ANNUAl report
2013
@TECHOus facebook.com/techous @techo_org www.techo.org/us
2 TECHO-U.S.’s Annual Report 2013
Content P.05
TECHO in numbers
P.06
Who are we?
P.07
Our Sponsors
P.08
Chief Executive Officer’s Introduction
P.09
Chair’s Introduction
P.22
J-Pal Housing Study
P.23
Annual Communications Clipping
P.24
Financial Overview
P.25
Awards and Recognitions
P.26
2014 Objectives
P.27
Volunteer and beneficiary testimonial
P.28
How to get Involved
1 TECHO’s Annual Report 2013
TECHO
is a youth led non-profit organization present in 19 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean that seeks to overcome the poverty situation in which thousands of people in slums live, through the joint effort between the residents living in slums and volunteers.
4 TECHO-U.S.’s Annual Report 2013
Children studying in TECHO’s education programs.
With the implementation of an intervention model focused on community development, TECHO pursues to build a fair and poverty-free community through the execution of programs such as transitional housing, social inclusion programs and sustainable communities.
VISION
A fair and poverty-free society, where everyone has the opportunities needed to develop their capacities and fully exercise their rights.
MISSION A transitional house replacing a typical house in the slums.
Work tirelessly to overcome extreme poverty in slums, through the joint action between families and youth volunteers by promoting community development, denouncing poverty and advocating for social policies.
TECHO IN NUMBERS transitional houses built between residents living in slums and volunteers.
9,740
adults graduated in basic skills training programs.
5,000 permanent HOUSES BUILT.
More than
half a million youth volunteers mobilized across Latin America and the Caribbean.
352 community centers built in slums.
TECHO is present in
19 countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, The Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.
451 community-organizing
committees
implemented in slums.
16,327 children in
education programs.
TECHO has two offices
in the United States (Miami & New York) and an office in London.
5 TECHO-U.S.’s Annual Report 2013
Almost 100,000
WHO ARE WE? CEO
6 TECHO-U.S.’s Annual Report 2013
Nicolás Berardi Exec. Director of Development Raquel Barrios
Exec. Director of Volunteer Engagement and Partnerships Laura Martinez
Regional Director Carolina Acevedo
Director of Corporate Development Valeria Motta
Exec. Director of Communications Verónica Testa
Director of Development of Haiti Guadalupe Ayerza
Director of Community Giving Juan Torres
Director of Communications Alexandra Cappellin
Marketing & Events Patricia Fontaneda
Exec. Director of Finance & Administration Mariana Gallardo
OUR SPONSORS Global Champion
Regional Partners
Strategic Partners
Local Partners
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Supporters
operations, consolidated our New York team and laid the foundation for the launch of our 2014 San Francisco office.
TECHO-U.S. CEO Nicolás Berardi holding a small-scale replica of the transitional houses TECHO builds.
NICOLÁS BERARDI 8 TECHO-U.S.’s Annual Report 2013
TECHO-U.S. CEO
At TECHO we strongly believe that connecting the world of opportunities to the world of needs is a key driver in overcoming poverty. Our global operations, present in 21 countries and 64 cities, are all aligned under three key objectives. The first is to promote community development. Having a bottom-up approach where we aim for each community to be self-sustaining and self-managed is very important. The second is to advocate for public policy change. We do this in a number of ways; most visibly through shedding light on the oftenignored poorest communities. The third is to raise awareness and generate social engagement. Our work in the U.S. is focused on doing just that by combining fundraising initiatives, communicational opportunities and volunteer engagement. Two thousand thirteen was an incredible year at TECHO-U.S. We grew our Miami
The biggest accomplishment of the year was without a doubt the #Colecta. By partnering with Miami Dade College, Univision and The Knight Foundation, we were able to mobilize 1,000 volunteers in Miami. It was a colorful and energetic way to fundraise but most importantly to send the message that the youth in Latin America and in the U.S. has a deep commitment towards overcoming poverty worldwide. All the funds raised, the communicational impact, the volunteers mobilized… Nothing could have been possible without the effort of people like you, that has decided to pick up this annual report, learn about our projects and understand everyone has a special place at TECHO. If we are to accomplish something as titanic as overcoming poverty, then we need absolutely everyone to join our work. Un abrazo, Nicolás Berardi TECHO-U.S. CEO _ Starting on January 2014, Diego Firpo will be the CEO of TECHO-U.S.
the reality for many in Latin America; more importantly, we are also contributing to have a positive impact in the society of this country.
Roberto AWAD
corporations and individuals to whom we are extremely thankful. However, given the geographical distance that separates our volunteers from our beneficiaries, we have found it difficult to stay close to our roots by mobilizing the young people of the U.S. for a cause like ours.
The driving force behind TECHO sparks from its ability to connect two worlds that rarely interact. The world of extreme poverty and that of more fortunate university students who volunteer to work with TECHO.
Not anymore. In 2013, with the help of Miami Dade College and multiple cities in Miami Dade County, we were able to organize a massive fundraising effort. More than 1,000 volunteers took the streets of Miami to raise funds for TECHO. No other organization had ever attempted an event of this magnitude. In my opinion, this was the real christening of TECHO in the U.S. We proved that we can harness the energy of young people in this country and repeat the formula of our success in Latin America. We also added a new dimension for those in the U.S. who support us. TECHO is not only changing
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
Making such a connection allows us to change both those worlds. It provides homes to families that live without a roof over their heads, while forever changing the hearts of those who volunteer to build them. Since we first set ground in the U.S. we have been fortunate to have the support of many
There is no better proof than the 608,419 volunteers mobilized across the whole region, the nearly 100,000 transitional houses built and the 19 countries in which TECHO operates. More impressive is that all of it has happened without significant support from the young people of the largest economy in the continent. So let’s see what we can do now that TECHO has truly emerged in the U.S. Who knows where we can go with the young people of this country that have joined in with their support. We invite you to find out. Roberto Awad Chairman of the Board
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Roberto Awad, Chairman of the Board, building a transitional house
My family and I have been involved with TECHO since its arrival to the U.S. in 2009. During this period, we have learned to appreciate the real beauty of being young. It lies in the unrelenting drive to disrupt the status quo and transform what seems unchangeable.
JANUARY
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Board of Caterpillar Foundation building a transitional house.
Building Experience with CAT TECHO has been working with Caterpillar Foundation since 2011. In 2013, we were able to involve companies of their ecosystem such as Gecolsa, Cogesa, Gentrac, Nimac, Iassa, Ferreyros and Tracsa, among others. The Board of Caterpillar Corporation built three transitional houses in Panama at Nueva Esperanza Community. Caterpillar also invited volunteers from IASSA and GE Panama to participate as well. To date, CAT has built 327 transitional houses in nine countries impacting 1,600 people living in poverty conditions.
FEBRUARY
New York Office Kick Off New York is the so-called “Capital of the World.” It is one of the most important cities in the world and hub to many successful companies, entrepreneurs, artists, and students. TECHO started in New York with the dream of becoming part of its successful stories and involve as many people as possible in eradicating poverty. TECHO N.Y.’s mission is to fundraise and recruit young volunteers to promote civic engagement and to eradicate poverty, making New York a hub for social change. Since its inception, the N.Y. office has fundraised over $500,000 and mobilized +50 youth volunteers.
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Juan Del Cerro, Director of Corporate Development in N.Y. introducing the TECHO N.Y. Chapter
MARCH
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Professional Tennis Player Charly Berlocq and Nicolás Berardi, TECHO U.S. CEO, at BreakPoint Miami.
BreakPoint Miami On March 20th, world-renowned tennis players supported TECHO at the annual dinner, BreakPoint, in the Grand Bay Club in Miami. Pico Mónaco, Alex Falla and Charly Berlocq were some of the tennis players who attended the event. Other donated their items to be auctioned among local business representatives and community leaders. The items included Andy Murray’s shirts, Azarenka’s dress, Nadal’s shirts and others. More than 250 guests attended the dinner sponsored by LAN TAM, Goldman Sachs and Novecento. Over $70,000
were fundraised in order to promote community development, especially through the construction of 35 transitional houses in Latin America.
APRIL
Porsche Latin American volunteers in Altos de Howard, a community in Panama City.
Giannina Botero and Mark Chatburn, some of the organizers of the Guayaquil Project Event.
TECHO built five transitional houses in Altos de Howard Community in Panama City. This construction was carried out with Porsche Latin America and Porsche’s importers within the region. Forty six corporate volunteers participated in this activity. Porsche Latin America and TECHO were also able to invite Porsche’s ecosystem to join TECHO’s work in 14 countries where TECHO is executing this partnership.
The Guayaquil Project was able to generate over $20,000 for families living in slums across Guayaquil, Ecuador. The Guayaquil Project is an initiative created by former Argentine model Inés Rivero, Giannina Botera, and Mark Chatburn. The funds were raised through a cocktail party organized by Inés and company. Some of the guests included members of the fashion industry.
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First Building Experience Guayaquil Project with Porsche in Panama
MAY
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Design TECHO group in Medellin, Colombia, building transitional houses with the beneficiary families.
Design TECHO’s Building Trip DESIGN TECHO is an initiative created to invite designers to join the fight against poverty. Ten designers from Miami travelled to Medellin, Colombia, to build five transitional houses for families living in Manantiales de la Paz Community. Each designer had a $2,000 goal to fundraise. In order to accomplish their goal, they had a cocktail party with their families, friends and clients. As a result, $20,000 were raised, which allowed the donation of 10 transitional houses for Colombia.
Miami Volunteers with the beneficiary family building a transitional house in Medellin, Colombia.
Table setting for guests.
First Building Trip with Miami Volunteers to Colombia
TINTO for TECHO in New York
Fifty TECHO youth volunteers from Miami travelled to Medellin, Colombia, to build transitional houses through the joint effort between the Manantiales de Paz and Portal de Oriente residents. 250 other volunteers from Medellin joined the cause on the same weekend.
A group of New York’s most influential people joined forces with the first TINTO for TECHO event. In one night $127,000 were fundraised, a total of 63 transitional houses. TECHO came together with one of the most iconic names in the Italian wine industry, Marchese Piero Antinori, for this fun and exceptional fundraising dinner at the Italian Wine Merchant, a prestigious winery in New York City. The event was sponsored by Macquarie Group.
we had the chance to climb up the hills, to travel “longAs volunteers, distances, but even after all the struggle, every family we worked with received a house and we succeed. I know Doña Astrid (in my case) will now have a place she can call home, said Jesus Bohorquez, a TECHO-U.S. volunteer.
”
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JUNE
July
Guatemalan Consul Juan Luis Nilo and XX at the Cultura Fair.
Volunteers at the Cultural Fair.
N.Y. volunteers ready to build transitional houses with the families.
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Miami volunteers participating in the first Latin American Cultural Fair.
Latin American Cultural Fair The economic and diplomatic communities in South Florida joined TECHO in an event called Latin American Cultural Fair. It was sponsored by Espacio USA, Kukaramakara, Viña Ventisquero and RAAW. TECHO counted with the participation of the Bolivian, Costa Rican, Mexican, Guatemalan, Peruvian, Dominican Republic, and Panamanian Consulate, and The Colombian American Chamber of Commerce and PRO Chile.
First N.Y. Volunteers Building Trip to Guatemala Twenty New York volunteers traveled to Guatemala and met up with 1,300 other Guatemalan volunteers in a slum in Joctillo. Volunteers from U.S. raised over half of the funds utilizing crowdfunding platforms and inviting their friends, families and colleagues to donate online. This, along with the added support from Iniciativa 58 and the Ronald McDonald Foundation, led to a successful funding campaign that was established at an early period. have been so deeply touched by this work… This “willI also be certainly an experience I’ll remember forever! ” said Dianne, a TECHO N.Y. volunteer.
AUGUST
First BreakPoint in N.Y. On August 28th world-renowned tennis players supported the fundraising cocktail BreakPoint N.Y. in Novecento. More than 10 tennis players from around the world donated their items to be auctioned among local business representatives and community leaders. Approximately 100 guests attended the event sponsored by Macquarie Bank and Novecento. More than $70,000 were fundraised to promote community development, through the construction of 35 transitional houses in Latin America.
17 TECHO-U.S.’s Annual Report 2013
Nicolas Berardi, TECHO U.S. CEO, giving a speech to the guests at BreakPoint N.Y.
SEPTEMBER
Volunteers at the kick off point in Miami Beach before going to the streets to collect money.
Volunteerswearingcostumeswhileaskingfordonationsinafunandcreativewayinthe streetsofMiami.
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One Thousand Volunteers Participated in the First Colecta in Miami TECHO-U.S. first institutional campaign´s goal was to raise awareness in the U.S about the poverty situation in Latin America and TECHO´s work. The campaign culminated with a closing event called COLECTA, on September 28th. More than 1,000 youth volunteers took over the streets of Miami collecting $69,821.46 to finance community development programs. Meanwhile on the same day, TECHO broadcasted a live feed online of a transitional house under construction in a slum in Paraguay, in order to create a sense of urgency in the community. The COLECTA was sponsored by Miami Dade College, Univision and The Knight Foundation.
OCTOBER
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty The Guayaquil Project with their families and the beneficiary residents building a transitional house in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
Guayaquil Project Building Trip As a result of the Guayaquil Project event that took place on April, the Guayaquil group traveled to Ecuador where they participated in a construction weekend with the families who benefited from the donation acquired earlier in the year.
19 TECHO-U.S.’s Annual Report 2013
Bridges, playgrounds, sports facilities, street lighting and access to water were some of the projects TECHO committed to work on October 17th, the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. TECHO promoted its commitment of these 19 specific projects through a platform called Comparte (Share), where users have the opportunity to get involved, turning these initiatives into concrete solutions.
NOVEMBER First intervention of ARTECHO in Pinta NY, the modern & contemporary Latin American art show.
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A guest looking at the small-scale replicas of a transitional house intervened by a Latin American artist.
Danone Building Experience A group of 10 professionals from EVX Latin America participated in the construction of one transitional house in Sao Paolo, Brazil. The team, led by MartĂn Moresco EVX Latam Zone Director, raised the funds for the construction with their employees and Ecosystem Partners, involving companies from Brazil and Puerto Rico as well.
EVX Latin America volunteers digging to set the pilars of the house in Sao Paolo, Brazil.
ARTECHO at Pinta New York From November 15-17th, ARTECHO, a social initiative by TECHO, was featured in PINTA New York, an exclusive and intimate international art fair held in New York City. Through ARTECHO, prominent artists from Latin America designed and independently interpreted small-scale replicas of the transitional houses that TECHO builds.
DECEMBER Building Experience with Santander
Ramón Aular intervining a Porsche 911 Carrera at the cocktail party of ARTECHO during Art Basel.
Artists Joined TECHO to Overcome Poverty During ART BASEL On the 3rd edition of ARTECHO, 15 Latino artists donated their own art pieces as a symbol of their support to TECHO’s work to be exhibited and auctioned to raise funds for the cause. The private opening exhibition was held at TECHO’s own tent, across Art Miami, in Midtown. The event was sponsored by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Midtown Opportunities, Event Star, Porsche and Goldman Sachs. ARTECHO also counted with the participation of a Porsche Latin America exhibition of a 911 Carrera. During the event, the car served as a white canvas to be painted by Miami-based Venezuelan artist Ramón Aular.
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On November 21st, high executives of Santander Private Banking for Latin America had a team building experience between TECHO volunteers and the families from the community in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The trip was the last step of Santander and TECHO’s partnership 2012-2013. Santander and TECHO have been working together since 2012 and have built 22 transitional houses in 12 countries and mobilized 186 volunteers.
J-pal HOUSING study A study from The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) reveals that TECHO’s transitional house have a positive impact in Latin American and Caribbean families living in slums. Results:
22 TECHO-U.S.’s Annual Report 2013
· The satisfaction with the quality of life increased. · Families feel safer leaving house alone. · Provides a sense of welbeing and dignity. · Satisfaction of the quality of the house increased. This confirms that the transtional house is a necessary first step of a long-term process that seeks to overcome poverty. TECHO understands poverty as a multidimensional problem that needs to be confronted through community development.
Annual clipping for communications Throughout the year, TECHO was featured in several news outlets, positioning the brand and reaching a greater audience in the U.S. Below are some of the networks that covered TECHO’s events, achievements and milestones in 2013.
Nicolás Berardi, TECHO-U.S. CEO introducing the COLECTA in Despierta America on Univision.
23 TECHO-U.S.’s Annual Report 2013
Nicolás Berardi, TECHO-U.S. CEO introducing Breakpoint in NotiMujer on CNN En Español.
FINANCIAL OVERVIEW At the beginning of 2013, TECHO was in its strongest financial position achieving 11 new partnerships. These increased substantially the revenue compared to 2012. TECHO invested in more employees to continue to expand in the U.S. Revenue / Support
Chile (27,4%) Headquarters (13,6%) Argentina (7,4%) México (6,2%) Colombia (6.2%) Haití (5,6%) Bolivia (5,1%) Panamá (3,7%) America Solidaria (3,7%) Brazil (3,6%)
1% 0% 9% 15%
24 TECHO-U.S.’s Annual Report 2013
6%
In 2013, TECHO allocated $2.7 million (77 percent of TECHO’s total income) in 18 developing countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to spend in transitional houses and community development programs. Expenditure by location
69%
Corporate Contributions Community Giving N.Y. Office Events and Marketing Volunteers San Francisco Office
$3.5 million total money raised in 2013
Guatemala (3,3%) El Salvador (3.0%) Nicaragua (3,0%) Perú (2,5%) Honduras (2,1%) Ecuador (1,1%) Dominican Rep. (1,0%) Costa Rica (1,0%) Paraguay (0,3%) Uruguay (0,1%)
TECHO invested $602,029 from private donations in its infrastructure, including competitive salaries and benefits, fund development, volunteer engagement, construction trips, special events and office operations. Distribution of expenses: Payroll Expenses (47%) Fundraising expenses (23,5%) Contract Services (15,8%) Operations (10%) Business Expenses (1,7%) Facilities and Equipment (0,9%) Other Types of Expenses (0,7%)
TECHO is committed to being fiscally responsible and transparent. We are proud of our organization, and TECHO will continue to increase our fundraising efforts. The vast majority of our funding goes directly to programs and services for people living in poverty situation in Latin America and the Caribbean. Based on financial statements ending 2013, 82 percent of total expenses were allocated to programs for families living in these communities. Our organization continually strives to keep administrative and fundraising cost associated with the operation of TECHO as low as possible. Statement of expenses 14%
4% Grants and Programs Management and general Fundraising expenses
82% American Friends of Un Techo para mi Pais is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with headquarters in Miami. TECHO’s federal ID number for donations is 27-1479398.
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS South-South Transfer of Good Practice for Housing and Urban Development (2010). UN- HABITAT, BSHF & PNUD
UN Habitat Scroll of Honor Award (2009). Human Settlements program from the United Nations
Best Practices in Policies and Programs Award (2009).
Dubai Municipality and UN Habitat
Awarded by UNESCO & BID
King of Spain Human Rights Award (2011). Ombudsman University of Alcalá
25 TECHO-U.S.’s Annual Report 2013
Best Practices Transfer to Improve the Living Environment (2012).
2014 OBJECTIVES
26 TECHO-U.S.’s Annual Report 2013
For 2014, TECHO-U.S. will be focusing in four strategic objectives:
Ensure financial sustainability of the institution, creating a network of donors to finance planned projects.
Position TECHO as a leader in issues of poverty in slums to raise funds to impact more families.
Deepen in growth and employee management.
Compel and involve different sectors of society in the development of solutions to overcome poverty.
volunteers testimonial casually mentioned it, but never did I imagine that it would become such a huge part of my life. I’ve watched this organization grow, been present for the first Colecta, and worked closely with the incredible team that leads TECHO-U.S., but none of these reasons can truly explain why I feel in love with it. I always say that I volunteer with TECHO, and not for TECHO. To me, this is key because the essence of TECHO is just that, the ability that young individuals can take roles of leadership and consistently grow in collaboration with the organization. There is a beauty and rarity in what TECHO does, but it is their approach to volunteers that sets them apart and what keeps so many of us motivated. I can’t imagine not having TECHO in my life because it has truly opened my eyes in so many ways and given me numerable lessons, both personally and professionally. These are things that we as volunteers will carry with us for the rest of our lives and what could be better than an organization that works to create conscious citizens and innovative leaders for generations to come?
”
Nicole Roman TECHO-U.S. Volunteer.
in Colombia. We had to move because of the violence. It has been 8 years since I’ve been here in Medellin. But let me tell you that it was extremely difficult for us to survive from the beginning when we first moved: almost with nothing to eat, we had many more leaks in our house than we do now. I am currently the Social Manager and I work for the community of Granizal. This community has many houses made out of plastic, cardboard, wood, tin. Those are the only materials you can afford to build a house with in order to avoid getting wet and cold. But TECHO arrived here 3 years ago giving people solutions. Granizal has many needs. However, TECHO isn’t only building transitional houses with us, but it is assisting us with many other programs. For example, we have already had meetings in Manantiales regarding the construction of an aqueduct. This community hopes TECHO stays, not only in Granizal, but in many other places in our country and other countries, because I know needs are everywhere. Yesterday, I told them they were like little ants, tiny ants in love with what they do, and that’s very important to me. I always say God gave me a tongue, he didn’t give me strength to carry stuff, but my tongue has the ability to speak. I always tell my neighbors that I put my tongue to work by making my words reach everywhere as the Social Manager, and thanks to God, I’ve found this institution that sees my will to improve.
”
Medellin, Colombia Beneficiary Ana Cecilia Marín Communitary Leader
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It’s easy to say that TECHO changed my life in the past year. “I came to find the organization through some friends who
My name is Ana Cecilia Marin and I was “displaced from a Barrancabermeja, a city
how to support techo? There are three possible ways to join TECHO Monetary Donations: -Unique donations: techo.org/donate -Becoming a TECHO Friend: a person who donates monthly a fixed amount of money to support one or many of TECHO´s social inclusion programs.
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Corporations: -Enhancing employee engagement through volunteering programs -Improving social responsibility image through marketing campaigns -Business innovation and growth opportunities through businesses’ ecosystem engagement Time Donation: -EVENTS Volunteer your time executing TECHO events, activities and campaigns. Responsibilities range from creating, organizing to planning them. -AREAS Depending on the expertise, volunteers contribute with their knowledge and experience in daily operations of TECHO’s departments: Corporate Development, Communications, Finance/Administration and Volunteer Engagement either through internships or volunteering. -BUILDING TRIPS It’s an opportunity to experience first hand poverty in Latin America. In one weekend, volunteers get the chance to spend two days with a family and other local volunteers building together a transitional house.
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