Bay Area Youth Environmental Coalition

Organization Objectives

Crear strives to empower disadvantaged individuals through civic rights education, capacity-building activities and microenterprise support.Its programs offer participants the ability to improve their quality of life and affect change in their communities. Its goals are to:

• Provide youth with skills training, counseling, and aid in integrating into the educational system to increase their future employability
• Educate marginalized youth about their opportunities and citizens’ rights to enable them to become effective agents of change in improving their living conditions
• Incorporate state institutions, businesses, and local organizations in the effort to improve the opportunities for disadvantaged youth
• Conduct qualitative and quantitative research on the impact of Crear’s programs for program improvement and expansion, as well as fundraising

 

Program Information

 

1.Labor Inclusion and Formation

The Labor Inclusion and Formation Program works to integrate youth from marginalized sectors of society into the working world through skill-based workshops. In addition, Crear aims to diminish the psychological and social vulnerabilities that often prevent disadvantaged youth from taking action to improve their quality of life. To achieve this, all workshops include a historical perspective on Argentine society so the youth develop a framework for understanding how the challenges they face daily are connected to broader societal issues. Citizens’ rights education is also integrated into the curriculum to empower these young people to become effective agents of change.This program is funded by the European Union and several other national institutions.

 

Opportunities

• Assist in developing and implementing labor group project
• Help provide skills training and education workshops
• Review and update Crear’s workshop curriculum to increase its impact on youth
• Provide technical assistance to youth who need help with their labor projects
• Aid youth in job procurement after completion of the program
• Conduct outreach in the community to expand the number of youth participants
• Carry out research on program effectiveness and the needs of the population it serves

 

Requirements

• Advanced Spanish (spoken and written)
• Interest in community and social work, and/or working with youth
• Creative, high level of initiative, team player, and able to work independently
• Detail-oriented, excellent organizational and interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to develop ties with adolescents and youth from disadvantaged backgrounds

 

Program Supervisor

Hugo Boari has a license in Social Psychology, and has been the director of this program since 2002.

 

2.Youth and Education

The Youth and Education Program is geared toward youth who are most likely to drop out of the educational system. Crear aims to inspire commitment in youth in formal and informal educational settings through strengthening the bonds between schools, local organizations, and young people and their families. By supporting youth to be more active in their communities and recognize their own ability to have a positive impact, Crear hopes that they will be empowered to affect positive change in their own lives.

 

Opportunities

• Promote Crear’s programs through innovative marketing and outreach
• Organize action groups of youth and help them connect with local organizations
• Assist in developing and implementing workshops for youth on topics including, but not limited to:
  • Music
  • Theater
  • Radio
  • Communication
  • Video
  • Magazine production
• Develop, organize, and implement a youth sports program
• Plan and organize service activities to encourage youth to connect with and help diverse sections of the community
• Conduct research on the program effectiveness and the needs of the population it serves

 

Requirements

• Advanced Spanish (spoken and written)
• Interest in community and social work, and/or working with youth
• Creative, high level of initiative, team player, and ability to work independently
• Detail-oriented, excellent organizational and interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to develop ties with disadvantaged adolescents and youth

 

Program Supervisor

Hugo Boari has a license in Social Psychology, and has been the director of this program since 2002.

 

3.Microfinance

The Microfinance Program, financed by Argentina’s Ministry of Social Development, aims to help young people and adults gain access to credit so that they can start small businesses. In turn, Crear hopes to see these individuals increase their level of income so that they can enjoy a better quality of life.

 

Opportunities

• Guide groups through the process of obtaining loans
• Offer support for groups in starting up small businesses
• Provide assistance in marketing, production, communication, and organization to create more successful businesses
• Conduct research on program effectiveness and the needs of population it serves

 

Requirements

• Advanced Spanish (spoken and written)
• Background in small business development, marketing, and/or related fields
• Interest in community and social work, and/or working with youth
• Creative, high level of initiative, team player, and ability to work independently
• Detail-oriented, excellent organizational and interpersonal communication skills

 

Program Supervisor

Mirta Opassi is the supervisor of this program and is licensed in Organizational Communication.

 

4.Community Development

This program emphasizes the value of community participation and works to strengthen participants’ sense of self. The target audience includes individuals from marginalized sectors of society, especially women and youth.Projects in this program are funded by the European Union as well as other national institutions.

 

Opportunities

• Assist in developing and implementing workshops of relevance to low-literacy adolescents and women, including but not limited to:

•  
  • Domestic violence
  • STDs and HIV/AIDS
  • Budgeting and life skills
  • Human and civic rights
  • Reproductive health

• Help to develop and implement workshops geared toward parents raising young children. Workshop topics can address healthy ways to raise children, nutrition and wellness, common childhood diseases and illnesses and other relevant topics
• Create low-literacy friendly print materials aimed at community education on HIV/AIDS, institutional and family violence, and substance abuse
• Assist in developing and implementing workshops that help women find employment and become community leaders
• Provide technical assistance to local cooperatives
• Conduct research on program effectiveness for community development

 

Requirements

• Advanced Spanish (spoken and written)
• Background in small business development, marketing, and/or related fields
• Interest in community and social work
• Creative, high level of initiative, team player, and ability to work independently
• Detail-oriented, excellent organizational and interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to develop ties with marginalized youth

 

Program Supervisor

Hugo Boari has a license in Social Psychology, and has been the director of this program since 2002.

 

Note: Responsibilities offered to each participant will be proportionate to their level of experience. Participants who are new to development work may predominantly support and assist current project agendas, while those with much applicable experience may be able to assume greater responsibility. Research projects are strongly encouraged by this organization to support each program’s objective because minimal resources are currently allocated for research.

 

Working Conditions

Crear’s office is located at the center of La Plata with easy access to public transportation. The commute to work can vary from 10 minutes to half an hour. Most projects require participants to spend time in the office as well as out in the field. Much of the fieldwork involves working with groups. During the participant’s stay, s/he will be working with local professionals from La Plata and may need to travel to surrounding towns. Travel time to towns outside of La Plata could take up to one hour. The work environment at Crear is friendly and professional. Crear can host one intern or volunteer at any given time. The work with Crear is challenging and requires a high level of Spanish as well as a high level of personal initiative and professionalism.

 

Organizational Background

Crear is a non-profit organization that helps groups of people from marginalized sectors of society improve their social and economic wellbeing. Crear achieves this end by promoting understanding through education, counseling, skills training, and technical assistance. Another large part of Crear’s work is in the area of research. Studies on the effectiveness of past and current programs are conducted on an ongoing basis in order to obtain necessary grants to continue the work of the foundation.

 

Currently, Crear is working on projects that involve groups of adolescents who live in the outskirts of La Plata. Crear is developing skills training and education workshops that teach these youth about microfinance and micro-enterprise opportunities.

 

About Crear’s Clients

Crear’s clients include men, women, and adolescents who live in the marginalized areas of La Plata.