Colombia - Building Resources for Local Prosperity

Current situation and target issues to be resolved

 

Extremely limited opportunities for work in rural and peri-urban areas of the developing world often lead young high school graduates to follow paths of economic displacement towards large urban centers. If they do remain near home, lack of opportunity may force them to take positions within the informal economy in jobs that fail to make good use of their knowledge and capacities.

 

The search for education and training is another cause of urban migration. Many youth in rural areas do not have access to higher education due to a lack of university-level institutions in these areas and from the inadequacy of programs that do exist which rarely offer content appropriate for the development of rural residents.

In some cases, regional, national and international industries that locate to rural and semi-urban areas in search of space and cheaper labor end up attracting workers who travel daily from urban areas because local resources are not seen as sufficiently trained. This further erodes the local economy as earnings generated move away from the region back to cities.

 

In 2005 the local government recognizing the misbalance created by employing people from other areas- proclaimed the principle  that enterprises should try to employ up to 70% of their staff from the local areas. This created the challenge to start teaching human resources being capable to occupy these positions.  

To contribute to closing the widening gap between rural and urban areas created by economic-based urban migration and to build resources for local prosperity, there is a need for rigorous and relevant educational programs accessible to youth in rural and peri-urban areas, that develop these young people into the kinds of professionals needed by the evolving institutions that comprise strong local economies.

 

Description of the project

 

In response to this need UNITY FOUNDATION in collaboration with our local partner FUNDAEC plans to systematize its learning and experience in the development of a technical professional-level program in the Administration of Local Economies, to be offered through its collaborating University the "Centro Universitario de Bienestar Rural". It is a further assumption of this project that the ongoing situation of public disorder and conflict that affects certain areas of Colombia is in part related to a severe lack of income-generating possibilities for rural youth, and that efforts to fortify local economies will contribute, over time, to diminishing these problems. 

 

FUNDAEC has been involved for more than 30 years in learning process concerned with small enterprises for the support of production activities. During their studies, students will gain knowledge of administrative and economic principles and develop skills needed to administer local institutions and manage private government funds. Additionally, the program will place great emphasis on the development of the qualities and attitudes that will enable its graduates to respond with responsibility to the challenges they will undoubtedly face working in the management of material resources.

 

  • Accessibility to the program to 240 students from 6 different areas from Colombia
  • 18 modules for training technical professionals printed and online
  • Creation of 6 online distant platforms

 

Duration of  project: February 2008 - January 2011

 

Link: to our pictures from the project  Photogallery

 

Budget :

 

 

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Total €

MAE

107.021

74.422

72.723

 253.166

UF

 53.511

37.211

35.862

 126.584
Total 160.532 111.633 107.585 379.750