Youth in both sides of the border are trained in leadership and teamwork to enhance their environment

El Paso, TX, July 28, 2011 (PAHO/WHO) – It is essential that children and youth of the community have access to training opportunities in leadership and teamwork, as well as plans/ processes of organization and coordination, among government agencies, and private and community organizations in general. Therefore, PAHO/WHO through its U.S.-Mexico Border Office in collaboration with the U.S.-Mexico Border Ecoclubs Network, the Mexican Ecoclubes Network and the International Ecoclubes Network organizes a training workshop on leadership and teamwork structure for the members of the Ecoclubs in Cd. Juárez, and a training workshop to strengthen the facilitators of the Ecoclubs in El Paso, TX to be held on:

 Agenda training workshop on leadership and teamwork structure 

 Agenda training workshop to strengthen the facilitators of the Ecoclubs 

PURPOSE: Provide members and facilitators of the Ecoclubs the necessary tools to develop leadership and teamwork skills.

METHODOLOGY AND EXPECTED RESULTS: Joint participation between Ecoclub’s members, facilitators and trainers to produce a plan of action tailored to the needs of their community.

An Ecoclub is an independent organization, directed and driven by the youth community. Promotes activities to improve the quality of life, contributes to the welfare of society, environmental preservation and a local sustainable development as well as training local leaders to identify, intervene and solve problems through active participation and involvement of the whole community: family, authorities, local and national organizations.

Facilitators work along with the Ecoclubs, adults collaborating with children and young people to support the development and objectives of the Ecoclubs to improve the quality of life of the community while achieving the goals set by the Ecoclubs.

PAHO/WHO through its U.S.-Mexico Border Office, in early 2010, considered the shaping of Ecoclubs along both sides of the border important and useful.

During the process, the members of the Ecoclubs took their own decisions about what issues to address. The role of PAHO/WHO was to provide advice and finance with initial resources, to provide for working materials and other inputs identified as necessary for the initiation of activities.

Besides Cd. Juárez and El Paso, Ecoclubs have also being established in Hermosillo and Nogales, Sonora, and New Mexico.

Research demonstrates that the comprehensive development of human beings begins at birth. The concept of comprehensive development implies not only physical well-being but also emotional and psychological welfare. The healthy interaction between members of a community involves the development of behaviors, skills, commitments and actions from an early age. Harmonious development of a society must involve joint membership, with special emphasis on youth education.