At a ceremony led by President Leonel Fernandez and First Lady Margarita Cedeño de Fernandez on Saturday, over 12,000 graduates received certificates for achievement in a variey of technical skills. They received these skills by participating in a program called Progressando that strives to promote human development for the poorest of Dominican families. The program is an initiative of the First Lady's office.

Courses included brick-making, natural arts, plaster and clay, paint and ceramics, upholstery, bartending, beauty, accounting, information technology and marketing. The first lady stated that the graduates now had the skills necessary to be productive in the marketplace.

Students will continue to receive support through access to small loans provided by PROMYPIME, the government program that seeks to help micro, small and medium-size businesses. Many of the graduates will be able to open their own businesses with this help. The country's tourism and hotel sector will also provide support in the marketing of crafts to tourists.

Other Progressando programs will be starting up in rural areas such as Monte Plata and San Cristóbal to further fight poverty and inequality in the country.