Project Development & Implementation

Juárez & Associates, Inc., under contract with the Youth Development Department (YDD) of the City of Los Angeles, collaborated with the YDD team on the development of a report and training materials for an online training program focused on methods and strategies to evaluate youth development programs. The report and online training offered guidance on best practices and recommendations for data collection and program evaluation techniques tailored to the needs of the youth-focused program departments in the City of Los Angeles. The online training was attended by department staff and members from community-based organizations. The complete report and recorded training session are accessible through YDD’s research and evaluation website at https://ydd.lacity.gov/research.

The purpose of this five-year contract is to improve the quality of education as well as access to education by underserved populations, i.e., indigenous children, girls and out-of-school youth in Guatemala. Specifically, the project provides technical assistance needed to improve the quality and equity of student reading outcomes. Such technical assistance focuses on:

• increasing teacher effectiveness
• improving classroom learning environments
• fostering effective first and second language (Mayan languages and Spanish) acquisition and reading
• extending learning opportunities to underserved popuations, especially to girls and indigenous groups
• expanding parent, community and stakeholder participation in student learning

Reading outcomes are being improved through the Guatemala Ministry of Education structure, reaching as many schools as possible, especially in the Western Highlands region (specifically in Quetzaltenango, Huehuetenango, San Marcos, Totonicapán and Quiché), with the goal of achieving greater economic self-reliance and higher levels of civic engagement and educational achievement. The outcomes will provide underserved Guatemalan youth with increased education, economic and civic participation opportunities, thus increasing stability and economic growth in the Western Highlands.

Contact: Fernando Rubio, Chief of Party   –  frubio@juarezassociates.com 

Website: www.usaidlea.org