo, este espacio está diseñado para ofrecer a los jóvenes la oportunidad de conocer experiencias exitosas en otros países”. Comentó Maite Capra, Coordinadora de Proyectos de The Trust for the Americas. Los jóvenes que deseen ser parte deben completar el formulario de inscripción. El encuentro se realizará en las siguientes horas: 9:00 a.m. para Centroamérica y México; 10:00 a.m. para Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela y Perú;  11:00 a.m. para República Dominicana; y 1:00 p.m. para Argentina, Chile y Brasil. ¡Los esperamos! Sobre The Trust for the Americas: The Trust for the Americas es una Organización sin fines de lucro afiliada a la Organización de Estados Americanos (OEA) cuya misión es promover alianzas para la inclusión económica y social en las Américas. Establecida en 1997, The Trust fue creado para la participación del sector público, el sector privado y las iniciativas de la sociedad civil en el desarrollo social y económico en América Latina y el Caribe. Las iniciativas de la organización mejoran el acceso de las comunidades a oportunidades económicas, mejor seguridad ciudadana y oportunidades para la expresión democrática y la gobernabilidad.  The Trust for the Americas ofrece a las organizaciones locales asociadas, instrumentos de capacitación, servicios, productos y asistencia técnica para servir mejor a las comunidades vulnerables de la región.  Visite: www.trustfortheamericas.org Facebook: The Trust for the Americas  Twitter:   @Trust4Americas Argentina – Brasil – Chile – Colombia – Costa Rica – El Salvador – Mexico – República Dominicana

2019/03/29 Los Cabos, Baja California Sur (Mex) 29 de marzo de 2019.- Como parte de las acciones de The Trust for the Americas, institución afiliada a la Organización de los Estados Americanos (OEA), para empoderar a las mujeres mexicanas, el 29 de marzo se firmó convenio de colaboración con el Instituto de las Mujeres del Municipio de Los Cabos, en Baja California Sur. Durante el evento, María Fernanda Sierra, Gerente de Proyecto VIVE, resaltó que “The Trust for the Americas busca impulsar el desarrollo de las mujeres que vivan alguna condición de vulnerabilidad, a través de la capacitación para brindarles herramientas de preparación para el trabajo y habilidades prácticas que les ayudarán a ser autosuficientes. Por ello, es de suma importancia afianzar relaciones colaborativas con instituciones gubernamentales como el Instituto de las Mujeres del Municipio de Los Cabos”. Cabe destacar que de acuerdo con la Encuesta Nacional sobre la Dinámica de las Relaciones en los Hogares (ENDIREH, 2016) más de 16.4 millones de mujeres en México no tienen ingresos propios o sus ingresos vienen de otras fuentes. Ante este panorama, desde septiembre de 2016 a la fecha se implementa el Proyecto VIVE en México, ofreciendo capacitación técnica (en habilidades de ventas, promotoría y atención al cliente), habilidades interpersonales (liderazgo, comunicación efectiva y autoestima) y de talleres de prevención de violencia hacia las niñas y las mujeres. María Fernanda Sierra sumó que “con esta capacitación, las mujeres adquieren herramientas que permiten su desarrollo económico y alternativas que les permitan mejorar su condición social y la de su familia. Además, les permiten en el corto plazo, generar ingresos propios que pueden ayudarlas a salir de círculos de violencia”. En ese sentido destacó que el pasado 7 de marzo, The Trust for the Americas lanzó un Manual de prevención de violencia hacia las niñas y las mujeres, para que más mujeres puedan reconocer los tipos de violencia y buscar ayuda. El manual puede descargarse de manera gratuita en el portal de The Trust for the Americas: http://www.thetrustfortheamericas.org/ A través del Proyecto VIVE y en tan sólo dos años, se logró la capacitación de más de 51 mil personas a nivel nacional. Del total de personas capacitadas, más de 38 mil son mujeres (40% de las cuales son jefas de familia). Asimismo, cerca de 7 mil personas fueron vinculadas a oportunidades económicas (86% mujeres, 60% fueron vinculadas a un trabajo de tiempo completo y 21% se auto-emplearon o iniciaron proyectos de emprendimiento.). Acorde con la evaluación independiente (GENERA 2018), las graduadas de VIVE cuentan con mayores perspectivas de empleabilidad que sus contrapartes en el grupo de control, ya que una gran parte de ellas han emprendido un negocio, accedido a un empleo formal u obtuvieron un ascenso luego de la capacitación. Además, las graduadas VIVE tienen mayor predisposición a emprender. Más del 50% de las graduadas del grupo de control, inició emprendimientos después de la capacitación, con un aumento de 34% a 73% puntos porcentuales entre el grupo capacitado y el de control. Las graduadas se sienten empoderadas luego de la experiencia VIVE, con un aumento en su auto-percepción y capacidad para tomar decisiones de forma independiente, sin la intervención de otras personas.  Más del 75% de las graduadas perciben un aumento en su capacidad de tomar decisiones de forma independiente, con un aumento de entre 20% y 60% puntos porcentuales entre el grupo de tratamiento y el de control. Cabe destacar que las capacitaciones de Proyecto VIVE cuentan con estándares certificables respaldadas por las Secretaría de Educación Pública (SEP). Al finalizar la capacitación 97% de las personas perciben un aumento en sus habilidades profesionales, especialmente en el manejo y distribución de mercancías y 93% mencionó que adquirió excelente capacidad para acceder a empleos en venta y atención al cliente. Sobre The Trust for the Americas: The Trust for the Americas es una Organización sin fines de lucro afiliada a la Organización de Estados Americanos (OEA) cuya misión es promover alianzas para la inclusión económica y social en las Américas. Establecida en 1997, The Trust fue creado para la participación del sector público, el sector privado y las iniciativas de la sociedad civil en el desarrollo social y económico en América Latina y el Caribe. Las iniciativas de la organización mejoran el acceso de las comunidades a oportunidades económicas, mejor seguridad ciudadana y oportunidades para la expresión democrática y la gobernabilidad.  The Trust for the Americas ofrece a las organizaciones locales asociadas, instrumentos de capacitación, servicios, productos y asistencia técnica para servir mejor a las comunidades vulnerables de la región.  Visite: www.trustfortheamericas.org  www.trust-oea.org/vive Facebook: The Trust for the Americas ProyectoVIVEmx  Twitter:   @Trust4Americas  @ProyectoVIVEmx Mexico

2019/03/28 Pasto, Colombia (28/03/2019)—Como parte del Proyecto POETA (Programa de Oportunidades Económicas a través de la Tecnología en las Américas) YouthSpark, The Trust for the Americas, organización afiliada a la Organización de los Estados Americanos – OEA, Microsoft, ParqueSoft Nariño, y la Alcaldía Municipal a través de la Secretaría de Cultura de Pasto, realizarán un conversatorio para anunciar el Proyecto POETA YouthSpark y analizar el rol que los sectores público y privado juegan en la formación educativa de jóvenes, particularmente mujeres. Desde las 4:30 de la tarde hasta las 7:30 de la noche, se realizará un conversatorio que contará con la participación de Luz Marina Correa, Gerente de Proyectos de The Trust for the Americas, y mujeres líderes de Nariño. En particular, se discutirá los adelantos en empoderamiento y la consecución de Oportunidades Económicas y los retos que enfrentan los jóvenes, especialmente las mujeres, en temas relacionados con su vinculación a escenarios laborales. La jornada, se llevará a cabo en las instalaciones de ParqueSoft Nariño, y se emitirá en vivo a través de Radio Nacional de Colombia (93.5 fm) para que los jóvenes interesados en desarrollar habilidades digitales y obtener oportunidades a través de la tecnología, puedan participar en el proyecto durante este año. POETA YouthSpark busca empoderar, a través de la tecnología, a jóvenes en situación de vulnerabilidad en América Latina y el Caribe con el fin de facilitar oportunidades de educación, emprendimiento y empleo mediante capacitaciones integrales en alfabetización digital y ciencias de la computación. POETA YouthSpark busca promover el acceso y uso de la tecnología entre jóvenes de 16 – 29 años para equiparlos con habilidades que el mundo laboral del siglo XXI demanda. Al respecto, Gelber Moran, Director Ejecutivo de ParqueSoft mencionó: “Desde el año 2009 hemos sido socios locales de The Trust for the Américas, tras nuestra participación en la convocatoria internacional. En un principio nos enfocamos en la búsqueda de la inclusión laboral de personas en situación de discapacidad a través del programa POETA Accesible, que busca la apropiación de la ciencia, la tecnología y la innovación para facilitar la eliminación de barreras para acceder a un trabajo digno. En relación a POETA YouthSpark, en el 2014 tuvimos la oportunidad de liderar este proyecto como socio local, donde más de 300 mujeres participaron del proyecto llegando a resultados significativos que para este 2019 tambien queremos materializar en oportunidades para las jóvenes y docentes.” Así mismo, Pierina Nepote, Gerente de Proyectos resaltó “Desde The Trust for the Americas, nuestro compromiso es sumar nuevos aliados en nuevas regiones de Colombia que generen transformaciones reales de inclusión económica y social con acciones de calidad y equidad de género para la juventud pastusa, y es por ello que, en ParqueSoft Nariño hemos encontrado un excelente aliado para trabajar de la mano por una misión compartida – empoderar a través de la tecnología para los trabajos del futuro.” QUÉ:                     Conversatorio – Mujer, Empoderamiento y Oportunidades Económicas-. CUÁNDO:            jueves 28 de marzo de 2019                               4:30 PM – 07:30 PM DÓNDE:                ParqueSoft Nariño                               Cr. 30 # 17-00 Entrada principal Parque Infantil                                Pasto, Colombia QUIÉNES:             The Trust for the Americas                               ParqueSoft Nariño                                 Secretaría de Cultura del Municipio.    Sobre The Trust for the Americas: Promover alianzas para inclusión económica y social en las Américas. Organización sin fines de lucro afiliada a la Organización de Estados Americanos (OEA). Fue establecida en 1997 para la participación del sector público, el sector privado y las iniciativas de la sociedad civil en el desarrollo social y económico en América Latina y el Caribe. Las iniciativas de la organización pretenden mejorar el acceso a las oportunidades económicas, mejorar la seguridad ciudadana y promover oportunidades para la expresión democrática y la gobernabilidad responde a las poblaciones desatendidas en las Américas.  La Fundación para las Américas ofrece a las organizaciones locales asociadas, con una cartera de instrumentos de capacitación, servicios, productos y asistencia técnica para ayudar a servir mejor a las comunidades vulnerables de la región. Visite: www.trustfortheamericas.org Facebook: The Trust for the Americas  Twitter:   @Trust4Americas Sobre ParqueSoft Nariño Fundación Parque del Conocimiento y la Innovación de Nariño, emprendió en el año 2003 la tarea de fomentar el emprendimiento y oportunidades para niños, niñas, jóvenes, adultos, personas en situación de discapacidad y empresarios, a través de la apropiación de la ciencia, la tecnología e innovación. En los 15 años que lleva al territorio a liderado proyectos de talla internacional, nacional y local propiciando en cada uno de ellos grandes aportes para el desarrollo sostenible del territorio. Visite: www.parquesoftpasto.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/ParqueSoftPasto Twitter: @parquesoftpasto Colombia CONVERSATORIO – MUJER, EMPODERAMIENTO Y OPORTUNIDADES ECONÓMICAS-

March 22, 2019 New York, March 21, 2019. – As part of the 63rd session of the Commission on the Status of Women and EQUALS, GSMA, with support from The Trust for the Americas – OAS, the GSMA, Kano Computing, BT, the NYC Department of Youth & Community Development, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and Engineering for Change, is organizing the Tech4Girls workshop taking place today in New York City. This theoretical and hands-on workshop aims to help girls ages 10 to 14 build confidence in their skills in science, technology, engineering, art and design, and mathematics (STEAM) by developing technology- and computing-based products. During the event, participants will engage in various activities, such as building their own computers, learning to code, and developing interactive games. According to the American Association of University Women, the percentage of women graduating with degrees in computer science has dropped dramatically. In 1984, women accounted for 37% of all computer science graduates, and in 2017, they accounted for only 18%. One of the biggest challenges is girls“ low interest in technology careers, resulting from a lack of mentors to motivate them to pursue training in these areas and the false perception that it is a sector ”only for men.“ For this reason, we are working collaboratively to attract women and girls to technology during high school or even earlier. The GSMA Tech4Girls program aims to reverse this trend and reduce the gender gap in the technology industry, generating benefits for women, societies, and economies. The GSMA’s Tech4Girls initiative won the 2018 Corporate Citizen Award for the Americas, presented by The Trust for the Americas. During the event in New York, the organization’s Director of Programs will deliver a presentation on the importance of women’s participation in technology fields. In this regard, María Liliana Mor, Program Director at The Trust, commented: ”To combat the digital divide between men and women, we must encourage women to embrace technology and develop skills that promote their empowerment and well-being. As part of our mission—to promote the socioeconomic inclusion of vulnerable populations—The Trust for the Americas will implement the “Future of Work” approach over the next five years.” GSMA Tech4Girls participants will also hear from and network with professionals in the technology industry who will highlight the benefits of an education and a career in STEAM. The Trust for the Americas will be participating with a presentation on its programs focused on empowering women through technology. “Reducing the gender gap in the ICT sector not only improves women’s lives by providing them with opportunities for economic and professional development. It is also good for the industry, because it expands the talent pool and brings diversity to planning and decision-making. At the GSMA, we are deeply committed to this goal, and we know that we will only achieve it by working together with all relevant stakeholders, both public and private,” said Paula Ferrari, Regional Marketing Director, GSMA Latin America. Likewise, The Trust for the Americas, in partnership with the GSMA, will bring the GSMA Tech4Girls workshops to countries where it trains vulnerable populations—mostly women—in digital skills, including computer science, through the POETA Program. 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 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 About GSMA Tech4Girls GSMA Tech4Girls provides girls with training to develop technical skills and access to mentors and role models in the mobile sector. The initiative is part of the GSMA Women4Tech program, which focuses on reducing the persistent gender gap in the mobile industry. GSMA Tech4Girls was launched in March 2018, and more than 100 girls participated in workshops in Atlanta, Buenos Aires, and Guyana. Participants have developed an artificial intelligence tool similar to Google Home, a Kano computer, and a mobile app. The girls attending come from vulnerable communities and local schools. For more information about the GSMA and its programs, visit: www.GSMA.com United States

2019/03/22 Eight projects have been awarded seed funding to develop solutions for their local challenges. Washington, D.C., March 22nd 2019.- Within the “Promoting an Open Government Ecosystem in Belize” project, implemented by The Trust for the Americas, on March 25th, eight initiatives received seed funding for US$5,000.00 each to support the pillars of Open Government and foster citizen participation and public accountability in Belize. These eight projects stand out for their diversity and the detection of Belize’s needs, ranging from journalism, the audiovisual industry, public transport, illegal fishing, human trafficking detection and gender-based violence. The goal of the program lead by the Trust for the Americas is to encourage direct and constant communication between governments and citizens, with the objective of improving transparency and democracy. “The project, implemented in Belize, is already motivating civil society organizations and social actors, not only to forge a stronger partnership with their Government, but also to achieve improved citizens’ access, and to make existing governance structures more responsive to their needs” said Starret D. Greene, Representative in Belize of the Organization of American States. During the award´s ceremony, Henry Wade, Local Coordinator of the project for The Trust for the Americas, commented “It is important to encourage the participation of the media, non-profit organizations, universities, the private sector and vulnerable populations in Open Government initiatives to promote innovative projects that improve the quality of public services”. He also highlighted the importance of supporting local innovation from all sectors to solve problems from within the communities. One of the initiatives that standed out is the “Online News-Agency-Styled Policy-Tracker” developed by the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI). “The BCCI has been selected as one of the successful Open Government Sub-Grant awardees, which will use the US$5,000.00 as a sub-grant to aid in its efforts towards designing and implementing a Policy Tracker, aimed at keeping the BCCI membership, the Belizean public and international audiences aware of public sector policy developments in Belize” said Dyon Elliott, Policy Analyst, BCCI. The other awardees are: The “Promoting an Open Government Ecosystem in Belize” project is being implemented since 2018 with the support of the Embassy of the United States in Belize. Last year, The Trust for the Americas co-organized the first ever “Belize Open Week” with more than 180 participants from the public and private sector. 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 alliances for economic and social inclusion in the Americas. Established in 1997, The Trust was created for 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, better citizen security, and opportunities for democratic expression and 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 Belize