Success Story
by Paola Paternina Chicre
On May 20th, 120 students from the co-created Employment for Reconciliation project graduated from the Marketing and Sales and Administrative Assistance program, having fulfilled the training requirements and completed internships at more than 61 partner companies.
This graduation is an impressive step forward for a diverse group of young people: 83% are women, 20% are victims of the conflict, 7% are LGBTIQ+ and 6% are of Afro Colombian. In addition, these young people come from communities such as Castilla, Doce de Octubre, Robledo, San Javier, and the Corregimiento San Cristóbal.
Tanager is proud to work with an impressive group of partners to support social inclusion, income generating activities, and job placement of young people in Medellín. DIAGEO, through its social responsibility initiative Learning for Life, Trade Alliance Corporation, through the Texmodas Foundation, and non-governmental organizations Tanager and Fundación ACDI/VOCA L.A. came together to generate economic opportunities for vulnerable groups. All of the partner organizations joined technical and financial efforts to operate education and formal employment initiatives that create opportunity for these students.
The graduation ceremony – which due to government restrictions on large gatherings was live-streamed on Facebook on May 20th from the Ciudad Don Bosco facilities in Medellin – included representatives from the organizations that made the project possible. Ricardo Amaya, Tanager’s Representative in Colombia and Legal Representative of Fundación ACDI/VOCA L.A. contributed these words to the graduates: “Let this be an opportunity to celebrate with your families… I want to thank you for all the work and efforts you made throughout the project.”
Viviana Rengifo, Communications and Social Responsibility Manager of DIAGEO Colombia sent in a special message for the graduates (watch below). In her remarks, she said, “Learning for Life has been implemented for over 10 years in Colombia and we have strategic allies such as ACDI/VOCA and Tanager, with whom we have transformed lives through the education of thousands of young dreamers like you.”
Tanager is proud to be a part of this important work and we are so excited to see what these students achieve in the years to come!