SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- Microsoft has donated US$60,000 to the Trust for the Americas, a nonprofit organization affiliated with the Organization of American States (OAS), to establish its program, Partnership in Opportunities for Employment through Technology in the Americas (POETA), in Puerto Rico to engage youth from low income communities in jobs and provide them with skills that will allow them to have a better life.

This program is an initiative of the Trust for the Americas, sponsored by Microsoft, which will be implemented in alliance with Boys & Girls Club of Puerto Rico (BGCPR). POETA will function in all of the 7 Boys & Girls Clubs around the island. The program will reach 300 young people between its first year of training.

Frank Holland, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Operations explained that: “Microsoft partners with governments, non-profits, educators, and other industry leaders to improve the opportunities for youth and adults and expand the impact of technology in their communities. The creation of the POETA program is an example of a highly successful partnership between Microsoft, the OAS and Trust of the Americas, who together are committed to improving access to technology.”

POETA was launched at the Las Margaritas Boys & Girls Club alongside with the First Lady, Lucé Vela, Microsoft executives, Trust officials, BGCPR officials, and community representatives, among others.

The First Lady of Puerto Rico, Luce Vela de Fortuño, thanked that the private sector engages in projects with communities with scarce resources and motivate them to immerse in the world of technology and communications. "Every day computing is advancing at a rapid pace. Today, without basic knowledge of how to operate a computer is almost impossible to grow in the workplace. I appreciate that this program is established in Puerto Rico because the government cannot do everything and we need organizations and alliances like this one that works in developing the workforce skills of our children, so they can prepare better for the future. Thanks to the Boys & Girls Clubs, the Trust for the Americas and Microsoft for POETA. I'm sure there will be many children, youth, and adults who will benefit from the program and will eternally be grateful for this opportunity. "

The Trust for the Americas Executive Director, Linda Eddleman, expressed the significance of the program’s expansion to Puerto Rico, noting that it grew from a pilot project in Guatemala to a network of 82 centers in 20 countries in 2010. She noted that the Trust’s commitment to young people, people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups was a lasting one, and the support of committed private sector partners such as Microsoft, ensured that these groups received the training needed to be effectively included in society.

The mission of the POETA program is to increase the socioeconomic inclusion of underserved and vulnerable groups within the community, through capacity building in information and communication technologies. By equipping individuals with the job-ready technology skills necessary to acquire and maintain employ­ment, POETA helps them become self-sufficient, enriching their lives and that of their families, better positioning them to be competitive in today’s marketplace. The program has been a success story of public-private partnership, us­ing technology to unite the private, public, and civil society sectors to create long-term change.

The POETA Centers are equipped with Microsoft software. These centers will also use the Microsoft Unlimited Potential curriculum, which aligns with internationally recognized certification requirements and provides eight step-by-step courses in computer literacy, information literacy and productivity applications.

In April, the first group of BGCPR teachers/instructors will be trained in technological skills. In August, the clubs will begin the 12 weeks Internet Core Computing Fundamentals course.

At Boys & Girls Club of Puerto Rico we are very excited with this alliance that reinforces our mission of inspiring and training the youth so in the future they can become respectable citizens, especially the ones that are in social or economic disadvantage, explained Eduardo Carrera, Vice-president of Boys & Girls of Puerto Rico. Because we are focused on education and career development, we think that POETA will be a great benefit for our participants, added Carrera.