Youth Opportunity
Guiding young people across Latin America toward greater economic opportunity through locally adapted skills and career pathways.
Program Description
In partnership with McDonald’s, the Youth Opportunity program created a model that was locally adapted across six Latin American countries to build relevant technical and digital skills, provide career guidance, strengthen socio-emotional skills, and support practical pathways toward future opportunities.
Across Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Mexico, Panama, and Peru, implementation responded to local workforce and education needs. Young people participated in experiences ranging from Google IT Support training and digital skills development to career exploration, life skills, technical learning, and Digital Tourism programming. In Mexico, the initiative also invested in teacher certification and youth workforce pathways, while in Brazil it expanded Passport to Success® programming through Pernambuco’s public technical education system.
Program Partners
Funding
Implementation
Change in Action
Across six countries, Youth Opportunity translated a shared approach into locally relevant opportunities—from Google IT training in Colombia and career guidance in El Salvador to Digital Tourism in Panama and teacher-led workforce pathways in Mexico.
By combining locally relevant training with trusted partnerships, the program reached 15,793 young people, 52% of whom were women. The regional initiative not only expanded access to skills and employment pathways, but also strengthened local systems, partnerships, and practices that can continue supporting young people beyond the grant period.
“Being part of the program helped me untangle the knot I had about the direction of my life and better understand where I want to go. Along the way, I strengthened my English skills and, in the counseling sessions, I found a space to identify the actions I want to start taking and the path I need to build to achieve my goals.”
Kenya Ivonne, Program Graduate, Mexico City
Geography
Brazil
Colombia
El Salvador
Mexico
Panama
Peru