Imagine living in Switzerland and missing out on the experiences that come with it. I\u2019m sure you\u2019ve heard that phrase more than once. Now I find myself wondering: would I prefer to live in Switzerland instead of being one of the more than 5 million young people in Colombia who face barriers to accessing education, decent employment, and personal development? This is a question many of us reflect on, and, like many things in life, the answers differ. Some young people choose to stay and fight for change, while others embark on the difficult journey of migrating in search of better opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have always been a young woman with many dreams\u2014dreams that may be a bit ambitious considering my reality. I was born in a village where, until very recently, we had to cross a canal by canoe to reach Cartagena, the nearest city, in search of opportunities. This has shaped my reality, as I have had the relative privilege of being able to leave; however, I often compare my situation with that of others from my village who struggle to survive. Despite the challenges I faced, I succeeded in breaking through a glass ceiling and went on to study in Barranquilla, a city that, for me, represents the epicenter of opportunities for young people in the Colombian Caribbean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Upon my arrival, I realized that I had a purpose in life and owed it to myself to pursue more than just my studies. It was during this time that I discovered GOYN Barranquilla, an initiative that welcomed me with open arms and provided me with a first-hand understanding of the challenges faced by young people in the city. My interest in these issues grew, eventually leading me to participate in the enriching program known as Hub Conexi\u00f3n Juvenil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since joining the Employment Working Group, I have gained a much clearer understanding of the realities and barriers that young people from various backgrounds face across the country. I have also discovered that many of us share the dream of building a nation with better opportunities for young people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When we combine the knowledge, skills, and perspectives of those who experience these realities, we can shift from simply identifying barriers to developing collective responses that can transform them.<\/p>\n<\/div>
This experience has helped me recognize the importance of dialogue among different stakeholders. It's essential to share lessons learned and develop common agendas that respond to the life trajectories of young people while acknowledging the diversity of various regions. What works in Bogot\u00e1 may not necessarily work in Bar\u00fa or Cartagena.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We can share tools and lessons learned that, when tailored to each context and developed in collaboration with the young people facing these challenges, can lead to meaningful solutions. For me, the strength of collective work lies in recognizing our differences, pooling our knowledge, and collaborating to create better opportunities for the country\u2019s youth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The months spent exploring, integrating, and learning within the Hub signify a turning point. For me, concluding this phase with a learning output, specifically the position paper titled \u201c\u00bfQu\u00e9 sabemos, qu\u00e9 falta y qu\u00e9 sigue? Una agenda para el empleo juvenil en Colombia\u201d, represents this transition perfectly. It reflects our progress from merely understanding the country's realities to proposing concrete strategies aimed at creating a common agenda for building a better future for young people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While employment is one of the issues we address, it is not the only challenge that young people in Colombia face. We recognize that there are multiple barriers, which is why the Employment Working Group has chosen to highlight some of the most significant ones. Furthermore, we aim to go a step further by specifying actionable solutions to counter these challenges. The value of this report lies in its ability to shift from merely identifying problems to developing tangible solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have identified a significant issue: there is a disconnect between education, employment services, and the needs of the labor market. As a result, many young people acquire skills that do not align with available job opportunities. This mismatch prolongs their job search and negatively impacts their financial stability and overall well-being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Given this reality, the position paper suggests prioritizing comprehensive pathways that support young people beyond their training. This includes identifying the skills needed today and in the future, enhancing opportunities for practical experience, and ensuring that employment services are aligned with this approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Achieving this requires true coordination between the business sector, educational institutions, and employment services. By working together, these entities can support young people throughout their entire career journey and address the gaps that currently hinder their entry into the labor market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The value of working together becomes clear in this process. By bringing together various stakeholders and including the voices of young people, we can create a tool with truly transformative potential. One of the greatest lessons I learned from this experience is that when we combine the knowledge, skills, and perspectives of those who experience these realities, we can shift from simply identifying barriers to developing collective responses that can transform them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Discover the learning outcome titled \u201c\u00bfQu\u00e9 sabemos, qu\u00e9 falta y qu\u00e9 sigue? Una agenda para el empleo juvenil en Colombia\u201d. Follow us on redes sociales to learn more about ways to strengthen the well-being of young people.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Imag\u00ednate vivir en Suiza y perderte esto. Estoy segura de que m\u00e1s de una vez has escuchado esa frase. Ahora yo me pregunto: \u00bfme gustar\u00eda vivir en Suiza y no ser parte de los m\u00e1s de 5 millones de personas j\u00f3venes que enfrentan barreras para acceder a educaci\u00f3n, empleo digno y desarrollo en Colombia? Esa…<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1907,"template":"","class_list":["post-1901","altavoz","type-altavoz","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nextgenc.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/altavoz\/1901","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nextgenc.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/altavoz"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nextgenc.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/altavoz"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nextgenc.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/nextgenc.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/altavoz\/1901\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1903,"href":"https:\/\/nextgenc.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/altavoz\/1901\/revisions\/1903"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nextgenc.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1907"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nextgenc.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1901"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}