Redefining Community Development in Puerto Rico

The Community Business Employment Training Program (ICaLEC) of Project P.E.C.E.S was established as an initiative to rebuild Puerto Rico after the devastation of Hurricanes Irma and María. In addition to the vision and mission of Proyecto PECES, ICaLEC aims to seek to strengthen skills and knowledge in areas of vocational studies, offering new job training opportunities in areas of high occupational demand for the social and economic recovery of the participants and their families. Our program offers free workshops in maritime mechanics, residential electricity, basic construction with its components in gypsum board and joinery. Participants complete the workshops with 150 contact hours in which they are divided into English classes, Spanish classes, entrepreneurship module, theoretical workshop, and practical workshop. At the same time, the program has social work services, academic counseling, and a placement component for identification of employment or continuation of studies after completing the workshops. During the past year to the present ICaLEC has had several achievements, we have reached 446 families, we have impacted 28 towns and 74 communities throughout Puerto Rico. Forty-eight participants graduated in December 2023. Another 48 participants will complete workshops and graduate in March 2024.

A success story from the program is from  a single, working mother participant. She signed up for the program in cabinet making to develop a business idea where she would put into practice what she learned in the vocational workshops. This mother attended the workshops with over 80% regular attendance and worked at a fast-food restaurant full time. Her goal was to be able to use the workshops as a tool to be able to start a business and, also, be able to spend more time with her children. After completing the cabinet making course, she is currently studying for a technical degree, and works full time. She intends to participate in other vocational courses with Icalec in the future. This will make it possible for her to open a successful multi-service business. She is filled with enthusiasm and determined to make her dream a reality.