UN QUADRENNIAL REPORT ECOSOC 2015

Box 1 - Introduction - 700 words A brief introductory statement should include information about your organization’s area of work, goals and geographical coverage. TECHO is a youth led non-profit organization present in 19 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean: Argentina, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, and Uruguay. TECHO has offices in the US, as well as in London, England.

TECHO seeks to overcome poverty in slums through the joint work of families living in extreme poverty with youth volunteers.

TECHO is convinced that poverty can be permanently eradicated if society as a whole recognizes poverty as a priority and actively works towards overcoming it.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES 1) The promotion of community development in slums, through a process of community strengthening that promotes representative & validated leadership, drives the organization and participation of thousands of families living in slums to generate solutions of their own problems.

(2) Fostering social awareness and action, with special emphasis on generating critical and determined volunteers working next to the families living in slums while involving different actors of society.

(3) Political advocacy that promotes necessary structural changes to ensure that poverty does not continue reproducing, and that it begins to decrease rapidly.

VISION A fair and poverty free society, where everyone has the opportunities needed to develop their capacities and fully exercise their rights MISSION Work Tirelessly to overcome extreme poverty in slums, through training and joint action of families and youth volunteers. Furthermore, to promote community development, denouncing the situation in which the most excluded communities live. And lastly, to advocate for social policies with other actors in society. VALUES Solidarity. It is an empathy with the most excluded families, which moves us to want to be and work alongside with them. Sharing their hardships and desires, to learn from their skills and perseverance, and to advocate against everything that excludes them and that does not recognize their rights as human beings. Conviction. To overcome poverty and injustice in our continent is possible. This certainty gives us the determination to work tirelessly and together with others to accomplish it. Placing challenging and high goals, as well as taking the necessary risks to go beyond all the fatalisms that surround us.

Excellence. All of our work must be of high quality, given that it is intended for those less fortunate. Our work is rigorous, punctual, always creative and innovative. It is respectful of the commitments, perseverant in the face of difficulties, intelligent to recognize mistakes and correct them, and proactive in the search for solutions to the problems that arise along the way. Diversity. At TECHO, all young people are welcome, regardless of ethnic or social backgrounds, religious belief, political choices or sexual orientation. We are sure that our differences are an asset in joining forces for that which unites us: the fight against extreme poverty in our continent. Optimism. We look at the future with hope, without being naïve, because we believe that it is possible to defeat the injustice that we see today. We move forward towards this future working with joy, because as young people we recognize what a privilege it is to dedicate our lives to make our world a more human and equal place for everyone.

Box 2 - Aims and purposes of the organization and its course of action - 700 words Enter a brief statement on the aims and purposes of your organization, and how you work to achieve those aims, including the main activities.

TECHO’s Community Intervention focuses on the most excluded slums of the continent. The joint work of families and young volunteers, who work to produce concrete solutions to the problematic of poverty, is the key driver of the intervention. TECHO drives a continuous community strengthening process, taking community development as the transversal axis of the intervention.

The initial phase of the Community Intervention consists of the insertion into slums and in the development of a diagnostic of the families in need. Youth volunteers have their first approach to the reality which can be seen in the slums, working in the field in order to develop a diagnosis, and to enhance the residents leadership by promoting organization, participation, and community co-responsibility in the whole process.

● In the second phase, as a response to the identified needs in the community, there is an implementation and management of solutions in the areas of livability, education, labor and others that address existing problems. These solutions are developed throughout joint work between young volunteers and families, enhancing individual and collective capacities for community self-management. Young volunteers get involved in an awareness process about poverty and its causes, which leads them to act in order to generate real change.

● Within this phase we emphasize the construction of transitional housing, which meets a need that is urgent and a priority in most slums. Creating a link of trust between the volunteers and the community since it is a concrete, tangible and achievable solution in the short term. The house built by TECHO is a prefabricated module of 162 square feet, built in two days, with the participation of young volunteers and families in the community. The construction generates an encounter between these two realties, promoting critical reflection and concrete proposals on how to overcome poverty. This process is done with a community approach, which promotes the organization and participation of the community. Deepening this process of community empowerment, the community-organizing committee is implemented. This is a meeting where community leaders and youth volunteers dialogue and discuss about possible solutions to the priority problems in the slum. TECHO focuses on the implementation of education plans; work plans, such as basic skills training and micro-credit for the development of small businesses. TECHO seeks to link communities with networks to develop other programs to meet community goals and contribute to the generation of solutions. As a third phase of the intervention, the implementation of lasting and sustainable solutions is promoted in slums, such as: regularization of property, basic services, housing, infrastructure and local development. TECHO articulates and links organized families living in slums with government institutions, so they can demand their rights.

● Starting with the constant and massive hard work of young volunteers and families living in slums, TECHO denounces the exclusion and violation of rights that exists in slums, so that these problems are recognized by society and become a priority of the public agenda. Moreover, TECHO generates relevant information about slums, and seeks to be part of instances of proposal and public policy decision making, promoting structural changes that contribute to the eradication of poverty.

Box 3 - Any change that may have had a significant impact - 700 words Here you can list any changes in your organization’s orientation, programme, or scope of work. These changes might include: an amendment to the constitution or by-laws; an increase or significant change in the geographical distribution of the membership or funding; any new organizational affiliations or mergers with programmatic, legal or other implications; or need for reclassification of consultative status with the Economic and Social Council. You do not need to include administrative changes through routine electoral processes. If there have been no significant changes, you can indicate “None.”

None

Box 4 - Contribution to the work of the United Nations NGOs in consultative status are expected to undertake activities to advance the achievement of the development agenda of ECOSOC and the United Nations at large. Your report should therefore list your main activities over the past four years that are in support of that agenda.

TECHO’s activities are related to the reduction of poverty, education and training, housing and shelter, social inclusion and promotion of youth development. In the last four years (2011-2014) TECHO has undergone the following activities: Construction of 29,616 Transitional Houses in the 19 countries where TECHO operates Participation of 406,436 youth volunteers in TECHO’s activities 460 community organizing committees have been implemented 12445 community dwellers have graduated in specific job-skills training 26,297 children and adults have participated in education programs; 783 community centers were built in slums

TECHO’s results to date amount to the construction of more than 106,000 transitional houses, working together with families and the participation of over 800,000 volunteers; Over 594 community organizing committees have been implemented. To date 14,078 community dwellers have graduated in specific job-skills training from 880 workshops; 27,789 children and adults have participated in education programs; 859community centers were built in slums; and 5,892 families have benefitted from TECHO-Chile's definitive housing project.

TECHO is also a trusted first responder in emergency situations starting with the 2001 earthquake in El Salvador and continuing with aid in disasters such as earthquakes in Peru (2007), Haiti (2010) and Chile (2010 and 2014) as well as the wildfires and floods in Chile (2014, 2015).

Box 5 - Participation in the fora of the United Nations NGOs are encouraged to take part in the appropriate intergovernmental fora so that the work of the Council, and the United Nations at large, can benefit from your input. Participation in the work of the Council and its subsidiary bodies might include: contributions to meetings and outcome documents or reports; oral and written statements; proposal of agenda items; and organization of parallel NGO meetings or side events, among others. Please be precise when you list your activities. Each reference to a conference or meeting attended or organized by the NGO should indicate the official title of the meeting (without acronyms and abbreviations), the United Nations body or office organizing the meeting, the venue (city and country) and the exact date of the meeting. Please indicate the nature of your participation and the title or theme of any document, contribution or statement presented by your organization at the event. For example: “Representatives attended the 61st session of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) for the review of Canada’s 3rd and 4th reports under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Geneva, Switzerland, 26-27 September 2012.”

TECHO participated in a series of hangouts with United Nations bodies: BID Hangout "Vivienda digna para todos ¿Cuál es la solución?" Elkin Velásquez Director Regional de ONU-Habitat para América Latina y el Caribe, ha desarrollado diversos trabajos de gobernabilidad, seguridad ciudadana, análisis de riesgos, política y prospectiva territorial. El Centro de Investigaciones en Política Urbana y Vivienda lo invita a participar del BID Hangout "Vivienda digna para todos ¿Cuál es la solución?" en el que diferentes expertos en la materia de la región debatirán sobre el futuro del acceso a la vivienda y a un hábitat sustentable. Se desarrollará el miércoles 15 de octubre, 10 am (GMT -7). Representatives of TECHO participated in the 50th Session of the Commission for Social Development that focused on poverty eradication, New York 1-10 February 2012

TECHO participated in the First Forum on Affordable Housing organized by Habitat for Humanity together with the United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat) to identify solutions for urban challenges in Latin America in 2012. TECHO organized the First Forum: Habitat and Poverty Reduction (Primer foro: Hábitat y superación de la pobreza) together with the United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat) and Habitat for Humanity to analyze the spatial segregation and inequality in cities in Colombia, October 10 2014 in Bogotá, Colombia. TECHO organized the side event “Poverty, Exclusion and the Right of Housing in Latin America (Pobreza, exclusión y el derecho a la vivienda en America Latina)”during the 25th regular session of the Human Rights Council (3 - 28 March 2014) in Geneva to discuss about the urban challenges in the Latin America region. TECHO joined the World Habitat’s Day theme ‘Voices from Slums’ 2014 together with the United Nations Human Settlement Programme to give voice to people who have lived or live in slums or ​ other vulnerable urban contexts, in October 2014

TECHO participated in the 7th World Urban Forum organized by the United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat) in April 5-11 in Medellín, Colombia. TECHO was had a booth where the organization showcased the work that is doing in Latin America regarding Habitat solutions to families in slums. TECHO and the United Nations Global Compact Cities Programme made a presentation on Urban Permanent Solutions together focusing on:

1. Presentation of the experiences of the Habitat Development Department of TECHO whose ​ objective is to transform informal slums in socially integrated communities. Chilean case studies were presented and how the model was adapted to the reality of Argentina and Uruguay. 2. Presentation of the experience of TECHO and the United Nations Global Compact Cities ​ Programme on solving urban complex issues. TECHO and UNGCCP associated to facilitate the exchange of experiences, resources and good practices as well as starting a joint research on energy efficiency in Latin America. TECHO also held a training session on informal settlement slums, presenting the methodology used to georeference slums in 19 countries in Latin America.

Box 6 – Cooperation with United Nations Bodies Cooperation with United Nations bodies or specialized agencies in the field or at Headquarters might include: preparation of, or contribution to, research papers and studies; joint sponsorship of meetings; humanitarian activities or operational projects; or financial assistance received from or given to the United Nations. For example:

“Implemented a project in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to create meeting points and contexts which promote adolescent education in Bolivia, Paraguay and Perú, 2006-2007.” Or, “Signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) to enhance environmental governance in Africa through capacity building for law enforcement agencies in 2012.”

TECHO contributed to the following United Nations publications: United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund - TECHO (2011) La voz de los niños, niñas y adolescentes en campamentos. Análisis de las condiciones de vida desde la mirada de la infancia. United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund - TECHO (2013) Las voces de los adolescentes en villas y asentamientos en Buenos Aires United Nations Development Programme (2014) La pobreza en San Salvador. Desde la mirada de sus protagonistas.

TECHO signed the following memorandum of understanding with the United Nations: TECHO signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Global Compact Cities Programme (UNGCCP) in 2011 to promote and share resources, network and expertise as well as doing collaborative research and projects.

TECHO has received the following awards and funds from the United Nations: TECHO received funds from the United Nations Human Settlement Programme to implement a ​ skills training program for in Argentina in 2011. The Dubai Municipality and United Nations Human Settlement Programme awarded TECHO with ​ the “Dubai International Award for Best Practices (Best Practice Transfer)”, 2012. TECHO received funds from the United Nations Human Settlement Programme to implement a ​ skills training and personal, labor and business strengthening program for 50 young people from 16 slums in Montevideo, in order to prepare the beneficiaries to get microcredit funds that can strengthen sustainable entrepreneurship for their communities in 2012. The United Nations Democracy Fund supported TECHO in the celebration of the 1st Latin America Community Leaders Conference (1er Encuentro Latinoamericano de Líderes Comunitarios) to promote the exchange of experience among community leaders in Latin America as well as building a strong Latin American identity.

Box 7 – Initiatives taken in support of the MDGs In this section you can list all initiatives undertaken by your organization in support of internationally agreed development goals, in particular, the Millennium Development Goals, which form the basis of the United Nations global peace and development agenda. (For additional information about the MDGs, please go to: www.un.org/millenniumgoals). ​ ​

For example: “The organization contributed to MDGs 4 and 5 in Madagascar, Benin and Gambia by providing nutritional care to 162,079 children and prenatal care to 7,950 expectant mothers during the reporting period.” You can also list your activities in support of global principles such as: “The organization observed the World AIDS Day each year on 1 December. It also commemorated the 2009 World AIDS Day at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, resulting in a turnout of several thousand people and web-cast globally via the Kaiser Foundation network website.” If your organization did not undertake any specific activities you could state, for example: “Our organization‘s activities did not focus on specific initiatives in fulfilment of the MDGs, but rather on supporting the overall development agenda through advocacy and outreach.”

TECHO has contributed to the Millennium Development Goal number 1 in the 19 countries where the organization operates through the activities mentioned above: Construction of 29,616 Transitional Houses in the 19 countries where TECHO operates Participation of 406,436 youth volunteers in TECHO’s activities community organizing committees have been implemented community dwellers have graduated in specific job-skills training from 880 workshops; 26,297 children and adults have participated in education programs; 783 community centers were built in slums TECHO participated in the World World Day for Overcoming Extreme Poverty in October 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 to promote awareness of the need to eradicate poverty and destitution in slums in Latin America

Box 8 – Additional information Here you can enter any additional information that you would like to share with the Committee on NGOs. You can leave it blank if you have nothing of any relevance to report on. TECHO went through a series of internal changes, transitioning from TECHO’s implementation stage to the consolidation stage. As a result, TECHO reconfigured the identity and organizational culture of the institution, which it was sought to represent with a rebranding.

5. Saying it Right - Editorial Guidelines

Quadrennial reports are expected to observe strict editorial guidelines before they can be considered ready for submission. If reports are improperly drafted and fail to follow the correct format, style and content, they may be refused. On Style: Please observe the following points. ​ The report should be drafted in the third person. For example, use phrases such as “The organization attended ” not “I … attended ” Please avoid the use of proper names and titles of people from your organization who attended. … References to United Nations documents or publications should cite both the title and indicate the relevant symbols. Quotations should be referenced.

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