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Private partnerships advance violence prevention activities in El Salvador

Par Evelyn Rupert

[/vc_column_text][/vc_colonne][/vc_row][vc_row][largeur vc_column = »2/3″][vc_column_text]Four companies and a nonprofit in El Salvador have joined the effort to make the country safer through a new partnership with a project to prevent violence and crime.

The new partners will invest more than $115,000 to support activities for at-risk youth in 23 municipalities through the Projet de prévention du crime et de la violence au Salvador, qui est financé par le NOUS. Agence pour le développement international and implemented by Creative Associates International.

“The partnerships established here are very important, as these resources expand, complement and strengthen the benefits that the project offers vulnerable youth,” said Luz Mena Duke, Public-Private Partnerships Coordinator for the El Salvador Crime and Violence Prevention Project.

With this latest round of partnerships, the project now has 25 agreements with private-sector companies, which have helped sponsor Centres de sensibilisation – education and recreation spaces for youth – and public projects such as installing street lamps in areas struggling with crime. The new partnerships were signed at a July 7 event in San Salvador.

The four new participating companies and nongovernmental organization are:

Tire recycling company Re-tire
Multinational retailer Unicomer Group
Electricity company DELSUR
Chocolate maker Melher Chocolates
The Childhood First Foundation, an NGO focused on early childhood development

Investing in change

Four private companies and a local nonprofit form partnerships in El Salvador. — Four private companies and a local nonprofit form partnerships with the El Salvador Crime and Violence Prevention Project on July 7. Photo de René Urrutia.

Their involvement will help the project undertake a variety of initiatives. At Outreach Centers, Unicomer will provide manuals and training for coordinators and volunteers. Melher Chocolates will donate equipment and materials to six Outreach Centers in Mejicanos to establish goal-setting workshops and youth clubs.

The Childhood First Foundation will offer training on interpersonal skills, reducing aggressive behavior, and fostering peaceful coexistence in communities in two Outreach Centers in the municipality of Apopa.

Re-tire will offer workshops on creating play equipment and decorative pieces with used tires.

And DELSUR will undertake technical studies to identify and fulfill the need for electricity infrastructure in three municipalities.

Mena said that the contributions from private businesses contribute to fostering good values, talent, creativity and leadership skills in youth, which can allow them to build more peaceful communities.

“We are grateful for the vote of confidence from the new participating companies that have sent a message to the youth of El Salvador that ‘We’re with you,’” Duke said.

Projet de prévention du crime et de la violence au Salvador aims to prevent and reduce violence in 55 key Salvadoran municipalities using more than 40 crime prevention tools – such as creating opportunities for youth, collecting crime data, and undertaking infrastructure projects to improve public space safety.

Avec le reportage de René Urrutia. [/vc_column_text][/vc_colonne][largeur vc_column = »1/12″][/vc_colonne][largeur vc_column = »1/4″][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id= »barre latérale-primaire »][/vc_colonne][/vc_row]