Vice President Kamala Harris recognizes Glasswing International’s youth program at the Summit of the Americas

June 8, 2022 (NYC, NY) – Vice President Kamala Harris announced  Glasswing International’s inclusion in the Central American Service Corps (CASC) – a $50 million initiative to be administered by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)—that will provide young people in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras with paid community service opportunities, mentorship, and a path to future employment. This announcement took place during the 9th Annual Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, California.

Launched last year with funding provided exclusively by  Howard G. Buffett Foundation, and implemented by Glasswing International, CASC offers young people in Guatemala and Honduras paid community service opportunities, mentorship, and a path to future employment. By supporting life and job skills, offering hope, and building confidence and a sense of belonging for youth, the CASC initiative will generate leadership potential and help foster optimism among youth in Central America that a better future is possible for themselves and for their communities. Building off of Glasswing and The Howard G. Buffett Foundation’s collaboration, yesterday’s announcement of additional funding  from the public, private, and philanthropic sectors will help expand this robust network of youth service corps in Central America. 

“We are grateful to Vice President Kamala Harris, USAID, and the Partnership for Central America for believing in our mission and their commitment to building upon our collaboration with The Howard G. Buffett Foundation,” shared Celina de Sola, president and co-founder of Glasswing International, “Together, we will create meaningful opportunities for young people in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras and empower them with the tools and resources they need to create positive change in their communities. Young people are our biggest resource, and the long-lasting impact that they can have on their communities is immense.”

Yesterday, de Sola attended the launch of “In Her Hands,” a women’s economic empowerment initiative by the Partnership for Central America (PCA). “In Her Hands” will observe two significant milestones in Glasswing and the PCA’s shared effort to bring prosperity and opportunities to families in Central America: The one year mark since the idea of the Central American Service Corps was introduced and the kick-off of a significant effort to empower women and girls with new opportunities in a region with one of the highest rates of women-owned businesses but, conversely, the highest rates of femicide globally.

De Sola is participating in the Young America’s Forum at this year’s Summit of the Americas. Speaking about the Central American Youth Corps on the panel “Transforming Communities through Youth Volunteer Service,” she will also deliver a spark talk today. Additionally, she is a participant at the Civil Society Forum “Dialogue between Civil Society, Social Actors, and High-Level Government Representatives,” and will speak at the Roundtable “Investing in Health to Build Back Better” on June 10th.