**Vital Investment for Development Aid in Latin America**
## **ANNUAL REPORT 2023**
# **Supporting communities’ HEALTH EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT**
**ANNUAL REPORT 2023**
## **Contents**
## **About us**
|**bout us**||
|---|---|
|**Our mission**|**4**|
|**Our story**|**4**|
|**Why support La Vida?**|**5**|
|**Case study: Kimberley’s story**|**6**|
|**Our year**|**7**|
|**Our Trustees**|**8**|
## **Project overview**
|**roject overview**||
|---|---|
|**Our projects**|**9**|
|**Amantani, Peru**|**10**|
|**Corcovado Foundation, Costa Rica**|**11**|
|**_educate._, Honduras**|**12**|
|**Education for the Children, Guatemala**|**13**|
|**El Rio Foundation, Colombia**|**14**|
|**Case study: Cleyde’s story**|**15**|
|**Fondo Guadalupe Musalem, Mexico**|**16**|
|**Healing Venezuela, Venezuela**|**17**|
|**Helping Hands, Bolivia**|**17**|
|**Mano Vuelta, Mexico**|**18**|
|**Plant Your Future, Peru**|**19**|
|**Poder Joven Foundation, Colombia**|**20**|
|**Project Somos Children’s Village, Guatemala**|**21**|
|**Villa Maria School, Peru**|**23**|
**Financial statements & notes 24 27 Independent examiner’s report**
## **Administrative details**
|**dministrative details**||
|---|---|
|**Charity information**|**29**|
|**Structure, governance & management**|**29**|
|**Objectives & activities**|**30**|
**3**
**ABOUT US**
## **Our mission**
**La Vida raises funds to support community health, education and environment projects throughout Latin America**
**The charity is registered in the UK and has been established to help disadvantaged people residing permanently in Latin America, in particular, by preserving and protecting health, relieving sickness, relieving poverty, advancing education and raising environmental awareness.**
## **Our story**
**La Vida was co-founded in 2006 by Katy Vatis and Helen Ilsley when, after a business trip to Brazil, they met Dr Monica Nogueira, a paediatric orthopedic surgeon trying to raise funds to train her peers in the non-surgical Ponseti method of treating children with clubfoot.**
La Vida raised the funds needed, and the project was a success; in 2008, 556 doctors were trained, and 5,000 children were treated. Thousands more children have been successfully treated in subsequent years.
La Vida has since supported highly effective grassroots projects in Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela; some of which we support on a continuing basis and some which are now complete.
The grants aided projects in areas such as youth development, education initiatives and school expansions, as well as community health and environmental programmes.
Despite being a relatively small charity, so far La Vida
has raised over £1 million through sponsorship, fundraising events, direct donations and partnerships with other foundations. We estimate the funding we have deployed has directly impacted the lives of over 100,000 disadvantaged children and their families in Latin America.
**4**
**ABOUT US**
## **Why support La Vida?**
**La Vida focuses exclusively on projects supporting communities’ health, environment and education. Our targeted support has a positive impact on lives in some of the world’s poorest countries.**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
£1m +
**----- End of picture text -----**
**La Vida has raised more than £1 million so far**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
ch£1goes toourpro
a j
e e
of tcs
**----- End of picture text -----**
**98p of every £1 raised is used to create real and lasting change**
**Everyone working for La Vida does so on a voluntary basis. We have an impressively low cost base with almost every penny raised going directly to our projects.**
**We have a rigorous governance process. We go to great lengths to ensure funds are properly allocated, well-monitored and have a significant, long-term local impact.**
**We have helped more than 100,000 disadvantaged children and families**
**5**
**INDIVIDABOUT USAL IMPACT**
## **[CASE STUDY]**
**Kimberley, age 15 PROJECT SOMOS, GUATEMALA**
_**At Project Somos, the staff help you. They never turn their back on you**_ Kimberley is from a large family and was unfortunately unable to continue her education after sixth grade.
Without key skills or qualifications, a future of financial security and freedom seemed out of reach until Kimberley completed an eight-week cookery course with Project Somos. She learned to cook and bake, and take care of health through diet. She has shared her skills with her family, helping them to live a healthier lifestyle.
Thanks to the encouragement and dedication of Project Somos’ team, Kimberley has found the confidence to dream of a positive future and hopes to find a way to study to become a nurse.
**6**
**ABOUT US**
## **Our year**
**From our first-ever Leaders Forum, to the revival of a fundraising favourite, 2023 was a year of growth and opportunity for La Vida.**
We raised **£79,544** through donations, of which almost 90% has already been distributed directly to our projects.
In March, our **annual fundraising event** – Salsa Frenzy – contributed £15,000 to our funds.
**----- Start of picture text -----**
» Education for the Children Foundation, Guatemala
**----- End of picture text -----**
This year we had **significant donations** from the Royal Bank of Canada plus another large financial institution, as well as the Alan Goodwin and Aimee Reynolds Charity. We also had considerable donations from private individuals and companies, and our supporters continued to sponsor children’s education at Villa Maria School in Peru.
Our project leaders met with our trustees online at **La Vida’s first-ever Leaders Forum** in January to share experience, knowledge and advice. They discussed topics including safeguarding, fundraising strategies and programme development. Key points included funding flexibility, social media connectivity and core values.
We granted **£70,205 to causes throughout Latin America** and continued to provide support to the following projects: Amantani (Peru), Corcovado (Costa Rica), _educate._ (Honduras), Education for the Children Foundation (Guatemala), El Rio Foundation (Colombia), Fondo Guadalupe Musalem (Mexico), Helping Hands (Bolivia), Mano Vuelta (Mexico), Poder Joven (Colombia) and Villa Maria School (Peru).
Three **new projects** received funding from us in 2023: Project Somos Children’s Village (Guatemala), Plant your Future (Peru), and Healing Venezuela.
**» For further details on these projects and La Vida’s impact, turn to page 10**
**7**
**ABOUT US**
## **Our Trustees**
## **« Katy Vatis Co-Founder and Chairperson**
**Katy co-founded La Vida with Helen Ilsley in early 2006. She has a degree in Economics with Spanish. Most recently, Katy worked at Fullerton Fund Management as a Senior Analyst in Emerging Markets. She has spent most of her career as a Fund Manager covering Latin American equity markets. Katy’s travel to the region has given her first-hand experience of its extreme levels of poverty and the need for improvements in health and education.**
## **» Helen Ilsley Co-Founder and Treasurer**
**Co-Founder Helen spent 15 years as a stockbroker in the Latin American investment community. Having left the City in 2012 to set up her own property asset business, Helen is now an executive coach, heading up Business Development for the Executive Coaching Consultancy, specialising in helping businesses retain and develop their talented women. Helen has a Business Economics degree and is an accredited member of the Association of Coaching.**
## **« Zarela Feeney Trustee**
**Zary joined La Vida in December 2012. She began her career with Ernst & Young’s Financial Advisory Team in Washington DC where she focused on Latin America. She moved to London to join Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein’s M&A team. She has subsequently been involved in the non-profit sector and serves on the boards of foundations that have a significant social and environmental impact in Latin America. She has a MBA from George Washington University.**
## **» Ivonne Cantu Trustee**
**Ivonne joined La Vida in 2018. She is Head of Investor Relations and Sustainability at Benchmark Holdings plc, and a Director of Creo Medical plc and Primary Health Properties plc. Ivonne is also Chair of Info Latinos, a UK-based charity providing support to the Latin American community in the UK. Prior to this, Ivonne was a corporate finance adviser for 20 years at Merrill Lynch and Cenkos Securities. She has an MBA from the Wharton School of Business.**
## **« Susana Knaudt Trustee**
**Susana joined La Vida in 2023. She has a background in financial regulation, development finance and education. She worked at Citibank, the Central Bank of Bolivia and the World Bank, working on financial sector reform and micro-lending projects in Latin America. She believes education and grassroots financing are key to securing better futures for local communities. Susana has an Economics degree from LSE and a Masters in Public Policy from Harvard.**
**» For further details of our Trustees and volunteers please visit www.lavida.org.uk**
**8**
**PROJECT OVERVIEW**
## **Our projects**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Costa Rica
Colombia
Corcovado
El Rio Foundation··· Foundation··
Poder Joven··
Bolivia
Guatemala
Helping Hands· Education for the
Children Foundation··
Project Somos···
Honduras
Venezuela
educate. ·
Healing Venezuela···
Peru
Amantani· Mexico
Plant Your Future· Fondo Guadalupe Musalem··
Villa Maria School· Mano Vuelta··
**----- End of picture text -----**
**» KEY PROJECT FOCUS: HEALTH EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT** ~~**· ·**~~
**9**
**PROJECT OVERVIEW**
## **Project updates**
## **AMANTANI**
**» Grant in 2023: £3750 » Location: Peru » Partner since: 2014**
**Amantani works with young people in the Peruvian Andes, enabling them to access high-quality education and fair employment, and helping to stimulate social development in rural communities. They also support women producing artisinal goods to foster financial independence.**
La Vida supports Amantani’s Transitions Project, which has so far helped over 150 indigenous young women and men to access further education, including 23 in 2023. Three phases of the project assist young people by preparing them for further education, supporting them throughout their studies, improving their literacy, numeracy, computer competency and interpersonal skills, and facilitating access to formal employment. La Vida’s grant funds financial scholarships, as well as academic and psychosocial advice.
When the project started in 2016, only seven residents in the District of Ccorca had accessed further education. Since then, Amantani has helped 150 young people to study after secondary school and find fair employment.
For more information, visit **www.amantani.org.uk**
**10**
**PROJECT OVERVIEW**
## **CORCOVADO FOUNDATION**
**» Grant in 2023: £6,604 » Location: Costa Rica » Partner since: 2020**
**Corcovado Foundation supports economic development and environmental education in the southern pacific region of Costa Rica. This area, known as the Osa Peninsula, is one of the most important conservation areas in Central America. It is famous for its biodiversity and pristine wilderness, and is home to half of all species found in Costa Rica. Isolation has helped to protect the natural resources of the area, but it has also proven to be a huge challenge for its communities, who live in poor socio-economic conditions and hence must exploit their natural surroundings in order to survive.**
La Vida’s support helps Corcovado to run a programme of reforestation, regenerative agriculture, environmental groups, community support, and educational activities in different communities in the region.
During 2023, Corcovado worked with seven schools, 250 students and 25 families to advocate for sustainable productivity. They also received help from 115 national and foreign volunteers who participated in environmental projects, and continued to work with schools and businesses. Since the Foundation’s inception, more than 4,500 students have received environmental education in their schools, 500 tourism employees have been trained in good practice, and more than 25 companies have been helped to reduce single-use plastic within their businesses. In addition, over 10,000 sea turtles’ nests have been protected, and over 100,000 hatchlings have been freed to the ocean.
For more information, visit **www.corcovadofoundation.org**
**11**
**PROJECT OVERVIEW**
## _**educate.**_
**» Grant in 2023: £4,315 » Location: Honduras » Partner since: 2021**
**Grass-roots NGO** _**educate.**_ **works to empower children and young people in Honduras through community-driven initiatives focused on education. In 2023, La Vida sponsored 10 students through** _**educate.**_ **’s secondary-school scholarship programme, which supports high-potential students from low-income backgrounds and provides access to high-school and university education. The project’s Youth Centre is now up and running, aided by a computer lab funded by La Vida. The centre provides space for scholars and teachers to host art courses, computer classes and community workshops.**
This year, _educate._ have developed and solidified their holistic approach to student scholarships. Their scholarships include engagement in weekly programmes focusing on technology, art, sport, communications, environmental protection and youth rights. Young people gain skills, develop a sense of belonging, and create impact in their communities. The challenges that come with growing up in a context of poverty and violence can lead to serious mental health challenges. Psychological support is provided by a new partnership with a network of psychologists who offer virtual counselling services.
In addition, _educate._ keep track of students’ progress and set up peer-to-peer tutoring sessions at the Youth Centre when needed. All scholars participate in monthly personal development and leadership workshops.
Community projects such as new school libraries, donation of resources, teacher training, and the Youth Centre all help to strengthen the public education system from within, driving long-lasting change at the institutional level.
For more information, visit **www.educate-ngo.com**
**12**
**PROJECT OVERVIEW**
## **EDUCATION FOR THE CHILDREN FOUNDATION**
**» Grant in 2023: £4,860 » Location: Guatemala » Partner since: 2022**
**Education for the Children Foundation runs the School of Hope,** _**La Esperanza**_ **, in the Jocotenango region, near Antigua. This urban area has one of the lowest literacy rates in the western hemisphere. Extreme poverty, gang crime, domestic violence and alcoholism are everyday realities for local children. The school’s admissions process checks that prospective pupils would not otherwise have access to an education, and ensures its students are fed, clothed, have safe water to drink, and any medical and mental health issues identified. The school has a holistic approach – while it follows the Guatemalan curriculum, it also focuses on wellbeing, health and entrepreneurial skills.**
In 2023, La Vida continued to sponsor a cohort of nine children at the School of Hope. One of the students left the area and La Vida welcomed the younger sister of one of the remaining students into the cohort.
As 2023 was the first normal year of schooling since 2020, every effort since has been focused on making up for lost time and rebuilding core skills such as reading and writing. As well as the continuation of a Saturday School programme, tutoring has been implemented in both primary and middle school to ensure every student is getting the tailored support they need. Currently, 68 primary students and 46 middle school students are being tutored.
Besides academic achievement, the children benefit from two nutritious meals per day. The school also undertakes health evaluations and provides treatment to students where they are able, as well as eye tests and dental hygiene education/fluoride.
For more information, visit **www.eftcfoundation.org**
**13**
**PROJECT OVERVIEW**
## **EL RIO FOUNDATION**
**» Grant in 2023: £9,160 » Location: Colombia » Partner since: 2021**
**El Rio Foundation provides ten eductional, sporting, environmental and wellbeing programmes that positively impact the local community around Buritaca. La Vida supports El Rio’s Academic Tutoring programme, which provides a safe, positive space for disadvantaged children to access tailored academic and wellbeing support. Aiming to close a huge gap in education caused by covid, the programme offers a high teacher-pupil ratio, with personalised plans for children with challenging behaviour, designed by their psychologist and delivered in tandem with their teaching team.**
With little funding in the Colombian education system, schools are struggling. Insufficient money for teachers means class sizes are large, teachers often lack professional qualifications, and classes frequently have to wait for a teacher to become available. Children who missed school for almost two years during the pandemic are behind with key skills such as reading, writing and basic maths. Children with significant challenges in their home lives (such as violence, absent parents, or drug abuse) have limited options for accessing external support or advice.
In addition, previous generations’ schooling was regularly interrupted by the 55-year Colombian civil war, so parents often have a low level of education and find it difficult to support their children with homework. Many pupils also come from large families, and childcare responsibilities for other family members make it difficult to learn at home.
The challenges are huge but El Rio’s work, particularly its Academic Tutoring programme, ensures the young people they work with are making huge strides year on year.
For more information, visit **www.riohostel.co/foundation**
**14**
## **INDIVIDUAL IMPACT**
## **CASE STUDY**
**Cleyde, tour guide AMANTANI, PERU**
_**‘‘ I kept up my studies despite the pandemic, and now I have a new career**_
After struggling to gain the qualifications to study tourism at university, Ccorca resident Cleyde joined Amantani’s Pathways project, and forged ahead with a new future as a tour guide.
Amantani provided Cleyde with a scholarship, the support of their Youth Hub, English classes, a laptop and mobile data. With the encouragement of her tutor, Cleyde was able to keep studying hard throughout the covid upheaval and graduated in 2022.
She now works for the Office of Tourism at the Municipality of Ccorca, has experience as a professional tour guide, and is continuing her studies.
**15**
**PROJECT OVERVIEW**
## **FONDO GUADALUPE MUSALEM**
**» Grant in 2023: £1,100 » Location: Mexico » Partner since: 2022**
**Fondo Guadalupe Musalem helps disadvantaged young women, mainly from rural, indigenous communities in Oaxaca, Mexico, to attain secondary and university education and develop personal skills, grounded in ethical values. The state of Oaxaca has one of the largest indigenous populations in the country, and such communities frequently reside in rural localities where access to secondary education is limited.**
By providing educational bursaries, enrichment workshops and one-on-one support, Fondo Guadalupe Musalem supports talented girls from indigenous backgrounds, enabling them to complete high school and, in many cases, go on to obtain a university degree. Since its foundation in 1996, the organisation has awarded a total of 181 high-school bursaries and has supported 66 young women into university. In 2022/23, Fondo Guadalupe Musalem aided 25 high-school pupils and 16 university students.
In 2023, La Vida funded two bursaries, which were granted to two girls – Betza and Brenda. Sixteen-year-old Betza comes from a rural community without a local high school. Thanks to the bursary, Betza is able to afford accommodation, transport, uniform and school supplies. In addition to achieving top marks, Betza dedicates time to volunteering in her local community. Brenda is a high-school student. She particularly values the extracurricular activities and workshops provided, as well as the opportunity to volunteer in community programmes, which make her feel capable and empowered.
_Brenda says: “This has changed my life, by giving me knowledge about the world and the opportunity to participate in activities that push me out of my comfort zone.”_
For more information, visit **www.fondoguadalupemusalem.org**
**16**
**PROJECT OVERVIEW**
## **HEALING VENEZUELA**
**» Grant in 2023: £10,000 » Location: Venezuela » Partner since: 2023**
**Economic crisis has deeply impacted the foundations of public health in Venezuela. Hospitals have struggled with scarcity of basic equipment, medicine, skilled staff and access to clean water. One in three families are ‘food insecure’ and 26% of children are malnourished. Healing Venezuela provides aid to less-privileged Venezuelans through a series of high-impact programmes including scholarships for junior doctors, installation of water treatment plants in hospitals, and reproductive health campaigns. The charity also provides food for children and advocates for Venezuelans internationally.**
Since 2014, Healing Venezuela has helped more than 400,000 people, including 400 junior doctors, and they have provided 400,000 meals for children. In 2023, with support from La Vida, 100 junior doctors benefited from Healing Venezuela’s scholarships, and they carried out 170,000 consultations. An additional 20 senior doctors received specialised training, and 60,000 meals were provided for children.
For more information, visit **www.healingvenezuela.org**
## **HELPING HANDS**
**» Grant in 2023: £1,702 » Location: Bolivia » Partner since: 2009**
**Helping Hands provides tailored financial support, mentoring and an enrichment programme for disadvantaged young people in and around La Paz, Bolivia. Participants are encouraged to complete their studies and take their first steps into working life. Originally focused on teenagers leaving care, Helping Hands has expanded its**
**»**
**17**
**PROJECT OVERVIEW**
**activities, supporting more than 300 students since the organisation’s foundation in 2004. In 2023, Helping Hands supported 65 students, of which La Vida supported three.**
Helping Hands’ enrichment programme is informed by the needs and views of the young people it supports, details of which are obtained via an annual survey. Recent workshops have focused on self esteem, resilience and public speaking. In addition, Helping Hands encourages students to volunteer in their local community, which helps them foster local connections, and develop skills and confidence.
For more information, visit **www.helpinghands-bolivia.com**
## **MANO VUELTA**
**» Grant in 2023: £5,000 » Location: Mexico » Partner since: 2020**
**Led by a multidisciplinary team of indigenous and Afro-Mexican professional women from Oaxaca, Mano Vuelta’s mission is to promote an equitable life and rights for children and women through educational, community and research initiatives with a focus on gender, cultural and ethnic diversity. A highlight of Mano Vuelta’s programme is an annual retreat for girls and young women exploring topics such as gender equality, identity and connection.**
In 2023, La Vida funded Mano Vuelta’s sixth Artistic and Feminist Retreat, which was held in Mazunte, a coastal region in Oaxaca. The aim of the retreat was to empower indigenous girls and young women aged between 15-25 to exercise their rights, helping to address issues including reproductive rights, harassment and discrimination, as well as raising **»**
**18**
**PROJECT OVERVIEW**
their aspirations to continue their education and pursue a career of their choice. During the retreat, Mano Vuelta organises a number of activities which involve the participants’ families and the local community, further extending their impact.
For more information, visit **www.girlsnotbrides.org**
## **PLANT YOUR FUTURE**
**» Grant in 2023: £5,000 » Location: Peru » Partner since: 2023**
**Plant your Future works in the Peruvian Amazon to promote sustainable land use. The charity provides support for reforestation and sustainable agricultural systems on degraded lands through agroforestry. Rural smallholder farmers are empowered with regular incomes through the commercialisation of natural assets, including fruit, carbon and timber. Plant your Future’s work helps to fight poverty, protect the natural habitat of critically endangered species, and combat climate change.**
Since 2009, the charity has planted over 150,000 trees, restored 150 hectares of deforested land, and has expanded activities to Ucayali, where the rainforest was cut down decades ago. It has also achieved certification under the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standard and the Verified Carbon Standard.
La Vida’s contributions help the organisation to meet the upfront costs of planting and maintenance, and provide tools and ongoing technical support to ensure that the trees and crops planted continue to thrive. For example, training includes how to manage **»**
**19**
**PROJECT OVERVIEW**
pests and diseases, and effectively prune and graft trees. The goal is to enable farmers to become self-sufficient within five years by helping navigate the challenges preventing them from returning to sustainable farming. The farmers are helped to introduce an ‘agroforestry system’ into their land: a combination of growing both long-term (trees) and short-term (crops) produce, and they share this knowledge with their community.
For more information, visit **www.plantyourfuture.org.uk**
## **PODER JOVEN FOUNDATION**
**» Grant in 2023: £10,436 » Location: Colombia » Partner since: 2010**
**Based in Medellin, Poder Joven provides support to 75 children and adolescents (aged five to 17) living in precarious conditions, including insufficient food, limited healthcare access, exposure to the dangers of drugs, narco-gangs, and the absence of functional family structures. This comprehensive program offers essential services ranging from balanced meals and medical treatments to education on disease prevention, hygiene practices, and academic support.**
La Vida’s funding has helped Poder Joven to provide 45,000 balanced meals, covered medical treatments for 11 children and enabled health promotion activities, sports and yoga practices. Children in the public school system have also been offered school kits and tutoring.
La Vida’s grant played a crucial role in preventing children from engaging in activities **»**
**20**
**PROJECT OVERVIEW**
that pose significant risks within the community. These activities include drug consumption, dealing, sexual exploitation, disease prevention, hygiene, involvement in gangs and road safety. The children’s families also experienced a positive impact as parents could engage in full-time employment, with the knowledge that their children were well-cared for, empowering parents, particularly women. Training and workshops were offered to 41 parents on topics ranging from parenting and communication strategies, to managing finances at home. Workshops were also held for children and adolescents on life projects, self-esteem, rights, duties, environmental awareness, and citizenship.
In addition, La Vida’s grant enabled 22 adolescents to receive job training in hairdressing and beauty. This training equips them with the skills necessary to contribute financially to their families.
For more information, visit **www.fundacionpoderjoven.org**
## **PROJECT SOMOS CHILDREN’S VILLAGE**
**» Grant in 2023: £1,012 » Location: Guatemala » Partner since: 2023**
**The Project Somos Children’s Village is an eco-sustainable community aiming to break the cycle of poverty in Guatemala by providing quality education and healthy food to families in need.**
In Guatemala, education is not free. Families living on little income cannot afford to send their children to school, and child labour is common. Project Somos aims to break the **»**
**21**
**PROJECT OVERVIEW**
cycle of poverty through education and nutrition. As an education centre, the Village provides early-childhood schooling, academic support and nutritional programmes to children in the surrounding community who were falling through the cracks of the Guatemalan system.
Project Somos further supports the children’s families by providing vocational training and opportunities to the mothers, as well as parenting classes in topics such as nutrition and hygiene.
La Vida provided Project Somos with funding for two-month cookery training for six teenage girls. Skills help girls escape early marriage and violence. The girls will learn to cook in the village and, after training, will be able to help the cooks. When they reach working age, they will be able to sustain themselves with practical skills and experience. La Vida is monitoring the progress of the girls and will interview them on completion.
For more information, visit **www.projectsomos.org**
**229**
**PROJECT OVERVIEW**
## **VILLA MARIA SCHOOL**
**» Grant in 2023: £7,266 » Location: Peru » Partner since: 2007**
**Villa Maria is a school in Villa Maria del Triunfo, a deprived area on the outskirts of Lima, which is underserved by state schools. Villa Maria School was set up as a charitable organisation to help close the significant gap in the provision of basic education locally.**
The school provides 110 primary school students from low-income families with a quality education, free to the neediest children, as well as a programme of outings and extra-curricular activities designed to broaden young minds and offer stimulating, educational experiences.
Villa Maria School’s aim is to develop the next generation of community leaders, with strong ethical values and a commitment to help the local community and protect the environment. The school promotes a broad practical education including creative skills, entrepreneurship, environmental awareness and self reflection.
La Vida has supported the school since 2007, funding the costs of 26 children per year and providing additional facilities such as computers, books and sports equipment as needs arise. In addition, La Vida has brought in third-party sponsors for, on average, another 20 children per year and has helped secure donations from other organisations including the Maitri Trust. The school is run in conjunction with gap-year organisation Quest Overseas, which brings UK students to Peru to volunteer, helping with leisure activities for local children during the school holidays as well as building new homes for the poorest families in the community through its charitable arm, Quest4Change.
For more information, visit **www.lavida.org.uk**
**23**
**FINANCIAL STATEMENT & NOTES**
## **Financial review**
## **Policy on reserves**
For 2023, La Vida kept six months of our ongoing commitments to projects as reserves. We will continue to do this in 2024.
## **For the period from January 2023 to December 2023**
## **Section A: Receipts and payments**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
funds funds funds Total funds Last year
A1 RECEIPTS
(nearest £) (nearest £) (nearest £) (nearest £) (nearest £)
Donations 42,337 16,673 59,010 37,173
Fundraising events 20,444 20,444
Interest on deposit 90 90 79
SUB TOTAL
(Gross income for AR) 62,871 16,673 79,544 37,251
**----- End of picture text -----**
|**A2 Asset and**
**investment sales**
**(see table)**||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||||
|**SUB TOTAL**||||||
|**TOTAL RECEIPTS**|**62,871**|**16,673**||**79,544**|**37,251**|
**24**
**FINANCIAL STATEMENT & NOTES**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
funds funds funds Total funds Last year
A3 PAYMENTS
(nearest £) (nearest £) (nearest £) (nearest £) (nearest £)
Cost of fundraising
events 1455 1455 750
Internet costs 198.00 198
Grants to LATAM
projects 53,533 16,673 70,205 44,297
FX and bank charges 66 66 81
SUB TOTAL 55,252 16,673 71,925 45,128
**----- End of picture text -----**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
A4 Asset and
investment
purchases
(see table)
SUB TOTAL
TOTAL PAYMENTS 55,252 16,673 71,925 45,128
Net of receipts/
(payments) 7,620 0 7,620 -7,876
A5 Transfers between
funds
A6 Cash funds last
year end 65,024 15,414 80,438 88,314
CASH FUNDS THIS
YEAR END 72,643 15,414 88,057 80,438
**----- End of picture text -----**
**25**
**FINANCIAL STATEMENT & NOTES**
## **Section B: Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period**
|**B1 Cash**
**funds**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**(nearest £)**|**Restricted funds**
**(nearest £)**|**Endowment**
**funds**
**(nearest £)**|
|---|---|---|---|
|**Cash CAF bank**
**balance**|**72,643**|**15,414**||
|||||
|**TOTAL CASH**
**FUNDS**|**72,643**|**15,414**||
**Signed by two Trustees, on behalf of all Trustees: Helen Isley, date of approval: 20/09/2024 Katy Vatis, date of approval: 20/09/2024**
**26**
**EXTERNAL REVIEW**
## **Independent examiner’s report**
**Report to the** LA VIDA Vital Investment for Development Aid in Latin America **trustees/ members of**
**On accounts for** 31 December 2023 **Charity no.** 1115796 **the year ended**
**Set out** 24-26 **on pages**
**Responsibilities** I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of **and basis of** the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/12/2023. **report**
As the charity trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
**27**
## **EXTERNAL REVIEW**
**Independent** I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material **examiner’s** matters have come to my attention in connection with the **statement** examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect,:
- the accounting records were not kept in accordance with
- section 130 of the Act; or
- the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
- the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements
- concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
- _Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply._
|**Signed**||**Date**|20/09/2024|
|---|---|---|---|
|||||
|**Name**|Tracey Falero|||
|||||
|**Relevant**|Association of Chartered Accountants (ACA)|||
|**professional**||||
|**qualifcations or**||||
|**body (if any)**||||
|||||
|**Address**|c/o LA VIDA|||
||Gordon House, Gordon Ave, London, SW14 8DZ, UK|||
**28**
**REPORT ESSENTIALS**
## **Administrative details**
**Charity name** La Vida – Vital Investment for Development Aid in Latin America **Charity number** 1115796 **Registered** GORDON HOUSE **address** GORDON AVENUE LONDON SW14 8DZ **Trustees** Ivonne Cantu Zarela Feeney Helen Ilsley Susana Knaudt Katy Vatis **Independent** Tracey Falero (ACA) **examiner**
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
## **Description of the charity’s trusts**
**Type of governing** Trust deed **document**
**How the charity** Trust **is constituted**
**Trustee selection** Appointed by existing trustees **methods**
**29**
**REPORT ESSENTIALS**
## **Additional governance issues**
## **La Vida – Trustee Selection Process Statement:**
- Interest in the Latin American region and improving the conditions of its people.
- Skills and experience that add value to the board, such as good relationships with
- potential sponsors and strong marketing skills for fundraising.
- Good character.
- Nomination by one of the Trustees.
- Unanimous approval by current Trustees.
## **Objectives and Activities**
## **Summary of the objects of the charity set out in this governing document**
**To further any charitable purpose for the benefit of disadvantaged people residing permanently in Latin America. In particular, by preserving and protecting health, relieving sickness, relieving poverty and advancing education.**
## **Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects**
Provide funding for specific health, education and environment projects identified in any country in Latin America.
La Vida is 100% volunteer run. All of the Trustees and Executive Committee work on a
**»**
**30**
**REPORT ESSENTIALS**
voluntary basis and aim to keep expenses to a minimum so the money raised goes directly to the project beneficiaries.
Donations and fundraising have allowed us to improve and directly benefit the lives of over 100,000 children and their families across Latin America.
We continue to fund health, education and environment projects throughout the region. In 2023, we continued to support our existing ongoing projects in Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico. We funded new projects in Guatemala, Peru and Venezuela.
## **Additional details of objectives and activities**
## **Policy on grant making**
The Trustees of La Vida endeavour to directly grant funding to specific projects that relieve sickness and/or improve education in any Latin American country. Preference will be given to independent projects, but trustees could also look to partner with local organisations that will see through the success and completion of compelling projects in health, education and the environment in Latin America.
The project committee meets every 3-6 months to discuss and approve new project proposals. We assess our projects in depth and have a rigorous selection process. Each grant application has to complete our project proposal form and give proof of identity of their organisation and the people running it, plus two years of bank statements.
Every project we support has a partnership agreement signed by La Vida and the organisation receiving the project funding which includes all of our reporting requirements. The agreement sets out the timeline of the project with final goals to be reached, all of our reporting requirements such as photos of the project, receipts for items purchased etc.
The executive committee, all of whom are volunteers, continues to help organise fundraising events, develop the website, publish newsletters and broaden the reach of the charity.
**31**