More than 600 Jalisciences have enrolled in Jóvenes Construyendo el Futuro (Youth Constructing the Future), a national program providing apprenticeships and scholarships to 60,000 young adults in Mexico with few job prospects.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador launched the effort in January to offer young people aged between 18 and 29 years old professional development opportunities. At the same time, it benefits partnering companies, public institutions and social organizations by securing talent.
“What we do is facilitate the relationship, which should exist even without the participation of the government,” said Merilyn Gómez Pozos, the statewide coordinator for Jalisco. “Both parties register on the platform and once the link is made, the young person is informed of which work center to present themselves.”
Candidates apply online via the government website. Depending on one’s interests, skills and experiences, they are introduced to the proper affiliate. If approved, participants earn a monthly stipend of 3,600 pesos throughout the yearlong program with no re-enrollment options.
Available positions range from sales, electricity, services, administrative, farming, industrial, art and sports, according to the organization’s website. Businesses also earn the distinction of being a “Socially Responsible Company” for partaking in the program. However, partners aren’t obligated to hire apprentices at the end of service. Instead, the purpose is to stimulate growth for qualifying participants to secure employment later down the road.