“Ni-nis” is the name Mexico gives to young people who neither work (“ni trabajan”), nor study (“ni estudian”).
Jóvenes con Porvenir (Youths with Future) is the name of the program, which has an initial budget of 35 million pesos.
The program consists of 136 six-month courses in 36 public and private educational establishments ranging from the circus arts, photography, paramedical training, hair styling, DJing and learning musical instruments. Anyone living in the municipality aged between 15 and 30 who’s not working or studying may apply.
City councilors say the aim is to “rescue” 10,000 young people each year from stagnation and the lure of a life of crime.