Project News

Tthe organizing committee* of the Best practices in youth policies and programs in Latin American and the Caribbean project selected DevTech's Combating child labor through education in the Dominican Republic initiative after a rigorous examination of over 600 registered practices from over 30 countries of the region.

This U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) funded project in the Dominican Republic is implemented by an alliance of U.S. and Dominican organizations committed to eradicating child labor and providing education alternatives.  It supports a commitment made by Heads of State in 2005 at the Fourth Summit of the Americas to eliminate child labor in the Americas region by 2020 by providing quality education alternatives. 

Recognizing the importance of youth programming, the organizing committee comprised of the UNESCO, IADB, UNICEF, ILO, Government of Mexico and six other development agencies had an open call for the submission of ‘Best Practices.’

More than 600 registered practices from more than 30 countries were evaluated and a group of finalists were selected by the organizing committee to participate in a high level Forum of Best Practices on Youth Policies and Programmes in Latin America and the Caribbean, which took place from the 4th to 6th of November 2009 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The purpose of the forum was to recognize the best practices and to dialogue with development agencies who are working in favor of youth, to make recommendations for the successful implementation of policies and youth programs in the region. 

DevTech, represented by Dr. John Helwig, received the award “Best Practices” for the program Espacios para Crecer  (“Spaces for Growth”), developed with USDOL funding for the Combating Child Labor through Education Project (2003-2007) in the Dominican Republic.

DevTech and its subcontractor ENTRENA, together with technicians from the Dominican Ministry of Education developed Espacios para Crecer to complement the regular school and provide special attention to personal growth/self-image development, socialization and recreation, and academic leveling, with emphasis on math and communication skills. The model also raises awareness among, and involvement by, parents, community leaders, educators, community associations and local governments. The winning program addresses the three Worst Forms of Child Labor (WCFL)-dangerous agricultural labor, dangerous and unhealthy urban labor and commercial sexual exploitation-by helping children mainstream back into school. Based on the success of the EpC a related program was designed to work with at-risk adolescents. Espacios para Emprender (Spaces for Entrepreneurship) is a 450-hour program that provides training in leadership skills, vocational skills (a job entry skill), and financial management skills.

Since 2007, DevTech manages a second USDOL cooperative agreement with two Dominican associates EDUCA and INTEC that is replicating the practice across the country. The model has been implemented in Nicaragua and Guatemala. In 2007 the EpC program was introduced into Colombia under another USDOL financed project, and in 2008 the EpE program began.

*SEP (Mexican Ministry of Public Education); IMJ (Mexican Institute of Youth); CONALMEX (Mexican National Commission for UNESCO); SEJUV (Government of the State of Colima, Mexico, through its Ministry for Youth); UCOL (University of Colima, Mexico); CYP (Commonwealth Youth Programme – Caribbean Centre); IDB Youth (Inter-American Development Bank); OAS (Organization of American States); OECD Development Centre (Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development); OIJ (Ibero-American Youth Organization); EVAC (Espacio Vinculación AC); FLACSO (Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales); IPPF (International Planned Parenthood Federation); OAS-Trust for the Americas; YABT (Young Americas Business Trust); ECLAC (United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean); ILO (International Labour Organization); PAHO (Pan-American Health Organization); UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization); UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund); UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund); and UNV (United Nations Volunteers).