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In Search of a Dream

It all began in 2005 in seeing the extreme situation of my neighborhood. The need arose to give my community the opportunity to search for new alternatives that would break the cycle of poverty. There was a need for equitable jobs that would bring about the possibility of social and economic transformation for people. In 2007, I met Matt Alexander, a person that was committed to the cause and had the will to change this situation by working for stability and security. The youth program was already a reality by August 2007. Thanks to the program, many youth are now skilled in organizational, business, and technical fields. They now see themselves as people capable of great acheivements, and the program challenges them to be very dedicated to the objectives and goals that they set for themselves.

Today I can say that I have a very dignified life, with a serious job and real responsibilities. At ahmsa, we have met many talented youth that already know what it’s like to go down the wrong path. But little by little we are succeeding. We are creating an environment where people can create dignified lives for themselves and are helping with the development of their families. I have already lived through the disgrace of losing many good people, but today I believe that there is hope for achieving a transcendental change in our young people via serious entrepreneurship.

milton y pipe


Milton Garzon
Field Coordinator, Soacha/Bogotá, Colombia


Nelson Obando Parada

Nelson Ignacio Obando Parada, Co-founder, Megared cooperative

Nelson

I’m 16 years old. I currently live with my dad, mom, and little sister in a house built by my paternal grandfather. If I were to describe my father, I would say that he is a very traditional person. He is hard working, but is often irresponsible with putting food on the table. There are days when there is no food in the house to eat, and he hardly worries. He and my mother often fight, and occasionally there is physical abuse.

I would say that ahmsa’s project has helped me a lot. It has made me think more about the future and has made me better myself more and more so that my children won’t have to live through the situation that I currently live in, so that I can have a better life, and have more economic stability. Before I became involved in the project, my future and my family’s future didn’t matter to me much, and I didn’t think about having my own business or my own income. I didn’t speak much with Milton (ahmsa field staff), who has helped me greatly and hasn’t let me regress. When I don’t have anything to eat or anyone to talk to, there he is helping me without expecting anything in return.