COFOA leaders planning job and micro lending fair

The lack of economic opportunity, coupled with ongoing violence, continues to drive migration from El Salvador. COFOA leaders met over the past two months to hold workshops and plan a job and micro lending fair as a small step toward improving economic conditions for struggling families. Organizing through churches across the La Paz Department, leaders are preparing youth and adults to fill out job applications; providing information about micro loans so people can start small businesses; and recruiting government ministries and private employers to bring these partners together for a job and micro lending event in Zacatecoluca at the end of March. This strategy is based on hundreds of one-to-ones conducted by youth leaders, organizing committee meetings at local churches, and research meetings with local mayors, labor and small business ministries, lenders and employers. Realizing there is no quick policy fix because of political polarization and economic conditions, leaders have decided to bring people together and match them with opportunities where they exist. Stay tuned for results.