YES Leader: Mr. Raul Rodriguez Guzman
Email : presidencia@corporacioncec.org.co
Website : http://www.corporacioncec.org.co/

Vision : To provide a joint platform to various organizations to work together on green youth employment.

Background : In the year 2009 according to the projections of the National Department of Statistics (DANE), 11.916.212 young people exist between 15 and 29 years. The youth represents near 30% of Colombian population. The rate of unemployment is 23 %, being 17,7 % in men and 30% in women. It is estimated that by 2020 the youth participation will be reduced due to the effects of international emigration. The internal violence of the country will increase the lack of opportunities of the Colombian young people.

About the Network : YES Colombia was founded in 2002 and Corporacion Emprendedores Colombia (CEC) is the new YES Colombia host agency. CEC is part of the National Network of Entrepreneurship which is a governing body of regional networks and responsible for directing the processes of entrepreneurship and productivity nationally. Many of the projects currently supported by members of the YES Colombia Network are focusing on bio-sustainability, eco-tourism and towards the minimization of violence and youth employment generation. Its members have been in almost all the YES Summits including the Latin American forums. YES Colombia have been working with many stakeholders such the Presidential Program Colombia Joven, IICA, Kotiwara, among others.

Current Major Initiatives :

• YES Colombia follows Law No. 1014 of 2006 about the Promotion of the Entrepreneurship Culture trough the support in its development, regulation and application.
• Trough CEC, YES Colombia has developed and implemented projects with more than 2500 children and young people. Also benefited more than 450 micro-entrepreneurs
• 1300 students and teachers involved through national and regional events have been trained and reciving technical assistance about entrepeneurship.
• YES Colombia assisted to the National Services of Learning (SENA) in the generation of the contents of a virtual course and prepare tutors who provide technical assistance virtually.
• YES Network leaders trained on leadership values related to environmental and agricultural development, with emphasis on concepts such as food security and sovereignty, impacts of global warming and youth entrepreneurship.
• Other projects related with HIV/AIDS and micro entrepreneurs have developed across the country (design of books, events, activities, campaign of prevention, interviews and a synergic work with the private, governmental and social sector).
• YES Colombia is also working in regards of the RTW process in local cities.

Key Accomplishments :

• Developed methodologies appropriate to specific contexts that teach a range of business concepts taking into account that here are 5 major regions with different ecosystems and population characteristics.
• An increasingly well-trained team and experienced camp focusing on mentoring and coaching.
• The working partnership is one of the key pillars to meet the goals. YES Colombia is able to identify specific projects and participants that can contribute to and benefit from it, entering a process of consultation and participation that is inclusive, which translates into sustainable projects that meet the goals set at the outset.