Denver nonprofits Education for the Children Foundation and Friendship Bridge are actively working on the ground in Guatemala to address the root causes of migration by reducing poverty and creating stability in the country. Education for the Children Foundation focuses on providing free education, meals, and mental health services to at-risk students in Jocotenango. The organization aims to empower these students with the necessary tools and resources to break the cycle of poverty and create a better future for themselves and their communities. Friendship Bridge, on the other hand, offers business loans and training to Indigenous women entrepreneurs in rural areas. By supporting these women in starting and growing their businesses, Friendship Bridge aims to create economic opportunities and financial stability for them and their families. Both nonprofits recognize that Guatemala has long been a major source of migrants to the US, and they are working to address the underlying conditions that drive migration by promoting education, entrepreneurship, and economic development in Guatemala [09724227].
These efforts align with the previous sources, which emphasized the need to address the root causes of irregular migration and expand legal pathways to the US. The meetings between the US, Mexico, and Guatemala demonstrated a commitment to finding solutions to the border crisis and managing the influx of migrants at the southern border. The collaboration between Denver nonprofits and their work on the ground in Guatemala further contributes to these efforts by focusing on reducing poverty and creating stability in the country. By providing education, meals, mental health services, business loans, and training, these nonprofits aim to empower individuals and communities, ultimately curbing migration from Guatemala [09724227] [e938f776] [3ae991d8].
The work of Education for the Children Foundation and Friendship Bridge highlights the importance of comprehensive and collaborative approaches to addressing the migrant crisis. While border control measures are necessary, addressing the root causes of migration and creating economic opportunities in countries of origin are equally crucial. By investing in education, entrepreneurship, and economic development, these nonprofits are working towards long-term solutions that can help break the cycle of poverty and reduce the need for individuals to migrate in search of better opportunities. Their efforts serve as a model for other organizations and governments seeking to address the underlying issues driving migration [09724227] [e938f776] [3ae991d8].
In addition to the work being done in Guatemala, there are also efforts within the United States to connect highly-trained immigrants to the jobs they need. The African Bridge Network is an organization that aims to address the employment challenge faced by immigrants and help them build successful careers in the US. They offer a three-month paid fellowship that provides technical and soft skills training focused on work culture, as well as a paid internship. The founder and executive director of the African Bridge Network, Emmanuel Owusu, experienced the initial downgrade himself when he arrived in the US from Ghana 20 years ago. The organization aims to prevent immigrants from feeling like they are not capable or worthy of building a career in the US. The percentage of immigrants in Massachusetts with a graduate degree is higher than the native-born population. The African Bridge Network fellowship has led to success stories, such as Ludjie Jean Pierre, a medical doctor from Haiti who now works as a clinical research coordinator at Mass General. The organization plans to expand its focus from healthcare to financial services and believes its model can be scaled up to address the demographic cliff and increase labor force participation in the US [4a45d896].
The work of the African Bridge Network complements the efforts of Denver nonprofits in addressing the employment challenges faced by immigrants. By providing training and internship opportunities, the organization aims to connect highly-trained immigrants to the jobs they need in the US. This not only benefits the immigrants themselves but also contributes to the overall labor force participation in the country. The success stories of individuals like Ludjie Jean Pierre demonstrate the potential impact of such programs in helping immigrants build successful careers and contribute to their communities [4a45d896].