On September 5, we had the incredible honor of being invited to meet with the head of the Development and Design Agency of the Nation to present our achievements.
The meeting exceeded our expectations. Floración is set to become the first NGO to work directly alongside the Salvadoran government. During this meeting, the head of the Agency expressed the government's confidence in our work and he was task to lead the Integration Initiative, which will coordinate efforts across various governmental bodies and the private sector to drive human development forward.
For years, NGOs and private donors have been pivotal in global development efforts. Here in El Salvador, Floración has made remarkable progress working with children in communities once plagued by gang violence. Earlier this year, we partnered with the esteemed German NGO ArtHelps, which has a long history of working with traumatized children in war-torn regions like Ukraine, Iraq, and Brazil. In May, ArtHelps sent a team to El Salvador to collaborate with us in Palmarcito, El Zonte, and Comasagua, providing invaluable support for our initiatives. Since then, Floración has continued this work with local resources and volunteers.
President Bukele, in his August 29, 2024, Time interview, stressed the importance of working with youth and children "to prevent future issues" that could threaten the security El Salvador has recently achieved. In alignment with this vision, Floración has identified two key projects in Palmarcito that will significantly improve the lives of the children and youth we serve:
1. Developing a park on vacant land at the entrance to Playa El Palmarcito.
2. Restoring the partially abandoned school 8 km inland from Palmarcito, in a poverty-stricken upland area.
We are proud to propose accomplishing both projects through private donations, which means no financial burden on the government. All that is required are the necessary approvals from various governmental agencies. This is the perfect opportunity to launch the Integration Initiative, which will bring together government bodies and private sector entities to achieve swift and coordinated action.
By executing these two projects, we believe we can make a meaningful and lasting impact on the lives of the children and families in Palmarcito. These initiatives are just the beginning of what the Integration Initiative can achieve. With cooperation between the government and the private sector, we are confident that we can create sustainable change for future generations.
Stay tuned for updates, and thank you for your continued support as we embark on this groundbreaking journey with the Salvadoran government.
Together, we can continue to build a brighter future.
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