San Salvador, October 15, 2025. The Ismael Cala Foundation, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education, and with the support of key institutions of the Government of El Salvador, has launched the implementation process for El Vuelo de la Cometa, an innovative initiative focused on promoting mental health and socio-emotional development among adolescents and young people in vulnerable situations.
El Salvador has made mental health a priority as a key element in overcoming the legacy of violence the country experienced for decades. While much progress has been made, it remains essential to challenge outdated paradigms in order to move toward a society free from all forms of violence. This initiative marks the beginning of a project with a national vision, designed to gradually reach more schools, families, and communities, generating sustainable impact on the mental health of Salvadoran youth while also helping prevent school dropout and teenage pregnancy.
According to Vice Minister of Health Carlos Alvarenga, the initiative will initially benefit 1,000 Salvadoran adolescents, who will receive training in emotional intelligence, resilience, and positive leadership so they can strengthen their ability to face today’s challenges and build a more promising future, especially in territories that have emerged from violence and continue to face other forms of vulnerability.
The program’s launch event brought together representatives from the Ministry of Health (MINSAL), the Ministry of Education, the Office of the First Lady, and the National Council for Early Childhood, Children, and Adolescents (CONAPINA), among others.
Also in attendance were representatives from United Nations agencies such as UNICEF, PAHO, and UNFPA, along with nongovernmental organizations including Plan International and Save the Children. They were joined by local business leaders and institutions such as Hotel Barceló El Salvador, SIMAN, Fundación Callejas, Banco Agrícola, and COEXPORT, all of whom expressed interest in becoming strategic allies in supporting the transformation of the country’s adolescents.
“We believe that investing in the mental and emotional health of our adolescents is laying the foundation for a more conscious, resilient, and prosperous society. El Salvador, having recovered from years of violence, now has the opportunity to become a regional benchmark in this commitment,” said Ismael Cala, president of the Ismael Cala Foundation, during the event.
The launch of the El Vuelo de la Cometa emotional intelligence and leadership program not only established an institutional alliance, but also served as a platform to inspire business leaders and organizations to become donors and strategic partners, joining a shared effort aimed at leaving a lasting mark on Salvadoran youth.
With this launch, El Salvador joins six other countries — the United States, Venezuela, Colombia, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Panama — that have already successfully implemented El Vuelo de la Cometa, strengthening a regional network of positive impact that promotes emotional leadership and resilience as pillars of sustainable development.
Ismael Cala Foundation
evc@calafoundation.org
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