Promote social and economic development in the Americas through leadership, service and development programs. Partners is an international non-profit organization that was started in 1964 as a part of the Alliance for Progress. Partners is comprised of a network of volunteer– based organizations, non-profit organizations, businesses and individuals all committed to working together to serve and to change lives through lasting partnerships.

Our Experience: Child Labor and Youth at Risk 7 programs 16 countries 67,187 direct beneficiaries 16 years of experience $28.5 million dollars

EDUCAME PRIMERO Program in Colombia Improve access to quality education to combat exploitive child labor through education Purpose: Combating exploitive Child Labor Through Education in Colombia Geographic Scope: Bogotá, Barranquilla, Cali, Cartagena, Santa Marta, Barbosa, Florián, Vélez, Puente Nacional, La Paz, Samacá Consortium: Partners of the Americas in association with DevTech, Mercy Corps and CINDE. Funding: United Stated Department of Labor (DOL), Nike Foundation and Acción Social.

Methodology: the introduction and dissemination of the Quantum Learning Espacios Para Crecer and Espacios para Emprender model where “everything speaks, everything has a purpose, and all learning is celebrated.” Community Based, Low Cost, Adaptability – The EpC model is imbedded within the community.

Overall Results: By February 2011, the project withdrew and prevented 10,141 children which corresponds to 99.4% of the goal of the project. Withdrew: 4,959 (48.9%) children. Prevented: 5,182 (51.1%) children. The project conducted planned actions with 4,127 parents who attended in average 4 workshops of half a day each. More than 23,800 parents were benefited directly or in directly.

An active policy against child labor. An advanced legal framework that continues specializing and strengthening penalties to child abusers. Institutions strengthened such as the National Committee for the Eradication of Child Labor, the local Committee for the Eradication of child labor in Bogotá and the ICBF. The commitment of the national government to devote resources to the eradication of child labor within the next years. The Project ends with a very positive environment. Edúcame Primero Accomplishments

Working with Government Samacá is a municipality in Boyacá known for mining. Accion Social committed USD $75,000 to implement Educame Primero in Samacá targeting Red Juntos beneficiaries. The Mayor of Samacá committed USD $2,600 to match funds for activities against child labor.

In Samacá, the project participated in a broadcast program in the Community T.V. station of Samacá, addressing the achievements of the implementation and some thoughts about future actions against child labor in Samacá. In the closing ceremony event the project featured a video to the audience with testimonies of the staff and NGOs directly involved in its implementation.

The importance is collaboration between local and national governments: the local government´s commitment in giving support, and having included actions against child labor in the municipality´s development plan and national government through Acción Social, providing conditional cash transfers through Familias en Acción program. The project provided technical assistance to the Secretary of Education of Boyacá and with information to submit the report that the National Ombudsman Office required to measure improvement on child labor eradication and compliance with the national legislation on the matter.

Lessons Learned 1.Flexibility to adapt to political and economic context. 2.Income generating activities for parents. 3.Integration of other methodologies such as health and nutrition. 4.Timeframe. 5.Follow on training for facilitators. 6.Safe and clean space for children.

Future Prospects Colombia committed to eliminating extreme poverty and child labor at all levels. Presidencia de la Republica - Alta Consejería para la Prosperidad Social Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar (ICBF) Acción Social Fundación Mamonal Alcaldía Mayor de Bogotá D.C Fundación Carulla Asociación Nacional de Empresarios (ANDI) Alcaldía de Medellín - Secretaria de Bienestar Social Gobernación del Atlántico - Secretaria de Educación Fundación Pies Descalzos Fundación Formula Sonrisas Secretaria de Educación Distrital de Cartagena Universidad Tecnológica de Bolívar Universidad del Norte Promigas Fundación Mario Santo Domingo Fundación Telefónica Futbol Con Corazón Colombianitos Colombianos Apoyando Colombianos

Steve Vetter President and CEO Partners of the Americas Thank You!