CREATIVE in the Field
PANAMA: Paying It Forward The Power of 5
Panama Youth Opportunities Program Creates Cascading Impact Luis with Eduardo Eduardo could see himself in Luis. Just a few years earlier, he, like Luis, was trying to escape the violence of his barrio by volunteering and getting connected to a sports program. As Eduardo, one of the Coordinators of the Movimiento Nueva Generacion (New [...]
AFGHANISTAN: ASGP Capstone Ceremony
The U.S. Ambassador’s Small Grants Program to Support Gender Equality in Afghanistan held a Capstone Event on November 20 and 21 to highlight two successful years of program implementation. The event brought together senior VIPs from the U.S. Embassy and USAID, ASGP staff who managed program implementation in all 34 provinces of Afghanistan, and [...]
YEMEN: USAID-Funded Training Yields A Double-Dividend For Yemen’s Farmers
Farmers in training. Abdul-Allah al-Habili, once surveyed his mangy fields with a sense of resignation. “My onion fields used to yield only 70 bags,” the 52-year-old farmer from Osailan District says. “But now the yields have doubled. It is an amazing thing.” Like so many farmers toiling to support their families in this conflict-torn [...]
YEMEN: History and Language Classes Transform At-Risk Tribal Youth in Yemen’s Troubled North
"I used to hate history because teachers were so rough," Ahmed Munif now says. "But this course is different." Until recently Ahmed Munif, 21, never appreciated the nature of the ancient dam located near the house where he grew up. A native of the Ma’rib Governorate of Yemen and a high school graduate, he nonetheless had no idea of the [...]
UGANDA: In Collaboration with UNITY, MOES Set to Launch Special Needs Education Policy
Functional assessment tests the limits. Children often overcome many obstacles to learning in a developing country such as overcrowded classrooms, not having the latest textbooks or access to technology or challenges at home. For disabled children, these obstacles can become real barriers that leave them behind. Children with disabilities too [...]
KYRGYZSTAN: Decisions Made in Isolation Cast Aside, Now Committees Fix Common Goals
Forging a future together. For a long time in Kyrgyzstan a great many decisions affecting schools and education were made in isolation by a few. But now with support from USAID’s Quality Learning Project the decision making process about schools has become participatory, fully engaging the parental community, educators and local [...]
HONDURAS: Forest Whitaker Lauds AJR’s Youth Against Violence
Actor Forest Whitaker holding a Youth Movement Against Violence t-shirt given to him by Osman Canela, a member of the youth movement during the 7th Youth Forum organized by the United Nations. The forum was held in Paris, France and the slogan for this year was "Youth Drive the Change". Osman is a volunteer for Junior Achievement and a member of [...]
HONDURAS: National Congress President Juan Orlando Hernandez Praises AJR Activities for Youth
National Congress President Juan Orlando Hernandez (fourth from right). To his right are Mauricio Cruz, USAID Honduras D&G Officer, Lidia Calix, Volunteer, Youth Movement Against Violence, Salvador Stadthagen, AJR Director. To the left of Hernandez are Zonia Zacapa, USAID Honduras D&G Officer, Edgardo Martinez Minister, FHIS-Honduras, Alejandra [...]
AFGHANISTAN: Tailoring Connects Kunduz Women to Government Services
Learning the trade of tailoring. Years of civil war and internal conflict had left Afghan women’s voices unheard, depriving them of their fundamental right to education and training. Women in communities were disconnected from each other and government provided services. The Women’s Welfare Association in Kunduz Province provides support [...]
AFGHANISTAN: Poultry Breeding Bolsters Women’s Self-Sufficiency
The District Governor of Yakawlang speaks to local poultry breeders. During decades of civil war, Afghan women remained deprived of a basic education and skills development opportunities. As a part of its efforts to establish linkages between communities and local government and to empower communities to become self-sufficient, [...]
AFGHANISTAN: Women Milk Their Money
Learning standard methods of processing milk became available through a grant teaching animal husbandry skills. Social activities and income generating opportunities for women are rare in Farah Province, one of the least developed and insecure areas in the country. Living conditions for women in rural areas are harsh. The majority of women in [...]
AFGHANISTAN: Dubbing Spells Successful Business
Van Services Organization trained 15 young women in professional media “dubbing” skills through a USAID grant. Few Afghan women have opportunities to pursue careers in media-related activities. Media professions are both risky and at odds with traditional Afghan society. The journey toward a media career is riddled with challenges, [...]
