BASSETERRE St. Kitts, October 4th 2012 - The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) signed a grant with the Partners of the Americas (POA) to implement the A Ganar Alliance program in St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, and Dominica. The program is funded under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative which was initiated between the U.S. Government and Caribbean countries in 2010.  The A Ganar Alliance uses sports to impact youth employment and youth engagement and combines the expertise and financial resources of others to create a market-driven program that engages the private sector in expanding opportunities for youth.  The program works through local entities primarily NGOs by training them in the A Ganar curriculum in order to help them achieve their respective missions.  These entities become part of a network of A Ganar implementing organizations spread throughout the Caribbean, Central and Latin American region which learn and share with each other. 

The program with the Ministry of Education in St. Kitts and Nevis supports youth at the 4th form level requiring additional support to enable them to become more focused and productive once they leave school.  The introduction of the A Ganar methodology in the St. Kitts and Nevis school system is the first of its kind at this level in the region.  A total of 120 youth have trained under the A Ganar program since January 2012; they will be graduating on Saturday 6th October 2012.  They comprise youth in 4th Form (14-16 yrs old) from five secondary schools: Basseterre High School, Washington Archibald High School, Verchild’s High School, Cayon High School, and Charles E Mills Secondary School.  A second group of 120 will begin training in October. 

The program:

1. Provides sports-based economic empowerment and life skills training to youth in St. Kitts and Nevis.
2. Improves the capacity of partner institutions to implement a focused sport-for development model replicable and easily expanded to address areas of their greatest need including youth employment, crime prevention, leadership development, educational supplement, and the promotion of healthy life-skills and life choices;
   
3. Strengthens an alumni support network and support safe spaces for youth
   
4. Develops a network of organizations capable and committed to utilizing sport for youth development;

Expected Outcomes:

• The Ministry of Education’s school system supported with enhanced life skills curriculum to support vulnerable youth.  Five secondary schools benefitting from program.
  
• Non-government organizations strengthened with improved curriculum to support vulnerable youth
  
• Approximately 300 youth trained in St. Kitts & Nevis over the three year life of the program.

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