Programming a New Life in El Salvador
After attempting a dangerous journey to the U.S., Marlon builds a life in El Salvador as a computer programmer thanks to USAID
Marlon remembers vividly the day he started the dangerous journey to the United States.
“It’s been 10 years since that early morning,” he said. “I was by myself at a gas station and was given two instructions: be on time, and carry only whatever was necessary.”
He was only 19 years old, struggling to make ends meet after his mother, the sole breadwinner in the family, lost her job. With no other way out, he risked everything in search of opportunity.
Marlon’s dream of a new life quickly turned into a nightmare. Days felt like an eternity as the attempt to cross into the United States nearly cost him his life. “We walked a lot through the desert, my feet couldn’t take it anymore. [U.S. Border Patrol] caught the first one, they searched, one by one, through the trees. I was the last one they were missing. Until they caught me.”
Coming back home, scarred from that perilous journey and without a concrete plan, Marlon started looking for jobs and attempted to make a living by selling food, unsuccessfully. He was at the end of his rope.
Marlon’s story is not unique. Evidence shows that the majority of Salvadorans who attempt to migrate to the United States cite economic factors as their reason for leaving. Youth in El Salvador say they don’t want to leave home, but after finishing high school and struggling to find a job, they don’t see an alternative.
Meanwhile, Salvadoran companies struggle to find qualified workers with specific skills that are in high demand. With the right training, Salvadoran youth could fill this gap in the country’s workforce and help drive the economy.
Information technology (IT) is one of El Salvador’s growing sectors. A USAID assessment showed that 58 percent of IT companies in the country expected to expand their workforce within the next year, yet more than half of those companies had difficulty finding qualified applicants with the necessary technical expertise.
There was a need to build a bridge between unemployed Salvadoran youth and employers who needed workers. This is where USAID came in.
Alliances for Growth
USAID improves the lives of young people in municipalities with high levels of insecurity and out-migration by advancing their professional development and helping them secure a good job. USAID worked with government institutions, training centers, universities, and private companies to develop training curricula in high-demand skills such as Java, PHP, and design of mobile and web applications in C#.
The curricula included training in critical life skills, such as communication, teamwork, self-confidence, and determination, to ensure participating youth would thrive in the workplace.
However, the key element for the project’s success was building a bridge between trained youth and companies willing to offer a good-paying job as soon as they finished the course.
One of those businesses is GBM, the Salvadoran subsidiary of IBM. Fantina Andino, CEO of GBM, explained that her company believes in the potential of Salvadoran youth.
“The USAID Bridges to Employment project drew our attention because the country needs young people with talent and creativity for software development. This is precisely what the program provides.” — Fantina Andino, CEO of GBM
By the time the participants finished the three levels of the computer programming course, they already had a paid internship and secured a spot in a leading IT company in the country.
In the last five years, more than 5,000 young people like Marlon secured good employment thanks to this USAID project, which helped build bridges between youth and the opportunities they need to thrive at home.
Top-Tier Spaces
Partnering with local NGOs such as the Gloria de Kriete Foundation, and colleges such as Universidad Salvadoreña Alberto Masferrer, USAID helped set up seven Software Development Centers in key areas of the country. Equipped with the latest technology, the centers serve as innovation hubs where youth and businesses come together to work on company projects.
The centers offer a space to host internships, using a flexible approach to tailor student internships to specific needs of each company. During the internship, each youth is paired with a mentor who supervises the student’s work and guides them when questions come up.
The Software Development Centers are self-sustaining spaces, able to continue training youth in computer programming to meet the needs of companies long after USAID support comes to an end, thanks to alliances with universities and the hiring companies.
A New Life
Marlon is one of those young people whose lives have been changed. One day, while scrolling through social media, he came across a USAID post about training in computer programming, which had always interested him. He was thrilled when he was selected to participate.
Marlon’s passion for computer programming was clear through the nine-month course; he was always on time, focused on his goals, and willing to help his classmates. His hard work paid off. “I passed all the tests and became a junior programmer. A week after starting level three, I was offered a job at GBM.”
This opportunity transformed Marlon’s life and continues to pay dividends. Even as the COVID-19 pandemic hit, he was able to keep his job and continue to support his family.
“Sometimes I wake up and think it’s a dream to be able to work in a company of this magnitude.
“Thanks to this opportunity, young people like myself will not risk migrating irregularly. A trip, to which I can attest, is totally in vain.” — Marlon
Marlon’s goal is to keep working hard and contributing to society. He likes to motivate other young people to stay, to take advantage of opportunities at home, and to generate hope, not only for their families but also for the country.
“About five years ago I did not have a permanent job or a career. I just had the will to improve myself. If you have the desire to grow, to learn something, USAID can give you a hand.” — Marlon
About the Author
Emerson Ayala is the Development Outreach and Communications Specialist at USAID’s Mission in El Salvador.
