August News /

YES Regional Office Opens in Latin America

From left to right, Leonor Calderon, Development Minister; Anel Omar Rodriguez,  Labor Vice Minister of Panama;  Dacil Acevedo Riquelme, YES Regional Coordinator; Rosemary Reyes co.-coordinator of YES Panama.

The YES Campaign opened its first Regional Office for Latin America in Panama City, Panama in July 2005.  The office is located at the City of Knowledge also considered a regional hub of innovation.  Its home here, next to the Panama Canal, is particularly relevant given the city’s commitment to the development of the human being.  The city is dedicated to the promotion of the harmony of all components of society including the academic, business, labor, legislative and government sectors.   Of the exciting possibilities that this new office brings to the region, Regional Coordinator Dacil Acevedo Riquleme said, "The YES Regional Office in Latin America is going to be an incubator of synergies and alliances for regional programs and projects under the umbrella of the YES Campaign and as a contribution to achieve the Millennium Development Goals."  This regional office will benefit directly the 17 YES Networks in this region.

Not only will this office contribute to the regional success of the YES Campaign, but it will also expand possibilities on the global level  Twenty-five percent of the YES Campaign’s Networks are located in the Latin American region. Of this recent achievement, Poonam Ahluwalia, Executive Director of the YES Campaign, relayed, “I believe that regional coordination is absolutely the key to moving forward the youth employment agenda in Latin America.  YES LAC office in Panama will provide a much needed central hub to coordinate strategy and collaboration with technical partners, donors and local actors.  LAC is one of the most active YES regions with over 17 Networks and the lessons learned from this regional office will impact how we move forward with setting up other regional hubs.  Already it is clear that local knowledge, as can be found in regional management, is an essential element of success.”

The YES Regional Office in Latin America is located in the Panama Technology Business Accelerator (ATEP), a center that provides the necessary administrative services, training, and mentoring to enable businessmen/women to develop their innovative ideas in a secure and controlled environment until their business is ready to compete in the market. ATEP's primary function is to promote and encourage the creation of technology-based businesses and accelerate their development and competitiveness.

For more information contact Dacil Acevedo Riquelme at dacil@yesweb.org.