TECHO is an organization present in 19 countries in Latin America, which seeks to overcome the situation of poverty that millions of people live in popular settlements, through the joint action of its inhabitants and young volunteers.

It all began in Curanilahue, almost 700 km south of Santiago de Chile, in the winter of 1997. A group of young university students, led by the Jesuit priest Felipe Berríos, began to meet with families in the area who lived in extreme situations. poverty, aware of the unfair reality in which they lived. For several years, together they were carrying out larger and more permanent works that contributed to the complex situation of families. This is how, slowly, what today is TECHO emerged.

Recognizing this constant emergency situation, the model was taken to El Salvador and Peru, and that is how the organization began its expansion under the name “Un Techo para mi País” until it became the institutional challenge that today, more than 20 years ago. later, it is shared throughout Latin America.

MISSION

To work with determination in informal settlements to overcome poverty through the training and joint action of their men and women, young men and women volunteers, and other actors.

VISION

A just, equal, integrated, and poverty-free society in which all people can fully exercise their rights and duties, and have opportunities to develop their capacities.

PURPOSES

• - Overcome the poverty situation in which millions of people live in informal settlements.
• - To train young volunteers through bonding and working together with settlers.

TECHO guides its work through 4 pillars:

PROMOTE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Strengthen community capacities that promote the exercise of citizenship, mainly through the improvement of habitat and habitability conditions, and the promotion of economic and social development.

PROMOTE CONSCIOUSNESS AND SOCIAL ACTION

Involve the largest number of critical and proactive volunteers in working with the residents of popular settlements, to promote citizen participation and the full exercise of rights.

INFLUENCE POLICY

Generate structural changes together with the communities and other actors to denounce the exclusion and violation of rights in popular settlements; by positioning on the public agenda, the dissemination of relevant information, the generation of concrete proposals, and the promotion of the real participation of citizens in these processes.

INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Continuously improve their work through transparent, ethical, participatory, and coherent processes that guarantee the development of community work, team management, financing, and information.