YouthCan! in Mexico: Two youth weave their dreams into a clothing business
Data from the National Council for the Evaluation of Social Development Policy (CONEVAL) states that Chiapas is one of the three poorest states in Mexico. The state faces considerable economic and social inequality, where existing economic structures fail to benefit its people. Discrimination and limited access to essential resources have contributed to deepening social gaps.
SOS Children’s Villages Mexico operates three programs in Chiapas. Two focus on the direct care of children, adolescents, and young people, while the third focuses on family strengthening. The SOS Family Strengthening Program supports rural families facing vulnerability due to poverty and limited access to employment and educational opportunities.
Caregivers participate in parenting workshops and work on projects to foster personal, family, and community development. In recent years, the program introduced initiatives to help adolescents and young people acquire skills, prevent school dropouts and support projects that improve their quality of life.
Among the participants are Alma and Lorena, both from the low-income community of Santa Ana el Oriente. Despite their many challenges, these young women are determined to establish and grow a business creating and selling woven and embroidered clothing.
Their dream has flourished with the support of the YouthCan! program, which has equipped them with the tools, knowledge and support they need to succeed, including workshops on cultural identity, self-esteem, finance, employability, entrepreneurship, sales, customer service, and business development. Additionally, they received training in digital skills, including computer proficiency and artificial intelligence.
"Without these workshops, I would never have learned anything like this, and I never imagined I would enjoy it so much," Alma says, smiling.
The YouthCan! program can provide some of the most valuable opportunities for its participants as the local economic conditions limit young people like Alma and Lorena from accessing prospects to create the future they desire and deserve.
Alma and Lorena have started their business online, selling their products through WhatsApp and Facebook and to people in their community through direct sales. Their dream is to have a stable business with a steady income, where they can sell their products in various venues, create jobs, and inspire other young people in their community.
"I would really like this project to continue because in my community, there aren’t many opportunities like the ones we’ve been given through SOS Children’s Villages, and I believe more young people would be interested in participating," says Lorena, who, through YouthCan!, has found an opportunity to move forward, even in a rural community like hers.
Despite the social and economic challenges of not having formal employment, Alma and Lorena also dream of working in a store, local business, or supermarket, as they have gained confidence in interacting with people. They are eager to provide excellent customer service and treat others with the same respect and care they would want themselves.
They are committed to continuing their efforts, growing, and empowering themselves to establish a successful business, utilizing the skills acquired through YouthCan! and the support provided by SOS Children’s Villages Mexico.