A total of 20 young returned migrants between the ages of 18 and 25 from the nine municipalities that make up the Association of Cayaguanca Municipalities (Nueva Concepción, La Palma, Citalá, San Fernando, Dulce Nombre de María, San Ignacio, La Reina, Tejutla and Agua Caliente) in the department of Chalatenango will benefit from the program.

With an investment of US$50,000, this initiative aims to contribute to the economic and social reintegration of young returned migrants by strengthening technical skills, life skills and professional linkages, thus facilitating their access to job opportunities.

The activity was presided over by the Municipal Mayor of La Reina, Chalatenango, Roberto Lemus; the Director of USAID El Salvador, David Gosney; the Sub-regional Coordinator of the Respuestas Integrales sobre Migración en Centroamérica de OIM Project in Central America, Argentina Santacruz; and the Coordinator of the USCRI El Salvador office, Eunice Olan.

"Reintegration is a circumstance that is present in the lives of returnees and their families. Facing the challenge of adapting or readapting to the society they once had to leave implies psychological, social and economic impacts and, therefore, they require all the support that can be provided at different levels", said Santacruz.

The program is implemented by IOM in the framework of the actions of the regional project with USAID on Integrated Responses on Migration in Central America (IRM) to facilitate the sustainable reintegration of returned migrants.

"USAID is working with our partners, such as IOM, with municipalities, the private sector and civil society organizations to provide greater opportunities, particularly for young people, so that they can hope for a better life here in El Salvador, in their communities”, said USAID El Salvador Director David Gosney.