TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – A Taiwanese development program responsible for training more than 500 youths in Saint Lucia formed part of a report by the Caribbean country that was submitted to the United Nations.

A team from Taiwan’s International Cooperation and Development Fund launched an empowerment program for youths and women in November 2021, per CNA. The program trained 525 students, while 640 small businesses received assistance, and 161 enterprises accepted post-pandemic subsidies or advice on reorganization.

The latest batch of students in the program were 55 youths and athletes between the ages of 16 and 35 who graduated Wednesday. They completed six months of professional training.

Twenty-five of the new graduates had already found work, showing the effectiveness of the program, the fund said. Saint Lucia also included the program in its voluntary national review of UN Sustainable Development Goals.