Central American Youth Leadership Conference

What happens when young professionals from seven different youth leadership foundations come together?

Something great!

Standing Right to Left: Marisol, Gari, Lucy, Gladys
Below Right to Left: Samuel, Michele, Cesar, Hector

This past weekend OYE Honduras organized the Central American Youth Leadership Conference. Financing and organization for this event came from Michele Frix and Seattle International Foundation. The passion of Seattle International Foundation and Michele to empower Central American youth energized and drove the conference.

Organizations invited to the conference included Comunicandonos and Ashoka Central America from El Salvador, Global Visionaries and IncideJoven from Guatemala, Teensmart from Nicaragua, and tours truly OYE Honduras. Representatives from each organization made fast friends in Aeropuerto Internacional de El Salvador, where they serendipitously met. Hunched over laptops practicing their presentations many participants realized they were sitting within feet of each other, and after brief introductions the rest was history.

Conference members exchange contact information and plan future actions

 The five youth representing their NGOs and Michele did not waste time with formalities. By the time Sam, OYE’s Development Coordinator, picked the participants up from the San Pedro Sula Airport they were old friends.  Perhaps “old friends” is not the best choice of words as many of these same participants commented on how pleased they were to see such young representatives attending the conference. The average age of the conference could       not have been more than 25!

Beyond the immediate friendships formed, the conference highlighted many commonalities between the organizations. Before, after, and during the conference youth empowerment and development were discussed in depth.  Each NGO introduced its own expertise, knowledge, and experience to the conference. While it was inspiring to see the various ways different NGOs approached the theme of youth empowerment, the consistencies between NGOs was even more enlightening. Each NGO shared the powerful notion that our youth are not only the future but also the present, and so should be leaders not just tomorrow but today. The NGOs agreed that youth development needs to have communal support and a communal impact. Finally, a general conclusion from the conference suggests that youth development is an integrated process that involves formal education, personal development and space to express oneself. In light of this conviction, the NGOs involved place significant focus on art and communication projects.

Walter present's KM2 Solution's unique Corporate Social
Responsibility plan and Social Media tools

At a final reflection of the conference all representatives agreed that not only was it a fun event, but it planted an important seed for future collaboration. The first project that invites of Central American Youth Conference will realize together is a regional news bulletin.  Within the week we expect to have drafts of news updates and important development events from each of the participating NGOs. OYE’s magazine coordinator Jarly Yanez will synthesize the articles and design the regions first youth news bulletin. Each foundation is looking forward to pioneering this international network of youth development.

Find out more about the participants by viewing their sites:
https://www.facebook.com/fcomunicandonos
http://www.teensmart.net/
http://www.global-visionaries.org/
http://www.ashoka.org/country/mexico
http://incidejoven.org/

All Applicants Welcome

November means applications galore.

OYE is in the process of disseminating applicants to El Progreso's community of at-risk youth for the upcoming 2013 year. Being part of OYE is a great opportunity for El Progreso's youth, and we are excited to offer 27 new scholarships for the upcoming year. That means 27 more students with the opportunity to pursue our program of integrated education, social service, and hands on learning.

OYE has always been blessed with incredible students. In fact, everyone that knows OYE always reflects on the quality and leadership of OYE's beneficiaries. I suppose in some sense we have to understand that as much as OYE's youth benefit from OYE's programs, OYE's programs equally benefit from its youth. The unique nature of youth ownership and involvement of youth in OYE's projects requires exceptional students to be successful.

To find exceptional youth, OYE has designed a three step application process. The process identifies at-risk Honduran youth with economic necessity, leadership qualities, and a desire to make a positive impact in the community.

1. The first step is a simple application that includes personal information, household composition and income, and several short essay questions. Attached to the application are grades. OYE grades these applications on completeness, economic necessity, personal qualities as illustrated by essays, and grade point average (target 80% and above). 
2. The second step is a personal interview conducted at the OYE office. Youth invited to this interview have the opportunity to further explain their case. The interviews have a basic structure, but allow the interviewing committee, composed of OYE staff and local leaders, to learn more about each individual taking them case by case. These interviews are also given a score.
3. The third and final step is a home visit. The home visit allows OYE's interviewing committee to collaborate the information shared in the application and personal interview, meet the family, and explain to the requirements of OYE to both the student but the parents or guardian responsible. During this visit OYE has the opportunity to establish an important relationship potential scholars families. It is essential that the parents and guardians understand exactly what OYE consists of due to the time commitment required on weekends. This is an important step to ensure the economic necessity as much as verify the support of the family to ensure that if a scholarship is offered OYE will have the participation of the youth without conflict.

The process is long, but has proven effective. Every year OYE identifies new young leaders to empower. One thing is for sure, the demand for scholarships and leadership training far outweighs the number of scholarships that OYE can afford to offer. This year OYE will disseminate 200 applications, on top of the 45 re-applications for existing scholars. It is a shame that we can only accept 75.

Yarli and Fabiola inform the public about OYE Applications of Radio Progreso

Forming Young Artists

We Make Art!

When it rains it pours in Honduras, and this past week it was pouring art. KM2 Solutions invited OYE’s art program to join forces with a local San Pedrano artist to create one of OYE’s most recent murals. 

Gerald Velasquez 

Early Saturday morning the youth coordinator of  OYE’s Art La Calle program Gerald Velazquez, OYE’s director Marisol Fuentes, and several art participants arrived with the first light of day to the office. Snacking on baleadas and wondering what the day had in store for them, they patiently waiting the driver sent to collect them and deliver them to KM2 in San Pedro Sula. Over two months ago KM2 had started a dialogue with OYE about painting a mural in their office. Today that dialogue would come to fruition. But no one knew how it   would turn out.

In August KM2 introduced OYE and Gerald to a mysterious young artist named Jorge from San Pedro. The idea was that Jorge and Gerald would collaborate on the creation of a mural for the rapidly expanding call center. The meeting went smoothly-the two artists tossing around ideas and deciding on a few basic concepts. Everyone present left the meeting confident that in a week or two we’d be splashing some fresh paint on one of the stifling clean and sterile walls of Altia Business Park, hopefully giving the industrial behemouth some real soul and character.

Gerald's Draft - Two Youth with Mayan roots and modernity in the background.

Upon return to the OYE offices, Gerald worked day and night preparing drafts to share with Jorge and KM2.  He sent emails and follow ups but heard nothing back. Sam stepped in and communicated with Walter from KM2: “What happened to Jorge? Have you heard anything?”

The mysterious artista was off the map. The days lapsed into weeks and the weeks into months, and still no Word from Jorge. Gerald’s persistent questioning and eager attitude ebbed, and it seemed like the KM2 mural was a lost cause.

Suddenly, an email from Walter kicked the Project into high gear. The US ambassador would be visiting KM2 to learn about its relationship with OYE in two weeks. It was time to get some of that OYE youth heart and soul on the walls of KM2.  On Tuesday, an ultimatium was sent out to Jorge who finally found his keyboard and answered Wednesday. In three days OYE, Jorge, and KM2 would be putting this mural together. Jorge would be sending drafts, incorporating Geralds work, to KM2 by no later than Friday, and work would begin on Saturday.

Friday rolled around and Walter, coordinating everything on behalf of KM2, called with a little strain in his voice. Jorge had not forwarded any drafts-nor answered calls/emails. As he arranged transportation, Walter urged Gerald to have a Plan B ready.

As the OYE mural delegation arrived to KM2 at 9 AM there was no sign of Jorge. They toured the building and saw the wall that they would soon be taking over. KM2 provided refreshments as the OYE art group nervously waiting Jorge’s arrival or Walter’s go ahead to execute Plan B. KM2 held out until about mid-day when Jorge and his artist friend finally arrived in time for lunch.

Step One: Paint a Background - Jorge and Friend

After lunch they approached the wall and begin to paint. To the surprise of OYE’s younger art students they paint in with Fast bold brush strokes. They were demonstrating a new technique that the OYE students had not seen befote. Each artist freely used color and shading to craft surreal faces that came alive from the magical background. The end product created mixed reactions among OYE’s art students. Some rejecting the surreal elements of the painting, while others appreciated the creative and expressive use of color.

As the two artists concluded the surreal youth faces, OYE’s students began painting the organizations signature Maya letters. The final product a diverse and interesting merger of three distinct styles and techniques. 

Adobe Update

What do Friday and Saturday have in common?

The OYE office is full of local youth! Over 60 local youth, coming as far as Santa Rita (45 minutes by bus), are participating in OYE Adobe Youth Voices Project. These youth are learning photo and video editing techniques Friday morning, Friday afternoon, and Saturday morning.

While we are just beginning to play with our new cameras and explore the Adobe programs, but the most exciting part of this project has been the evolution of the youth. We have lead team building exercises that have focused on highlighting important youth themes and practicing ways to express oneself. With every exercise our participants become more animated and willing to participate. Youth that never expressed opinions are now analyzing, and planning video/photo projects that will analyze themes like "machismo" and "what it means to be a youth in Honduras."

So far this project has received incredible support from the community. We have had the pleasure of receiving in kind support from businesses like Acosa for the purchase of our Cameras. Local NGOs have recommended youth to participate in our program including, Pronino, Casa de Cultura, Vision Mundial, Comvida, and Caritas. And, we have to give a special thanks to Martin, who shared a workshop of photography, and KM2, that brought actors to lead some dynamic workshops helping the youth find their voices and tell there stories.

In conclusion, OYE is blessed to have the community of support that surrounds us and such incredible youth to work with. The project is going great and will continue to be a grand success.

Check back tomorrow for updates on OYE's mural projects.

OYE Students and Staff Attack New Projects

September is a month of beginnings for OYE. We begin working on a social media project with Adobe Youth Voices, our art students begin a mural at KM2's office, OYE staff will be presenting its first comprehensive socio-economic investigation of El Progreso, and all of our programs will begin planning for next year.

Adobe Youth Voices is an awesome project that introduces youth to the dynamic Adobe programs Photoshop and Premier Elements 10 and teaches them how to leverage socio/multi-media technology in order to send a message. Starting September 21, OYE will be working with 70 youth from El Progreso teaching different photo and video editing techniques. Along with technical skills OYE will lead the local youth in exercises that build their capacity to express themselves. The final goal of this project is to create a space utilizing multi-media to permits local youth to express themselves and contribute to a dialogue on themes that are important to them.

It has been a long time since OYE youth created their own social media projects. Under the leadership of founders Justin Otero and Ana Luisa Ahern OYE scholars produced Fotos de mi Pueblo, embedded below. This photo journal tells the story of El Progreso, Honduras through the eyes of OYE's youth. 

More recent social media projects undertaken at OYE include volunteer Richard Lakin's "Cipotas Empoderadas," a ten minute film following four of OYE's incredible scholars. Once again the ball is in the hands of local youth, and we are excited to see what they come up with, what themes, mediums, and messages they use.

KM2 is running this building! Occupying the Lobby and first floor, the third
floor and the penthouse 14th floor.  Check out this article on their growth:

KM2, OYE's shining star in Honduras, is a call center based out of  San Pedro Sula, Honduras that has taken a keen social interest in OYE. They have donated computers and checks to OYE, but now they give us the greatest gift of all-a WALL. KM2 has invited OYE to design and paint a mural on one of the walls in their office at Altia Business Park. For those of you not familiar with San Pedro, I'm guessing that includes most of the blog readers, this is like designing a mural in Trump Towers. We look forward to dressing up one of Honduras' tallest buildings.

OYE scholars plan #mural for @km2honduras twitter.com/oyehonduras/st…
— OYE Honduras (@oyehonduras) August 25, 2012

OYE Prepares its Socio-Economic Study for Presentation

OYE staff and students develop and execute a socio-economic study in association with World Vision. After months of research, proposals, drafts, and interviews OYE is concluding its study of community development in the NorthWestern Quadrant of El Progreso. The study analyzes the perceived shortcomings of community development as seen by heads of households. Hosted by World Vision, OYE will be presenting the results of its investigation to a group of interested NGO and community leaders in Tela, Honduras at the end of this month. This is the first time OYE has participated in a research project of this scale. We have done so with the hope that this study and the recommendations born from it will serve as a guide in future development projects initiated by World Vision and fortify the relationship between these our NGOs.

Study Snap-shots!

Conducting first person interviews.

"Not a single head of household interviewed over the age of 52 has achieved a university education."

 "94% of the heads of household interviewed view remissions as an important factor in the community. Only 4% believe that remissions are unnecessary."

"79% of the heads of households interviewed have a positive attitude about the possibility of making socio-economic improvements in their community"

Finally, we are entering that magical phase of the year that involves planning. OYE is looking at a strategic expansion of our projects. We always have the goal of self-sustaining projects and this year we will be making some serious infrastructural investments to make those a possibility. This involves technical equipment for both the radio and magazine group. We are looking thinking about mobility for the radio to take their show on the road and record live events. Our magazine is poised to enter a feverish growth phase as we bring the ability to print in-house to OYE. The end result is that large upfront costs will move these programs to the next, more professional level.