Argentina has high rates of income inequality, poverty, unemployment, gender inequality, teenage pregnancy, and, in the past years: growing violence. The quality of education in Argentina can be poor, particularly in low-income urban and rural areas. As a result, many young people work in the informal sector where they are paid lower wages, lack social protection, and are often exempt from labour regulations.
Despite generally widespread information about contraception, high rates of adolescent pregnancy persist. Early pregnancy is associated with maternal morbidity and mortality, school dropout, the probability of raising children in poverty, and lower earnings over a lifetime.
In Argentina, we aim to address these challenges by supporting local organisations that combine education with livelihoods in new, innovative ways—with gender equity and health as a crosscutting theme. We are creating a hub in Buenos Aires to promote collaboration among existing and new grantee partners to offer young people a continued path for personal development—so they receive the education and training they need and can access and take advantage of employment opportunities in today’s market.
Our partners in Argentina:
Buenos Aires | Funded Since: 2022
Chicas en Tecnología works with young women, teaching them computer programming and basic life skills to address the gender gap in science and technology.
Distrito Federal | Funded Since: 2019
EMPUJAR was founded by business leaders to increase the employability of marginalised young people through skills training and job placement support.
Distrito Federal | Funded Since: 2022
Enseña por Argentina, part of the Teach For All network, a global collective of 60 independent, locally-led and funded organisations, addresses inequity by guaranteeing access to quality education.
Distrito Federal | Funded Since: 2022
Fundación Cimientos works to strengthen public schooling and to prevent school dropout among underserved young people.
Buenos Aires | Funded Since: 2023
Fundación Formar builds bridges between communities to create greater knowledge and skill sharing among young people and to contribute to community development.
Buenos Aires | Funded Since: 2023
Fundación Oficios works to create greater educational and employment inclusion by providing marginalised young people with skills and training.
Buenos Aires | Funded Since: 2023
Fundación Reciduca assists young people who are socially and economically vulnerable to complete school, take advantage of employment opportunities, and develop consciousness about the environment.
Buenos Aires | Funded Since: 2023
Puerta 18 para la inserción laboral provides vocational training in nontraditional livelihoods and basic life skills, and offers sexual and reproductive education to young people.
In Brazil, violence is a major problem, particularly in cities and favelas where violence between gangs and police is ever-present. Brazil has alarmingly high levels of adolescent pregnancy and violence against women. Despite strong legislation on gender-based violence, a domestic violence incident is reported every two minutes in Brazil. The poor quality of education has consistently been an issue as well. Boys are more likely than girls to drop out of school in every region of Brazil, which is strongly connected to the high levels of gang violence.
EMpower seeks to address these challenges by supporting programmes that improve academic performance, school retention rates, and the ability of marginalised young people to work in the formal sector. We work with local organisations that combat the high rates of teenage pregnancy and gender-based violence through comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education. EMpower supports the engagement of boys on the topic of gender equality given the key role they play in establishing more equitable gender dynamics.
Our partners in Brazil:
Rio de Janerio | Funded Since: 2019
Abraço Campeão uses martial arts, inclusive education, and personal development to provide underserved young people with greater autonomy over their futures.
Rio de Janeiro | Funded Since: 2014
Onda Solidária works with young people in rural communities to improve their academic performance, develop their leadership and employability skills, enhance their access to accurate sexual and reproductive health information and care, and to realise their rights.
Rio de Janeiro | Funded Since: 2016
CEPIA provides marginalised young people with knowledge about their sexual and reproductive health and rights, puberty, and how to prevent gender inequity.
Rio de Janeiro | Funded Since: 2023
Grupo Cultura Urbana promotes social inclusion and empowers young people through art, culture, and sports.
São Paulo | Funded Since: 2023
Instituto da Oportunidade Social (IOS) creates employment opportunities for young people by enhancing their life skills, providing social and emotional support, and conducting vocational training in technology, business, and administration.
São Gonçalo | Funded Since: 2021
Vai na Web promotes equal access to advanced digital technologies, reduces inequalities, and assists young people in attaining a more prosperous and sustainable future.
Rio de Janeiro | Funded Since: 2019
Redes da Maré works in favelas to provide young people with academic support to assist their transition from middle to high school, to enhance their core life skills, and to increase their understanding of their sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Rio de Janeiro | Funded Since: 2023
Spectaculu expands young people’s employment prospects through life skills and vocational skills training in entertainment, performing arts, and technology.
Rio de Janeiro | Funded Since: 2022
UmRio uses rugby as a platform to reach and engage young people, providing access to education, employability, healthcare, and social services.
In Colombia, poverty levels are significantly higher among Afro-Colombian and internally displaced populations, many of whom have migrated from rural areas to already overcrowded cities. Violence is pervasive, partially due to the five decade-long internal conflict between militarised groups and the Colombian government, which has created the world’s second largest population of internally displaced persons, after Syria.
Unemployment is a pressing issue. Young people living in marginalised communities lack technical expertise, meaning they are only able to find temporary and low paying work, often in the informal sector. Many turn to criminal groups and gangs. On top of this, teenage pregnancy and domestic and sexual violence are common.
EMpower addresses these challenges by supporting local organisations that combat poverty by helping young people learn and providing vocational training in fields that have proven employer demand. Additionally, EMpower supports initiatives that promote gender equity and positive life skills to reduce violence and combat unwanted teenage pregnancy, through strong comprehensive sexuality education.
Our partners in Colombia:
Cali | Funded Since: 2020
ASCEP helps young people who grew up in protective custody develop core life skills—in areas like communication and financial literacy—and enhance their mental health to ensure their successful transition from institutional care to independent living.
Cali | Funded Since: 2013
CEDECUR helps young people acquire the skills they need to secure and maintain employment in the formal sector through vocational and entrepreneurship training.
Cali | Funded Since: 2018
Fundación Alvaralice enhances the skills that young people need to secure and retain employment in the private formal sector.
Bogotá | Funded Since: 2023
Fundación Rofé provides marginalised young people with the skills and tools necessary for a dignified future through expanded job opportunities.
Cali | Funded Since: 2023
Scarpetta Gnecco provides young people with high-quality programmes that offer life skills training to improve their academic performance and high school graduation rates.
Cali | Funded Since: 2023
SOROCA improves the academic performance of underserved young people through life skills training, ongoing mentorship, and wrap-around support.
Bogotá | Funded Since: 2020
Niñas Sin Miedo works to prevent gender-based violence against girls and unplanned pregnancy, providing sexual and reproductive health and rights information and using sport as a learning tool.
Bogotá | Funded Since: 2022
Poderosas helps young people acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health and rights, and to develop basic life skills.
Mexico has high rates of income inequality, poverty, and unemployment—especially among rural and indigenous youth populations. And widespread gender inequities are major contributors to the high levels of violence against women and teenage pregnancy.
EMpower seeks to address these challenges by supporting work with particularly marginalised populations—such as indigenous youth—to promote gender-equitable behaviours, as well as by providing age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education. EMpower supports the engagement of boys in gender initiatives given the key role they play in establishing more equitable dynamics and effecting change.
Our partners in Mexico:
Mexico City | Funded Since: 2023
CLAP uses vocational high schools to strengthen the core life skills of young people and to provide them with vocational training so they can continue their education and gain job placement support and mentoring.
Mexico City | Funded Since: 2018
GENDES, A.C. engages young people to increase and maintain their understanding of their sexual and reproductive health and rights, to promote gender equality, to prevent gender-based violence, and to strengthen their life skills.
Mexico City | Funded Since: 2022
Jóvenes Constructores de la Comunidad (JCC) provides marginalised young people with vocational training and life skills to assist them in gaining dignified and safe employment.
Chiapas | Funded Since: 2018
Patronato Pro Educación Guaquitepec, A.C. works to ensure that fewer indigenous young people, especially girls, drop out of school.
Mexico City | Funded Since: 2022
Proeducación I.A.P. contributes to improving the quality of education that children receive in public primary schools in local low-income communities.
Mexico City | Funded Since: 2023
SERAJ strengthens the skills of marginalised young people at vocational high schools, where they can continue their education and gain job placement support and mentoring.
Oaxaca | Funded Since: 2014
SiKanda ensures greater physical and emotional safety for young people by increasing their knowledge of their sexual and reproductive health and rights and creating a more supportive environment in their communities.
Young Peruvians face a number of adversities, including the lack of decent employment opportunities. Many youth work in the informal sector and face precarious working conditions, low wages, unstable employment, no social security or health insurance, and dangerous environments. Young women and indigenous youth are the worst affected. Poor school attendance and high dropout rates are also significant challenges.
While Peru has improved the availability and quality of reproductive health services, including family planning, disparities persist. And violence against women is pervasive.
EMpower addresses these challenges by supporting local organisations to improve academic performance and provide job placement in the formal sector. EMpower also seeks to reduce sexual violence, early pregnancy, and STIs by focusing on comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education and supporting access to a range of modern contraceptives and youth-friendly services. EMpower is creating a subnational hub in Cusco, where our local grantee partners can collaborate and strategise on the best ways to put young people on the path for personal development and better health.
Our partners in Peru:
Pisac | Funded Since: 2015
Asociación Kusi Kawsay promotes access to intercultural, bilingual, and quality education for young indigenous people, merging the ancient knowledge and traditions of the Andes with sustainability practices.
Lima | Funded Since: 2015
Alternativa contributes to sustainable human development and the strengthening of democratic institutions, enhancing young people’s social and employability skills, promoting gender equity, offering comprehensive sexuality education, and preventing violence.
Lima | Funded Since: 2002
Asociación Minga Perú promotes sustainable change for indigenous women and their communities—strengthening leaders, organisations, and social networks to collaboratively build social justice.
Cusco | Funded Since: 2019
Asociación Pukllasunchis is committed to the ethical transformation of education and the formation of democratic, inclusive, just, and honest communities and societies.
Madre de Dios | Funded Since: 2015
PROMSEX is a feminist nongovernmental organisation that, through advocacy, knowledge generation, and alliances, helps people decide about their sexuality and reproduction with autonomy, dignity, justice, and equality.
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Our Board Directors and the Leadership Council underwrite all of our Management, General and Fundraising expenses, so 100% of your donation goes directly to empowering marginalised young people.