Building Future Careers for Colombian Youth

Bogotá, January 18, 2021 – Cuso International and Vive Bailando, with the support from the Government of Canada, has launched “Al Ritmo de tus Sueños” (At the Rhythm of Your Dreams), an initiative that provides job opportunities for youth in the city of Cali, Colombia.

“This project, developed through a  partnership with Cuso International and supported by the Government of Canada, will allow 40 young people from Cali and migrants from Venezuela to finish developing skills and abilities to enter the labour market,” says Clemencia Vargas, founder and director of Vive Bailando. “The most important thing is that they will be able to access their first job and generate income. This project will also allow them to acquire the discipline, teamwork and leadership skills to maintain their employment and continue to grow professionally”.

Al Ritmo de tus Sueños was established with the aim of promoting labour inclusion for young people, providing the participants with different skills and tools to face the various challenges related to accessing and remaining in formal employment.

This January, young people from Cali are invited to apply online to Al Ritmo de tus Sueñose Young people who participate in the program will access various benefits, including psycho-social support, dance classes to strengthen artistic skills and education and resources that promote entrepreneurship and employability for young people.

“Al Ritmo de tus Sueños” is a creative program for young people to find motivation for their future by developing artistic skills in a city like Cali where cultural industries are still an important part of the economy. It is not only a question of maximizing their talent, but also of helping young people acquire the social tools to get a job and lead their own businesses,” says Alejandro Matos, Director of Cuso International in Colombia.

Throughout the development of Al Ritmo de tus Sueños, a unique methodology developed by Vive Bailando will be used, which includes science and dance as an engine for human, social and cultural development. Participants will strengthen their soft skills to generate personal and artistic growth, becoming agents of change in their communities thanks to the leadership teamwork and communication skills they acquire.

For more than six years, Vive Bailando has transformed the lives of more than 7,000 young people and their families in 17 municipalities in Colombia through dance, promoting physical health, mental health and healthy coexistence, providing the necessary tools for the construction of sustainable life projects based on art and training social leaders and agents of change.

To find out more about “Al Ritmo de tus Sueños” visit the Vive Bailando website and on Instagram  Facebook and Twitter

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About Cuso International

Cuso International is a Canadian charity focused on ending poverty and inequality. It works in partnership with governments, civil society organizations, multilateral agencies, and the private sector. It delivers programs aimed at advancing gender equality, promoting the empowerment of women and girls, and improving economic opportunities for young people. Each year, Cuso mobilizes hundreds of skilled volunteers who work alongside local partners to maximize their impact and build capacity.

About Vive Bailando

Vive Bailando is an organization that promotes human, social, and business development through a scientific methodology based on dance. Over six years it has worked in 17 municipalities in the country, impacting more than 7,000 participants with the help of private companies and international cooperation agencies. In Vive Bailando dance, the body and movement are no longer just a tool for entertainment but a generator of capacities at an individual and collective level.