 | Clinton Giustra Sustainable Growth Initiative Announces Training and Certification Program for 5,000 construction workers in ColombiaJuly 12, 2011 | Press Releases |
The Clinton Giustra Sustainable Growth Initiative Signs Agreements with SENA and CAMACOL toprovide on-site training to low-income housing construction workers
Training and certification to enhance sustainable employment opportunities
New York, July 11, 2011 — The Clinton Giustra Sustainable Growth Initiative (CGSGI)announced today the signing of agreements with SENA and CAMACOL Bogotá andCundinamarca (CAMACOL B&C) that establish the first on-site job training andcertification program for construction workers in Colombia. CGSGI will develop aportable, on-site training facility in the Ciudad Verde (“Green City”) low-income housingdevelopment in Soacha, Cundinamarca, near Bogotá, the capital of Colombia to offerfree training and certification for 5,000 construction workers. The on-site trainingprogram will utilize courses developed by SENA, the National Learning Service ofColombia, and trainees will be evaluated by CAMACOL B&C, the Colombian Chamberof Construction. Workers will receive certifications from SENA for the competencies inwhich they have been trained.
Colombia’s Administradoras de Riesgos Profesionales (ARPs — occupational riskmanagement companies) have concluded that the nation’s construction sector ischaracterized by high levels of job turnover, employment instability and rates ofaccidents. CGSGI’s program aims to strengthen Colombia’s construction workforce,improve productivity, and reduce accident rates by offering specific training needed inthe market including working at heights, on-site layout, cementing, structures, masonryand electric and hydraulic installations.
Ciudad Verde has been selected because it is one of Colombia’s largest low- incomehousing developments, stretching over 300 hectares, and designed to provide housingsolutions for about 150,000 residents. There are nine builders participating in theconstruction of 42,000 units in Ciudad Verde, and construction workers from all builderswill be eligible for enrollment in the training, which will be offered free of charge.”We are pleased to be participating in this innovative training project. It will improve thequality of Colombia’s construction workforce and offer certifications that will providebetter opportunities for sustainable and quality employment for thousands of workers,”said President Bill Clinton.
The training center in Ciudad Verde is expected to officially open on July 11, 2011.SENA will dedicate one course instructor for every thirty trainees, and CAMACOL B&C— as an extension of its Manos que Construyen (“Hands that Build”) program — willprovide twelve evaluators to test trainees prior to SENA’s issuance of certifications.
About The Clinton Giustra Sustainable Growth Initiative
Established in June 2007 by President Bill Clinton and philanthropist Frank Giustra, theClinton Giustra Sustainable Growth Initiative (CGSGI) is an innovative partnershipamong the William J. Clinton Foundation, the private sector, governments, localcommunities, and other NGOs that seeks to narrow the wealth gap in the developingworld by empowering the poor through effective, results-oriented economic and socialdevelopment projects. CGSGI focuses on alleviating poverty through market-drivendevelopment that creates jobs and increases incomes, and by strengthening factors thatenable economic growth such as health and education. CGSGI creates value by forgingcross-sectoral partnerships, designing innovative programs and bringing them to scale,aligning stakeholders, and mainstreaming best practices. The Initiative is committed toassuring transparent and efficient use of resources, and integrating rigorous monitoringand evaluation into its projects. For more information about CGSGI, please visit: http://clintonfoundation.org/what-we-do/clinton-giustra-sustainable-growth-initiative/
About SENA
SENA is a Public Establishment of National Order within the Ministry of SocialProtection of the Republic of Colombia. SENA is responsible for investing in the socialand technical development of Colombian workers, offering and delivering freecomprehensive professional learning and the development of persons in productiveactivities that contribute to the social, economic and technological development of theCountry.
About CAMACOL
The Colombian Chamber of Construction CAMACOL is a national non-profit associationthat brings together businesses and individuals involved in the construction sector valuechain. One of its twelve regional members is CAMACOL Bogotá D.C. andCundinamarca (CAMACOL B&C). One of CAMACOL B&C’s strategic objectivesconsists of involving affiliated companies in social responsibility projects for differentgroups of beneficiaries. To that effect, CAMACOL B&C designed and implemented aprogram dubbed Manos que Construyen (“Hands that Build”) with the objective ofgenerating mechanisms and alliances that contribute to the quality of life of the workers,allowing their integration into the value chain, promoting both a sense of belonging inthe sector and commitment with results, quality of products and processefficiencies. Manos que Construyen Project was established in 2006 by CAMACOLB&C.
About The William J. Clinton Foundation
The William J. Clinton Foundation is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization, founded byPresident Bill Clinton with the mission of strengthening the capacity of peoplethroughout the world to address pressing global challenges. Working in collaborationwith governments and other partners, the Foundation applies a unique problem-solvingmethod to each of its seven initiatives, which work to combat the HIV/AIDS pandemic,fight climate change, and develop sustainable economic growth in Africa and LatinAmerica. In the U.S., the Foundation works to tackle the childhood obesity epidemic andhelps to expand economic opportunity by increasing access to low-cost financialservices and empowering entrepreneurs. Through these efforts, the Foundation hashelped 1.4 million people living with HIV/AIDS access lifesaving treatment, 40 cities fightglobal climate change, and nearly 4,400 schools promote healthier educationalenvironments. Learn more at www.clintonfoundation.org.
