The Espacios para Emprender (EpE), or "Spaces for Entrepreneurship" program is designed for adolescents 14 to 17 years of age and aims to withdraw or prevent at-risk students from working in the worst forms of child labor. The EpE model builds upon the highly successful Espacios para Crecer (EpC), or "Spaces for Growth" program, which was developed and implemented for children 6 to 14 years of age in the Dominican Republic (DR) during the first Department of Labor (DOL) funded Combating Child Labor Project (2003–2007) . Together the EpC and EpE programs are currently being implemented in Colombia and the Dominican Republic.

The EpE program was developed, piloted and validated in the DR in early 2008 and adapted and implemented in Colombia in 2009. The model focuses in three key areas: life and leadership skills; vocational job-entry skills; and, financial and basic managerial skills. EpE's aim to equip students with the strategies required to be able to find a job, establish a micro-enterprise, continue formal education, or both work and study. At the EpEs, facilitators lead the students through innovative lessons and experiences to support their growth in these areas, and provide tangible guidance for pursuit of particular careers or studies. The model is based on the core principle that all students should have equal opportunities to pursue successful and fulfilling lives and careers, regardless of socio-economic status and prior experiences.

Materials for the EpE programs in Colombia and the Dominican Republic are provided below.

Colombia EpE Modules

The EpE modules below are adapted for the Colombia project with funding provided by the United States Department of Labor under Cooperative Agreement number IL-16574-07075-K.*

Facilitator Leadership Modules:

• All Facilitator Materials
• Module 1: Yo Sí Puedo
• Module 2: Tengo Herramientas
• Module 3: Hacia Dónde Voy
• Module 4: Vamos a Hacerlo
• Module 5: Manos a la Obra

Participant Leadership Modules:

• All Participant Materials
• Module 1: Yo Sí Puedo
• Module 2: Tengo Herramientas
• Module 3: Hacia Dónde Voy
• Module 4: Vamos a Hacerlo
• Module 5: Manos a la Obra

Dominican Republic EpE Modules

The EpE modules below are adapted for the Dominican Republic with funding provided by the United States Department of Labor under Cooperative Agreement number IL-16573-07-75.*

Facilitator Leadership Modules:

Coming soon.

Participant Leadership Modules:

Coming soon.

* These modules do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the United States Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the United States Government.