Canada signs two support and cooperation projects with the member countries of the Quito Process
The member country of the Group of Friends announced two projects linked to childhood and education.
By Ana Gama Vieira
During the Together for Learning Summit: Engaging Displaced Youth to Transform Education event, which took place on March 30 and 31, Canada's Minister for International Development, Harjit S. Sajjan, reinforced the country's commitment to promoting global and local responses for access to education for refugees and migrants. At the time, two international cooperation projects were announced in the countries of the region, which include coordination with the Quito Process.
Education and childhood
The Education project for the Venezuelan community and host communities, girls, boys and adolescents aims to improve the integration of Venezuelan refugee and migrant children, especially girls and boys in situations of marginalization or vulnerability.
This project will partner with UNICEF for the educational systems of Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.
In order to improve access to quality learning opportunities, the project will provide flexible and complementary programs for children out of school and children with learning delays due to the closure of educational institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The project will also provide children, especially girls, with learning kits to continue their online education at home.
Other pillars of the project include: guidance for school directors; pedagogical training on generation sensitive education; psychosocial and pedagogical support for children and adolescents in reintegration; continuity in the educational system. In addition, it contributes to the objectives of the Education Cannot Wait global fund, which has the mission of transforming the provision of education in emergencies.
Protection support in 5 countries
The second project, presented during the thematic workshop of the Protection Axis for Children and Adolescents of the Quito Process, will be dedicated to the protection and socioeconomic inclusion of Venezuelan children and adolescents in situations of mobility. This project will be executed in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana and Peru, also with the support of UNICEF.
This initiative focuses on gender-sensitive protection and seeks to guarantee equal opportunities for Venezuelan refugee and migrant children and youth on the move, improving access to education, as well as life skills and vocational training. The project will focus particularly on Venezuelan refugee and migrant LGBTQ girls, adolescents and adolescents.
The commitment to both projects was reinforced this week, during the thematic workshops on Education and Protection for children and adolescents of the Quito Process.
Leidy Heredia, representative of Canada, said that this country believes in migration as a lever for development, which is why she continues to support international initiatives aimed at better targeting migrants, refugees and host communities.
Progress with the Group of Friends
In 2021, the Quito Process Project Portfolio was prepared, based on previous declarations and meetings, as well as discussions established within the framework of the Brasilia Chapter.
These proposals benefit from the support of the GoA and represent a response to its request to identify initiatives, activities or topics that could be prioritized and form the Quito Process Roadmap. The projects announced by Canada this week aim to implement and consolidate the relationship between the member countries of the regional forum and the Group of Friends (GdA) through concrete proposals for cooperation projects.