Global Reach: Grantee Partners

Jóvenes Constructores de la Comunidad

Context:

In Mexico, young people between 18 and 29 represent 19.3% of the total population[1] and account for approximately 27% of the economically active population. Before COVID-19, most young people who worked lacked job security (e.g. they did not receive a living wage or have a stable contract or union affiliation), many of them worked excessive hours or were underemployed[2]. According to Youth Alliance for Decent Work in Mexico (Alianza Jóvenes con Trabajo Digno), two-thirds (67%) of young people who work do not make sufficient income to cover basic needs for a family of two; 7% were underemployed.

The Iztapalapa district where Jóvenes Constructores de la Comunidad (JCC) proposes this intervention is one of the most populated in Mexico City (1,835,486 de inhabitants), with high levels of marginalsation (35% of the population in this district live in poverty) and high rates of violence (79% feels unsafe). School dropout is also a problem, with 16% of young people aged 15 and 17 and 66% between 18 and 29 not attending school. Estimations indicate that 30% of young people in this district are out of the education system, unemployed, or in precarious employment.

Young women are at a significant disadvantage compared to their male counterparts because their opportunities are more limited than men, and their development is often stunted due to heavy chore burdens at home. While the average monthly income of young people is USD 283, young women earn ~15% less than young men and unemployment among young women is higher.

The lack of educational and employment opportunities for young people between the ages of 15-24 leads to violence and vulnerability in their communities due to the urgent need to make money. In addition, young people lack the tools to make decisions in the medium and long term. This lack of skills and competencies leads to 1) poor educational performance and school dropout, 2) low development of socio-emotional skills necessary for life and work, and 3) low levels of technical competencies needed in the labour markets. The program proposed by JCC will support young people from the Desarrollo Urbano Quetzalcóatl´s community in the district of Iztapalapa to expand their skills and knowledge to integrate them into decent work paths.

Organization:

Jóvenes Constructores de la Comunidad, A.C. (JCC) is a non-profit with seventeen years of experience. Its mission is to promote human development and bring educational and labour insertion options to young people from marginalised communities through its education and training models. The organisation focuses on young people without education or employment. 

Current Grant:

EMpower's first grant to Jóvenes Constructores de la Comunidad, A.C. (JCC) will increase the employability and education prospects of 60 marginalised young people between the ages of 17-24 (36 women and 24 men) in Mexico City. Young people will strengthen and develop core-life skills and participate in job training and mentoring sessions as part of the "Jóvenes con Rumbo (Youth Pathways)" program in a youth centre in Desarrollo Urbano Quetzalcóatl, a new location for JCC programming. JCC will provide participants access to internships and job placement support. In addition, this grant will support the institutional strengthening of Jóvenes Constructores  in the areas of human resources and resource mobilisation.

Primary Location: Mexico City, Mexico

Website: https://www.jovenesconstructores.org/

Funded Since: 2022