June 14, 2021 – The Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative (WPDI) and the Western Union Foundation are pleased to announce that they will continue to work together in Mexico to foster youth economic empowerment in some of the country’s most fragile communities. Framed around WPDI’s Business Bootcamp initiative, the new partnership is designed to foster entrepreneurship in Mexico’s Chiapas state as well as in the city of Tijuana through the delivery of free vocational trainings and the incubation of 22 small businesses that are designed to have a social impact.
Since 2018, WPDI and the Western Union Foundation have been working together in Mexico to promote lasting peace and sustainable economic development in communities affected by violence and poverty. This work has had a substantial impact: thousands of people have successfully completed one of the free vocational courses offered at WPDI Community Learning Centers located in Tijuana and San Cristóbal de Las Casas; hundreds have been trained in Conflict Resolution Education at primary and secondary schools located in the two areas; and countless have been impacted by one of the youth-led businesses that we have incubated.
To promote entrepreneurial opportunities in target communities, our new partnership with the Western Union Foundation will focus on the strengthening of our Business Bootcamp initiative, which provides local youths and residents access to vocational courses as well as opportunities for successful graduates to create their own businesses. These courses – which focus on Information & Communications Technology as well as Business & Entrepreneurship – will reach an estimated 250 people and are to be delivered at our Community Learning Centers and online. Trainees who successfully complete vocational trainings will have the opportunity to enter our Business Plan Competitions, which will support the creation of 12 small businesses.
We also plan to empower two cohorts of youths – 128 in Tijuana and 150 in Chiapas state – with the tools and skills they need to launch 10 social impact projects designed to revive and reinvigorate their respective communities. Each of the 22 small businesses will be incubated and supported by WPDI to ensure their success and impact. “After seeing the powerful impacts of the program in person prior to the pandemic, it was clear that we would continue our partnership with WPDI,” said Lauren Bell, the Western Union Foundation’s Director. “There is such strong alignment in our purpose to connect people with the tools they need to succeed. We’re excited for this new phase in our collaboration which is focused on small businesses as a driving force to build resilient communities.”
“Each person trained, and each business developed under this project, will constitute seeds that will yield fruit in the years and perhaps decades to come,” stated Caroline Descombris, WPDI’s Executive Director. “WPDI is proud to renew its partnership with the Western Union Foundation and contribute to helping so many people overcome their challenges and fulfil their dreams.”
