Santo Domingo Foundation presented NOVA, a strategic alliance that seeks to strengthen employment and competitiveness in Colombia by integrating bilingualism with the development of technical skills aligned with the real needs of the labor market. The initiative, developed together with GitLab Foundation, arises as a response to the gap between talent training and business demand, in a context where many companies face difficulties filling vacancies while high levels of unemployment persist, especially among young people and the migrant population.
NOVA combines English training, technical skills certification, and support until insertion into formal employment, with a results-oriented approach that seeks to expand opportunities for access to quality jobs and improve participants’ income. The alliance is backed by international organizations such as the International Organization for Migration, Open Society Foundations, and Pathways International, which provide experience and global vision to maximize the program’s impact.
The first project of this initiative, called When You Know English, It Shows, is being carried out in Barranquilla and its metropolitan area, where young people receive training and support to facilitate their connection with job opportunities both nationally and internationally. With this approach, the Santo Domingo Foundation reaffirms its commitment to productive inclusion and to promoting innovative models that position bilingualism as a driver of social mobility, employment, and competitiveness for the country.