Ambassador Farrar inaugurates Youth Outreach Center in Darién

December 13, 2012

Ambassador Farrar during the inauguration

The United States Embassy, through its Alcance Positivo program, inaugurated the “Por Mi Barrio-Yaviza” Youth Outreach Center, the 100^th of similar centers throughout the Central American region, sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Each “Por Mi Barrio” Youth Outreach Center directly benefits 200 to 300 youth, through a mínimum of 18 hours of vocational training, psychological orientation, after-school classes, access to technology, and recreational and sports activities.  Some of the communities that will benefit from this new Center are Yaviza, Pueblo Nuevo, Bella Vista and La Quinta.

The event was attended by local representatives from USAID and Alcance Positivo, local authorities, community representatives and United States Ambassador Jonathan Farrar.  Regarding this inauguration, Ambassador Farrar said “Youth are a precious resource that should make the most of the opportunities before them.  The same youth play an important role in helping the community, identifying priorities and organizing events and activities.”

This center, along with 21 others located in Panama Center, East and West; San Miguelito, Colón and Darién, make up the “Por Mi Barrio” network of youth outrach centers which currently benefit a total of 5,900 youth from Panamanian communities as part of the U.S. commitment to work with high-vulnerability communities and reduce violence rates in the country.  With this new inauguration, this network reaches a total of 22 Centers receiving support from the United States Embassy.