Vocational Training & Economic Opportunity

Illiteracy in most instances equals poverty, deprivation and the incapacity for full human self-development. Promoting literacy and providing practical vocational training for all segments of society is vital to the development of emerging nations. History shows us that private enterprise and economic freedom for all segments of society are fundamental elements of a prosperous and peaceful country.

The Democracy Council provides advice and services to promote literacy, vocational skills, and economic opportunity in emerging countries. For example, Democracy Council’s collaborates with MUJER, a project in Guatemala City’s red light district that provides practical skills and literacy training to sex workers, enabling the participants to take advantage of economic opportunities in order to enhance their own quality of life.

MUJER addresses other occupational and social needs of marginalized women and offers instruction in literacy, elementary school certification, computer skills and vocational classes. The MUJER curriculum also provides a forum, based on shared experiences, for discussion of individual and collective rights, commentary on best practices and networking with women like themselves. The goal is to empower each person to regain the sense of dignity and economic well-being to which all people are entitled.