Why Extended Borders
Leadership Development &
Economic Empowerment program
EBIM’s Leadership Development and Economic Empowerment program is a faith-based initiative designed to address the consequences of low self-esteem and discouragement among young men and women in economically and socially disadvantaged communities in the selected Caribbean islands. Our program incorporates biblical principles such as honesty, integrity, and teamwork into our curriculum—principles that are time-tested and foundational to success in any area of life.
Our program prepares young men and women to be leaders in their communities through a mentorship and training program which is designed to ignite hope, restore confidence, and inspire a sense of purpose, lost as a result of social neglect and limited economic opportunity.
Although we work in a few selected communities in the United States, our primary focus is young men and women in strategically selected communities in the Caribbean. The data show that unemployment among this group in many Caribbean islands is among the highest anywhere in the world. And according to a Caribbean Development Bank report, unemployment rates among youths between ages 18 – 30 varies between 30 – 40 percent.
Interestingly, a major contributing factor to this high unemployment rate is the lack of socio-emotional skills. These skills include one’s ability to control his emotions and behaviors; to establish and maintain positive relationships with others; make responsible decisions and set and achieve positive goals.
Our Proposal
As a faith-based organization, EBIM believes that work is foundational to the way human beings realize their dignity. And so, to be deprived the opportunity to meaningful work is to be humanly under-developed.
Our solution is a curriculum built around the following strategy:
1. We carefully analyze the needs and goals of our targeted community. We ask the questions:
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What personal needs exist?
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What community needs exist?
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What does the individual/community hope to achieve from the training?
2. We assess the skills and abilities already possessed by individuals to determine how these abilities can be incorporated into new learning. We ask the question:
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What links can be made with prior learning to anticipated outcomes?
3. We customize and contextualize our training. We ask the questions:
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Does our program match the individual/community needs and goals?
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How can we localize our training to make it relevant to existing needs?
4. We build a bridge between existing knowledge and the new learning as well as needs and goals. We ask the questions:
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How can we reinforce the connections between needs, goals, and existing knowledge within the program?
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What delivery and assessment strategies will build the bridge?
5. We evaluate the outcomes and program and make necessary adjustment. We ask the questions:
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Are the needs and goals of the individual/community met?
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How are they measured and improved?
Implementation Strategy
Our implementation strategy involve the following steps:
Step 1.
We set clear goals and milestones for our program participants. Each has a clear understanding of his short and long-term goals. These goals are based on the individual’s interest and abilities.
EBIM will work with these individuals to outline achievable and challenging goals, provide resources, assistance, and training to meet the stated goals.
Step 2.
We incorporate multiple learning approaches including written, discussion and workshops. At our workshops we invite business and religious leaders to speak on relevant topics giving our participants the option to ask questions. These sessions can be an opportunity for networking and relationship building.
Step 3.
We implement a plan for identifying future participants into the program. To maintain this pipeline, we seek the assistance of community leaders and religious organization for referrals. EBIM leadership is also on the lookout for potential participants into our program.
Step 4.
Individuals who have completed our training program is expected to go back into their communities and mentor and train others. EBIM will assist with training resources as these trainees work in their respective communities developing new leaders.
