Education for Success (EFS)

This activity supports an integrated program for over 7,000 at-risk youth, mentors and teachers in five conflict-vulnerable municipalities in the South Caribbean Autonomous Region (RACCS) of Nicaragua, targeting children and youth aged 10–29. As of FY 2017, the activity was extended to three municipalities in the Northern Autonomous Caribbean Coast Region (RACCN), Prinzapolka, Waspam and Bilwi. The activity has four components: Scholarships, Life Skills, Community Engagement and Private Sector Support, as well as a component for institutional capacity building of the local implementing non-governmental organization, FADCANIC. The Scholarships component provides support to primary (grades 4–6) and secondary (grades 7–9) school students that would likely otherwise be taken out of school by their parents so they could work. Scholarships for vocational education are also included. The Life Skills component provides training in topics such as leadership and civic education, sexual and reproductive health education, substance use prevention, violence prevention and conflict resolution, among others, to facilitate participants’ personal development. Through the Community Engagement component, the activity engages local stakeholders in the selection and support of beneficiaries to create the conditions for long-term sustainability.