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We focus our intervention on children, adolescents and youth. We pay special attention to areas related to education, economic growth and employment, enabling environments for entrepreneurship, food security, building a culture of peace and peaceful conflict resolution, as well as humanitarian aid.
people overcoming monetary poverty by increasing their income level.
people assisted in humanitarian crises.
people have access to employment.
Latin America closed the year 2024 within an international context marked by significant uncertainty and geopolitical and economic volatility, driven by the agendas of global actors.
This situation is increasingly seen as a risk factor for the region, as it could disrupt trade and migration flows, as well as the provision of international development aid. Consequently, it may lead to a reduction in social policies and efforts to promote human rights driven by individual countries across the region.
In addition to this, the region continues to face various multi-causal and structural challenges in improving its socio-economic indicators.
Latin America remains one of the regions with the highest levels of income inequality: the wealthiest 20% of the population captures 50.5% of total income (ECLAC – Statistical Yearbook for Latin America and the Caribbean 2024). This inequality translates into unequal access to basic services such as education, healthcare, and decent living conditions.
Moreover, the region is highly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, including floods, storms, droughts, and landslides. In 2024 alone, 56 hazardous events and natural disasters were recorded in the region, directly affecting more than six million people and resulting in the loss of over 800 lives.
Finally, political and security conditions have deteriorated in some countries, such as Ecuador, Mexico, and Colombia, weakening the social structures needed for leadership and the development of socio-economic programs.
Ayuda en Acción’s work in the region is aligned with the organization’s global strategy, focusing on creating opportunities for young people as agents of change for themselves and their communities.
We support youth through the transition from education to employment by strengthening training initiatives that include vocational guidance and the development of soft skills, while also promoting youth rights and leadership.
Regarding labor market integration, we work to strengthen the local economic fabric by reinforcing productive and commercial value chains with an approach based on environmental sustainability and financial inclusion.
We also foster public-private partnerships to promote employability, especially for women and youth, through access to quality and sustainable jobs, guided by an inclusive market approach.
We address the diverse drivers of human mobility through a Nexus approach that combines humanitarian assistance (to meet the basic needs and ensure the protection of people on the move) with actions that promote social and labor market integration of migrants in both host and origin countries.
Our approach prioritizes localization and the building of alliances with local, private, and international organizations to drive systemic change in the areas where we operate. We act as catalysts for coordination, bringing together key stakeholders and facilitating the harmonization of efforts. We also offer technical services as sectoral specialists in our fields of work.
In view of the current context, 2025 is expected to be a fragile and volatile year for the region, but one that also presents opportunities. Ayuda en Acción aims to leverage this scenario by advancing new strategies with regional and local actors, particularly in sectors linked to environmental and social issues, to help boost the region’s capacity to remain competitive in the face of global challenges.
In 2024, we continue working to create protective educational environments through teacher training and coexistence plans, while strengthening child and adolescent participation at municipal, departmental, and national levels. We have provided specialized technical assistance to the formal protection system for the prevention of violence against children and women. In addition, we promoted quality technical education for young people by improving curricula and equipment. Finally, we supported sustainable value chains for cocoa, honey, and peaches through innovation and technology in harmony with the environment.
In 2024, we strengthened inclusive and sustainable value chains in rural and urban areas of Colombia through innovation, strategic partnerships, and entrepreneurship training. We promoted agroecology in the cocoa sector and supported economic inclusion with business training, leadership development, and financial education. We advanced climate resilience by improving access to safe water, supporting eco-friendly farming, and expanding environmental education. In education, we fostered rights awareness, coexistence, and violence prevention, while helping young people transition to higher education and employment. Finally, we promoted care economy policies, addressed gender-based violence, and provided humanitarian assistance.
In 2024, we supported the economic integration of 603 people through employability training and provided business mentoring to 106 individuals in 24 entrepreneurial initiatives. We offered psychosocial and legal support to women and children at risk of gender-based violence, using arts and sports for awareness-raising. We improved living conditions and livelihoods through community actions, environmental practices, and disaster preparedness, including the installation of early warning systems and the creation of a forest firefighting brigade. We strengthened indigenous leadership and governance by supporting the development of territorial action plans. Finally, we promoted positive coexistence and respect among children and adolescents through cultural, sports, and educational activities.
In 2024, we supported the economic integration, protection, and social cohesion of over 3,700 migrants and refugees in Ecuador, within the framework of a regional project also implemented in Peru and Colombia. We improved access to clean and safe water for more than 2,700 people, helping to safeguard health and the environment in rural communities. In Esmeraldas, over 1,400 women engaged in artisanal fishing and shell collection strengthened their livelihoods and led the conservation of over 220 hectares of mangroves through climate-resilient production and sustainable management.
In 2024, we promoted a socio-sports school to educate children and adolescents on rights and gender equality, and strengthened community systems for violence prevention and child protection. We created employment pathways and provided training and scholarships for youth. Through humanitarian projects, we supported migrants at border points. We enhanced digital skills and infrastructure in schools, and helped 146 families in Trifinio improve food security and economic resilience. Additionally, we supported natural area conservation and local capacities for forest fire control and low-carbon livestock farming.
In 2024, we advanced inclusive education, entrepreneurship, and employment opportunities for rural youth and women in Guatemala’s Dry Corridor (Zacapa, Chiquimula, Huehuetenango), supporting their transition to sustainable development. We successfully completed the Isla Zero pilot project in Flores, Petén, promoting inclusive economic growth through renewable energy, CO₂ reduction, and tourism sector strengthening. Our humanitarian response prioritized dignified and specialized care for migrants, especially survivors of gender-based violence, while fostering multisectoral assistance and influencing public policies. Multilevel coordination was key to maximizing impact and ensuring sustainability.
In 2024, the InnPESS project improved the artisanal fishing sector by enabling the transport of fresh fish with a cold chain system, reducing processing time by 41% and increasing incomes by 64%, while promoting environmental sustainability. The WEMENIGI initiative empowered 3,000 Garífuna women leaders in La Ceiba and Jutiapa to prevent violence, strengthening community networks and institutional responses. Through the “Seeds of Peace” project, seven youth peace and civic education schools were established, training hundreds of adolescents as peace promoters in their communities, fostering safer and more engaged societies.
In 2024 in Mexico, we promoted family participation in children’s education through activities that strengthen cognitive, psychomotor, sociocultural, and emotional skills, while fostering awareness and exercise of their rights. We implemented various initiatives, including Ipan Tlalli, to boost economic development by supporting income generation, business management, entrepreneurial skills, financial inclusion, and value chain strengthening. Climate resilience was a key priority, focusing on food security, access to water and land through eco-technologies and reforestation, and promoting renewable energy use. Additionally, we began working with local partners to provide psychosocial support and employment networks for refugee women through transitional houses, safe spaces for women (and their children) and LGBTIQ+ individuals to live temporarily while enhancing their autonomy.
In 2024, we strengthened local livelihoods by supporting businesses in dairy, coffee, honey, and sustainable tourism, providing mentoring and resources to help them grow. We empowered women through training on entrepreneurship, violence prevention, and legal support, alongside family workshops on life skills and adolescent wellbeing. For children’s rights, we enhanced community protection systems, assessed digital and soft skills among rural students, and launched a widely viewed campaign against child labor.
In 2024, through the Qallariy program, we strengthened agricultural businesses and rural organizations, fostering sustainable rural development and better livelihoods. We also expanded opportunities for urban and peri-urban youth to access sustainable income and employment, promoting inclusion and circular economy practices. In education, we supported equal access and innovative learning approaches to ensure quality growth for children and youth. Additionally, we enhanced Peru’s water management agency’s emergency preparedness to secure water access during disasters like earthquakes.
In 2024, despite ongoing humanitarian needs in Venezuela and limited donor funding, Ayuda en Acción focused on long-term solutions that empower communities to develop through their own capacities. We supported entrepreneurs in the Paria Peninsula by providing training, psychosocial support, and seed capital, helping informal businesses become formalized. Additionally, we backed the Join Tepuy project with the Pemón ethnic communities, offering training in soft skills, audiovisual production, sustainable and digital tourism, and creative economy, fostering local empowerment and cultural preservation.
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