240 attend vocational training in 6 employment sectors

(MissionNewswire) The María Auxiliadora Formation Center in Ecuador has held training initiatives for more than 270 people in 2024, up from more than 130 participants in 2023. Most of the training is aimed at women in Esmeraldas who face unemployment, lack of resources, gender violence and abandonment, or who are heads of household. The training is taught by three lay professionals and includes 12 courses over six employment sectors.

A Salesian explained, “Providing this training has allowed women to gain the skills needed for employment. Some are able to find jobs after the training while others start a small business of their own. Most importantly, they are able to earn an income to become self-sufficient.”

The center was launched 10 years ago in the San Rafael Valley, in the province of Esmeraldas, with the collaboration of the Salesian Ecuador Project and the Salesian San Juan Bosco Community in Esmeraldas. The mission was to support vulnerable populations in a a place marked by violence, drug trafficking, poverty and lack of opportunities.

The training offered is thanks to the support of the Valley Foundation and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation through its “Inclusive Economy for the Women of Esmeraldas” project, as well as the Association for Cultural, Technical and Educational Cooperation through its “Opening Horizons to the Vulnerable Population of the Coast Region” project.

Salesians provide social development and educational programs across Ecuador to help poor youth gain an education and the skills for later employment. The skills they learn ensure they are able to care for themselves and their families while being contributing members of their communities.

Ecuador is one of the most inequitable societies in the world, according to UNICEF. The richest 20% of the population receives almost 50% of the national income, while the poorest 20% receives only 5%. According to the World Food Program, almost 26% of all children under age 5 have stunted growth, increasing to 31% in rural areas and 47% in Indigenous communities.

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Sources:

ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)

ANS – Ecuador – CEFORMAX: realizing the dreams of the vulnerable population of Esmeraldas

Salesian Missions – Ecuador

UNICEF – Ecuador