Top NGOs in Chile: A primer

Chile’s non-governmental organizations have not yet reached the fame of their American or European counterparts. But the country’s civil society has been active for more than 30 years, and some NGOs are active in wide parts of Latin America. Chilean nonprofits rely mainly on local staff as well as volunteers from around the globe. Each year, entry-level professionals looking for experience in the field can participate in programs dealing with issues such as housing, health, agriculture and microfinance. Many NGOs in Chile partner with foreign organizations to fund and implement projects. Here is a selection of some successful NGOs in Chile, based on their reputation, visibility and track record: Agraria Composed of engineers and economists, Agraria has been working to improve the Chilean agricultural sector through technological transfer and territorial development programs. In the last three years, it has completed around 20 consultancies in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia and Guatemala, with the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank among its partners. Agraria also contracts with other international agencies, such as Novib, as well as private institutions. América Solidaria América Solidaria is a regional cooperation organization that intervenes in Bolivia, Haiti, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic and other parts of Latin America and the Caribbean. The group has been sending young volunteers from Latin America to work as “agents of social change” in these countries since 1998. América Solidaria has been involved in initiatives focusing on agriculture, education, health, microcredit and housing, among other issues. Cruz Roja Chilena Founded in 1903, the Chilean Red Cross offers medical care in 120 health centers across Chile. It also focuses on family issues, helps poor communities to recover from natural disasters, and support HIV/AIDS prevention campaigns. Elemental Elemental presents itself as a “do tank” focusing on the design and implementation of urban projects of social interest and public impact in Chile and Mexico. It is directed by Alejandro Aravena, a famous Chilean architect, and is affiliated with Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile. Elemental seeks to fight inequality and promote social development by designing and building better neighborhoods, housing and urban infrastructure. The NGO has received several awards, including the Global Award for Sustainable Architecture. Fondo Esperanza Fondo Esperanza is the biggest microcredit institution in Chile. Through loans and courses on business management, Fondo Esperanza has helped some 30,000 entrepreneurs around the country, 87 percent of whom are women. A recent study led by the Albert Hurtado University showed that household incomes rose by 50 percent among those who partnered with Fondo Esperanza for two years and received six credits. Fundación Casa de la Paz According to Fundación Casa de la Paz, economic growth, social peace and environment protection are essential to achieving sustainable development. With its multidisciplinary team, the foundation promotes participatory management of the environment, boosts citizen participation, and tries to solve conflicts related to the environment by organizing workshops or educational programs. In the last 10 years, it has implemented more than 200 projects in Chile. Fundacion para la Superacion de la Pobreza This local civil society organization was created 1994. Since then, the foundation has implemented social programs and made policy proposals to fight poverty and social inequality in Chile. It delivers services to the poorest parts of Chile, especially in rural and isolated areas. The group seeks to build local capacity by offering technical and social assistance, and it spearheads initiatives in housing, health and other sectors. Fundación Solidaridad Fundación Solidaridad’s mission is to help households and groups eager to overcome poverty by producing handicrafts, jewelry or household products. To achieve this goal, the nonprofit offers workshops on how to start a microbusiness and how to gain market access, as well as on business management, production and marketing. The foundation also helps producers find customers in Chile, Europe, the United States, Australia and Japan, thanks to its partnership with the International Federation for Alternative Trade, an organization promoting fair trade that operates in 48 countries. Hogar de Cristo Hogar de Cristo is one of Chile’s oldest charities. It was created in 1945 by Padre Albert Hurtado, a Chilean Jesuit priest who was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in 2005. Hogar de Cristo provides shelter to “the poorest among the poor,” especially young children, families, and mentally and physically disabled people. The organization is in charge of around 800 projects throughout Chile. Jundep Jundep aims to improve the quality of life of vulnerable populations in five Chilean regions. Its agenda has two main objectives, offering decent housing and promoting social inclusion through increased citizen participation. For the last 20 years, Jundep has provided technical assistance on housing programs, and empowered the poor to use their rights as citizens. The organization’s staff is made up mainly of architects, urban designers and social workers. Maria Ayuda Maria Ayuda offers a range of social programs to help children suffering from physical and psychological violence build a better future. The Catholic NGO, formed in 1983, offers shelter, medical care and scholarly assistance to around 1,700 children each year. It also offers job training to parents of these children. Oficina Coordinadora de Asistencia Campesina OCAC implements participatory programs for people facing extreme poverty, especially ethnic minorities, women and young people. Its projects are diverse, focusing on everything from the construction of decent houses to agricultural development, microcredit, and the social inclusion of women. Since its founding in 1974, OCAC claims to have helped more than 500,000 families in Chile. Un Techo para Chile Un Techo para Chile was created in 1997 and is considered one of the most famous and successful NGOs of Chile. Covering almost the entire country, with regional offices from Arica to Puerto Montt, its activities focus on housing issues with the objective to solve the problem of illegal settlements by 2010. Each year, around 15,000 volunteers and 2,500 permanent staff members work on building sustainable housing units and provide poor communities with clean water, proper sewage systems and electricity. Their activities focus on education and microcredit as part of a capacity-building program called “Habilitación Social.” Un Techo para mi Pais In 2001, natural disasters in El Salvador and Peru led Un Techo para Chile to extend its programs to other countries. Today, Un Techo para mi País carries out housing projects in 15 countries of Latin America: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, El Salvador and Uruguay. In an effort to improve the quality of life of families living in poverty, UTPMP builds emergency housing units and sets up capacity-building programs in poor communities. UTPMP also seeks to offer permanent housing units when housing policies allow it to do so.