Camino al empleo: Supporting the first step toward formal employment

Camino al empleo is an initiative developed together with Arcos Dorados, one of the largest employers of young people in Latin America, to support young people from Argentina, Ecuador, and Peru in vulnerable situations as they navigate their path into the world of work.

With the launch of the program, both organizations reinforce their commitment to inclusion and youth employability, focusing on young people who are currently not studying or working and who face significant barriers as they remain outside the education and labor systems.

According to the Youth in Change report by the International Labour Organization (ILO, 2025), youth unemployment in Latin America reaches 13.8%, while 60% of employed young people work under precarious conditions. In addition, one in five young people does not have access to formal employment or training opportunities. Inequalities are even greater for young women: two out of three lack paid income or educational opportunities.

In this context, Camino al empleo seeks to bridge the gap between training and job opportunities through the development of key socio-emotional skills, job search preparation, and personalized mentoring, generating concrete opportunities for access to first formal employment. The goal is for participants to improve their quality of life, as well as that of their families and communities.

The initiative combines workshops on self-awareness, career planning, CV development, and interview preparation with an intensive four-week training program that includes mentoring, visits to restaurants, and support throughout the job placement process. The program includes the participation of Arcos Dorados volunteers, who share their professional experiences and lead mentoring spaces, strengthening participants’ readiness for the labor market. In addition, young people can access complementary courses through MCampus Comunidad, the company’s training platform focused on youth development.

Voices that reflect the impact

The experiences shared by participants highlight the value of guidance and training at a key moment in their life paths. Jazmín Miranda, a participant from Argentina, shared:

“The program motivates you to look for a job, to get out there and keep searching constantly. It really helped me not to feel stuck and to keep moving forward. It also encouraged me to finish high school, and now I’m already preparing to complete the three subjects I still need to graduate.”

Tomás, also from Argentina, highlighted the program’s impact on his preparation and personal confidence:

“I liked the program because it was very hands-on. It gave me a lot of confidence in areas where I felt I wasn’t prepared. I had never had an interview before and had many doubts. It really gave me confidence and useful tools. It’s hard to learn everything you need when you’re looking for a job, and in the program things are explained very clearly and with a lot of warmth.”

Results and next steps

The initiative has already reached 225 young people in Buenos Aires, Guayaquil, and Lima, who strengthened their socio-emotional skills and job search tools alongside corporate volunteers.

This month marked a key milestone with the first participants being hired at McDonald’s restaurants—an achievement that transforms support into a concrete opportunity and confirms that when training aligns with private sector commitment, results follow.

“Camino al empleo demonstrates that partnerships between social organizations and companies can generate real impact in young people’s lives. Every opportunity that opens today represents a doorway to tomorrow’s economic and social development,” said Mariana Socolinsky, Social Impact and Sustainability Development Manager at Arcos Dorados.

At Junior Achievement Americas, we believe in experiences that connect young people to the world of work through real opportunities. Camino al empleo will continue to grow, with new training instances and upcoming calls across the region.

We continue working so that more young people can access their first formal job. Supporting that first step makes all the difference.