Progresando Training Center Opened in en Villa Altagracia

Progresando Training Center Opened in en Villa Altagracia
Básima, VILLA ALTAGRACIA, Dominican Republic 6/15/2012

The center aims to create new training and learning opportunities to help propel inhabitants of this area into the labor market and to generate income that will enable them to lead a dignified life.

“This Center that we inaugurate today has a computer information training area that will enable us to continue working towards closing the  digital and social gap in the country while facilitating all inhabitants of this community to learn how to use computers as indispensable work and development instruments. To this end, all classes and courses of interest in this area will be made available so that all of you will be able to take them and contribute to these goals with your human and professional growth,” said Cedeño de Fernández.

The Office of the First Lady (DPD in Spanish), under the direction of Margarita Cedeño de Fernández, inaugurated the new Progresando Training and Production Center in this city with the objective of contributing to the elimination of poverty, empowering citizens and improving the occupational training services provided in this region.

Speaking to those who attended the inauguration ceremony, the First Lady, and now Vice President-elect, recalled that a couple of years ago, the Rica Foundation and the DPD had a dream that today has become a reality with the construction of this Progresando Training and Production Center through which new opportunities are being created for the inhabitants of this town.

“This Center that we inaugurate today has a computer information training area that will enable us to continue working towards closing the  digital and social gap in the country while facilitating all inhabitants of this community to learn how to use computers as indispensable work and development instruments. To this end, all classes and courses of interest in this area will be made available so that all of you will be able to take them and contribute to these goals with your human and professional growth,” said Cedeño de Fernández.

She went on the thank Julio Brache, president of the Board of Directors of Grupa Rica, and Pedro Brache Álvarez, Grupa Rica’s executive president, for the opportunity to work together in creating this project that will be a source of prosperity for the community.

She stressed that through the Progresando Program, the DPD began to work in Villa Altagracia in June 2007 and that today there are some 2,700 families involved who have decided to overcome the challenges, improve their situation and achieve their integral development along with the 56 linked communities and 7 supervisors.

Currently, Progresando is present in the communities of Los Mogotes, Guananico, Sabana Piedra, Centro del Pueblo, Las Delicias, Los Arremangados, Pajarito, La Javilla and Brooklyn.

“One of the main legacies as First Lady that I would like to leave behind is the promotion of opportunities for people with limited incomes, especially women and young people so that they might acquire the necessary instruments for their personal achievement. Now, in my new role as vice president, I will work tirelessly with President-elect Danilo Medina to achieve the goal of overcoming poverty and creating equal opportunities,” said Cedeño de Fernández.

Details of the Training Center

This training center makes the 30th of this type built and handed over by the DPD in the following areas: Santo Domingo in the sectors of Cristo Rey, Villa Juana, Capotillo, Herrera, Villa Duarte, Manoguayabo, Remanzo and Los Guarícanos, in Villa Mella; in Andrés and Los Botados of Boca Chica; Guerra, Don Juan, Yamasá and the chief municipality of Monte Plata; Vicente Noble, Barahona, Samaná, Santiago, Jarabacoa, Mao, El Seibo, Villa Altagracia and Favidrio in San Cristobal.

The place was built with a budget of $11,507,388.34 Dominican pesos which the DPD raised by joining forces and signing a collaboration agreement with the Rica Foundation to give the members of this community the necessary knowledge to enable them to become integrated into productive life by lowering unemployment, increasing wages and promoting community self-sufficiency. This center will benefit some 3,000 families in the region.

The building was constructed on a plot of land of 1,810 square meters, donated by the Municipal Town Hall of San José del Puerto. It has classrooms for pastry-making classes, repairing household appliances, a cosmetology area and lab for computer classes. There are also administrative offices, a kitchen for the employees, a reception area, bathrooms, a storage area, connections for water to drink and the garden area, filter system and a perimeter fence, among other facilities.

Training Offered

The Progresando Training and Production Center of Básima will impart courses in computer and electrical appliance repair, installation and maintenance of electrical systems, installation and fabrication of electronic converters, bread baking, baker’s assistant, dessert making and assistant and cake decoration.

In the computer rooms, there will be classes in digital literacy, information technology, using such programs as Office, webpage design, accounting, accounting assistance, tax preparation and executive secretarial courses.

There will also be classes in haircutting, application of hair extensions, styling and coloring and how to give facials, do make-up, facial cleansing, permanent make-up with tattoos and acrylic fingernail design, among other skills.