The Government of El Salvador, in collaboration with the European Union (EU), has initiated a project aimed at developing digital competencies among young people. The LAMARR initiative seeks to enhance technological skills among vulnerable populations, thereby promoting access to better employment opportunities. The EU is financing the project with over $5.5 million.
In a tribute to the Austrian researcher Hedy Lamarr, the LAMARR project was launched yesterday by the Government of El Salvador through the Ministry of Economy (Minec) and the European Union (EU), benefiting more than 3,000 young individuals.
This training initiative, facilitated by the French agency for international technical cooperation, Expertise France, aims to provide development opportunities in the field of technology for disadvantaged youth, as explained by Francois Bonet, the French Ambassador to El Salvador.
The diplomat emphasized that one of the program’s visions is to provide technological training that meets the demands of the labor market, thus enabling young people to access better job positions.
In El Salvador, the European Union Ambassador Francois Rudié announced that the entity would provide funding of five million euros ($5.5 million) to support the program’s implementation.
«The shared digital agenda between the European Union and El Salvador revolves around transformation – an agenda that promotes innovation, empowerment, and entrepreneurship. We, the European Union, are working hard on these issues,» stated Roudié.
María Luisa Hayem, the Minister of Economy, mentioned that the LAMARR initiative aligns perfectly with President Nayib Bukele’s strategic vision to foster technological development at all levels, encompassed within the Nación Digital (Digital Nation) strategic project.
«It is through the Human Talent Training projects framed within Nación Digital that we seek to provide the Salvadoran population with the skills and competencies demanded by the digital services sector. We aim to offer intensive and high-quality training that enables participants to have more competitive profiles in the digital and technological sector, both now and in the future,» expressed the minister.
She emphasized that the LAMARR initiative perfectly complements this vision by focusing on the development of digital skills and services among young Salvadorans through nationwide training programs.
«The implementing agency, Expertise France, will be working in collaboration with the government to deliver these training sessions, thereby increasing the number of young people who benefit from digital skills. This will significantly enhance their chances of accessing well-paying jobs, both locally and internationally,» affirmed Hayem.
She underscored that this project, like the array of strategies implemented by the Government of El Salvador, is designed with an understanding of the current and future demands of the business environment.