CDP Funds Projects to Improve El Salvador Schools, Rehabilitate Gang Members

CDP Funds Projects to Improve El Salvador Schools, Rehabilitate Gang Members

New aid loans of 20.5 million euros for youth training. Fifty schools, 200 teachers and 4,000 students involved

Rome January 23, 2017

Cassa depositi e prestiti has signed two new financing agreements as part of its commitment to international solidarity and aid. Following initiatives in the Palestinian Territories and Ecuador, the new funding aims to improve young Salvadoran’s quality of life.

The first initiative, signed with El Salvador’s Ministry of Finance of the Central American, earmarks 15 million euros to help develop the national education system. The funding will be used to improve labor market integration, combat school the dropout rate, and work to end youth violence. The project aims to support the Salvadoran Ministry of Education in expanding the provision of technical educational, strengthening vocational schools, training 200 teachers and about 4,000 youth between 15 and 19 years of age selected for career guidance service. It is a priority project in the development plans of the country, which will create quality employment by counteracting youth emigration and gang affoliation.

The second convention allocates 5.5 million euros to the Salvadoran Ministry of Justice to implement the rehabilitation of the so-called mareros gangs. The program will also involve other donors, bilateral or multilateral, and represent a kind of "country program" coordinated by the Ministry of Justice. The program includes the organization of courses for professional training and integration of mareros members in the working world and prevent their return to gang activity following the completion of prison terms.

CDP, as a financial institution for development cooperation, is committed to improving the quality of life in developing countries, promoting sustainable growth projects to reduce economic and social inequalities between people of the world.