SAN SALVADOR– Over a hundred people attended the launching of the SolucionES (Solutions) crime prevention project in the municipality of Ciudad Arce, La Libertad.  SolucionES is an innovative public-private partnership designed to prevent crime and violence in 50 communities in five high-risk municipalities of El Salvador through a joint effort with the private sector and municipal governments.

Over a five-year period, the project will receive $20 million from USAID, and the Alliance will raise an additional $22 million from foundations, corporations, municipalities and civil society, for a total contribution of $42 million. The amount of direct investment in SolucionES in Ciudad Arce is an estimated $400,000.  The SolucionEs project contributes to achieving the goals of President Barack Obama’s Partnership for Growth (PFG) initiative, a joint effort between El Salvador and the United States to increase security and expand economic growth in El Salvador.

The alliance, which was announced nationwide in February, combines the experience and skills of five of El Salvador’s leading foundations:  the National Foundation for Development (FUNDE), the Salvadoran Foundation for Health and Human Development (FUSAL), Glasswing International, the Salvadoran Foundation for Economic and Social Development (FUSADES), and the Business Foundation for Educational Development (FEPADE).  FEPADE directs the Alliance and is responsible for project implementation. The five organizations have considerable experience in education, health, community and economic development, research and youth leadership.

In Ciudad Arce, SolucionES will provide technical assistance to the city council and residents to implement a crime prevention plan and various activities, including training for youth and their families on conflict prevention, youth leadership programs, training for youth entrepreneurship and extracurricular clubs, such as soccer leagues. It is expected that about 4,000 youth and 750 parents will be involved in those activities, as well as teachers and members of the community.

Among the expected results in Ciudad Arce over the next three years are: the participation of 130 students daily in extracurricular activities focused on leadership development, training of 125 youths on entrepreneurship, training of 1,920 youth in conflict prevention, youth leadership and life skills through participation in soccer leagues, training of 192 parents on supervision, leadership, motivation, conflict resolution and parenting, as well as their participation in the soccer leagues as coaches or representatives.  In addition, 1,680 youth are expected to participate in a series of workshops to develop life plans focused on goals, and 81 youth are expected to participate in an intensive program of community development, which will aim to prepare the next generation of leaders in crime prevention. Also, 20 teachers will receive training on stress management, leadership, conflict resolution and emotional intelligence, among others. Moreover, in a period of two years, 600 youth will receive a program to reduce alcohol consumption among youth. Finally, 10 grants will be awarded to organizations in Ciudad Arce or others to implement programs focused on family and youth.

The SolucionES Ciudad Arce launch event was chaired by the Mayor of Ciudad Arce, José Alfredo Contreras, the Director of USAID / El Salvador, Kirk Dahlgren, the Executive Director of FEPADE and local representative of SolutionES project, Eugenia de Castrillo, and PRE-PAZ Department Director, Roberto Lopez. After the launch event, community volunteers helped refurbish the facilities of the San Francisco public school.

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