2024-12-31-accounts

Vital Investment for Development Aid in Latin America “ps ANNUAL REPORT 2024

Supporting communities’ HEALTH EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT

ANNUAL REPORT 2024

Contents

About us

				About us
				How we change lives	4
				Our mission	5
				Our story	5
				Case study: Brenda's story	6
Our year >a					7
				Our Trustees	8
i -— )
	</	fa		Project overview
’		Fe oe
				El Rio Foundation, Colombia	15
	ae	y		Fondo Guadalupe Musalem, Mexico Helping Hands, Bolivia Case study: Miriam's story Mano Vuelta, Mexico	16 17 18 19
				Plant Your Future, Peru	20
				Poder Joven Foundation, Colombia	21
				Project Somos Children’s Village, Guatemala	22
				Villa Maria School, Peru	23
				Financial statements & notes	24
				Independent examiner’s report	27

Administrative details

Administrative details
Charity information	29
Structure, governance & management	29
Objectives & activities	30

3

ABOUT US

How we change lives

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.

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£1m +
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La Vida has raised more than £1 million so far

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99.5%
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More than 99 pence of every £1 raised is donated to our projects

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

4

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, by advancing education, preserving and protecting health, relieving sickness, relieving poverty 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 oN projects in Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Peru and 2s‘oe , & Venezuela; some of which we support on a continuing basis and some which are has raised over £1 million now complete.

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.

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

5

INDIVIDUAL IMPACTABOUT US

[CASE STUDY]

Brenda, student FONDO GUADALUPE MUSALEM, MEXICO

‘‘ The bursary has changed my life. It’s given me the opportunity to participate in activities that push me out of my comfort zone

High-school student Brenda has made excellent use of La Vida’s funds via Fondo Guadalupe Musalem’s support. The ability to afford travel, accommodation and supplies for school has helped Brenda to achieve top marks in her studies.

Brenda has also implemented an inspiring community project, ‘Preserving Our Mother Tongue’. She worked with the children of Santa Maria Tlahuitoltepec, promoting the importance of keeping cultural identity alive through language.

6

ABOUT US

Our year

From hosting our first-ever Safeguarding Forum, to laying the foundations of a new partnership in Brazil, 2024 was a year of collaboration and connection for La Vida.

We raised £60,454 through donations, with significant sums contributed by The Royal Bank of Canada, The Alan

Goodwin and Aimee Reynolds

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» Corcovado Foundation, Costa Rica
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Foundation and another large financial institution . 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.

We granted £72,641 to causes throughout Latin America and continued to provide support to 12 projects . We have also been delighted to begin work with a new partner in Brazil. Base Colaborativa offer immersive experiences in the Amazon rainforest in order to promote sustainable tourism and preserve biodiversity while supporting local communities. We look forward to seeing the impact of our work in 2025.

In March, La Vida’s second Leaders Forum provided a digital meeting place for our projects, enabling attendees across eight countries to exchange a broad range of ideas and experience. Presentations included topics such as finance and governance. A series of 'breakout rooms' facilitated in-depth discussions on individual challenges and solutions, including how best to build an effective board and ways to implement financial controls.

In November, we hosted our first Safeguarding Forum , allowing Trustees and Leaders to share best practice in order to protect beneficiaries, staff and volunteers from abuse and exploitation. La Vida will continue to promote open communication among our partners.

» For details on La Vida's projects and the ways we provide support, turn to page 10

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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. ~~ee~~ « 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 roy 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

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PROJECT OVERVIEW

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Our projects
Costa Rica
Corcovado
Foundation··
Colombia
El Rio Foundation···
Poder Joven··
Guatemala
Education for the
Children Foundation··
Project Somos···
Bolivia
Helping Hands·
Honduras
- o : educate. ·
Peru
Amantani·
Plant Your Future·
Villa Maria School·
t or Mexico
Fondo Guadalupe Musalem··
Mano Vuelta··
» KEY PROJECT FOCUS: HEALTH EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT · ·
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PROJECT OVERVIEW

Project updates

AMANTANI

» Grant in 2024: £5,000 » Location: Peru » Partner since: 2014

Empowering young people from indigenous communities in the Andes to access further education and fair employment.

La Vida supports Amantani’s Transitions Project, which was developed in response to the growing need for support for school leavers in rural communities. Residents of rural Cusco are 75% less likely to enter further education than their urban peers, resulting in reduced job opportunities.

The project has so far helped over 180 young people to access further education, including 88 in 2024. The project’s three phases help prepare young people for their studies, supporting them throughout and facilitating access to fair and formal employment.

When the project started in 2016, only seven residents in the District of Ccorca had accessed further education. Since then, Amantani’s work has expanded to the district of Huanoquite. Fifty one young people have completed courses so far, and of these graduates, 83% are currently employed in jobs with fair working conditions, 50% with formal contracts.

For more information, visit www.amantani.org

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PROJECT OVERVIEW

CORCOVADO FOUNDATION

» Grant in 2024: £5,417 » Location: Costa Rica » Partner since: 2020

Promoting regenerative agriculture and environmental education within local communities.

The Corcovado Foundation in Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula continues to make strides in regenerative agriculture and environmental education. With support from La Vida since 2020, the foundation initially focused on school-based environmental education. When the pandemic hit, it pivoted to support local families through regenerative farming, a shift that has improved food security and resilience in the region.

This year, the foundation’s ‘Manos Cambiadas’ programme brought together five communities to share labour and knowledge of sustainable farming practices, including planting methods, composting, and biofertiliser production. Corcovado Foundation organised seed exchanges to preserve local biodiversity and also hosted nine regenerative agriculture events with 55 participants. Meanwhile, over 100 families have now learned to make their own compost and biofertilisers.

Environmental education remains strong, with students staging the play La Gotita Tita to highlight the impact of agrochemicals, water pollution, and bullying. Hands-on workshops and creative activities such as poster-making helped over 300 students engage with water conservation issues.

For more information, visit www.corcovadofoundation.org

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PROJECT OVERVIEW

educate.

» Grant in 2024: £8,846 » 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.

La Vida helps fund educate.’ s scholarship programme, which supports high-potential students from low-income backgrounds and provides access to high school and university education. In 2024, the programme supported 30 students – 25 in high school, and five in university – giving access not only to education but also leadership workshops, empowerment programmes and mental health support. La Vida has sponsored 10 of these students and so far three have completed their high-school programme, and one has graduated from university.

In addition, the organisation’s STEM programme saw 36 students graduate from Level 1 courses in 2024, and 27 students participated in the Level 2 programme. All students completed their courses. Participants gained a broad base of skills across Microsoft Office, Canva, and basic coding. Soft skills gained include teamwork and public speaking.

In June, educate. partnered with STEM IN A BOX to facilitate their first robotics camp, attended by 32 students and two teachers. Participants used electronic waste and recycled materials to build robots. They also explored how these skills and ideas could be applied to solve real-world problems in their community.

A dedicated Youth Centre helps support all these projects, with a computer lab funded by La Vida.

For more information, visit www.educate-ngo.com

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INDIVIDUAL IMPACT

CASE STUDY

Mahely, student educate. , HONDURAS

‘‘ My time with : educate. has had q a great effect on i my life and my confidence

Mahely has been with educate. since she was 13. In 2024, she . * graduated from 11th Grade and is now a rising young leader, having taken the reins of the communications programme at the Youth Centre and led the creation of four _ mini-documentaries about educate. ’s programmes. At the end of 2024, Mahely “ received a medal of excellence : oy for achieving the highest gradepoint average in her school. if7 “When I joined, I felt a lot of ! AN we social pressure when speaking in public. I felt that others would make fun of me for giving my opinion. That feeling has now diminished. I continue to learn how to be a great leader with ay educate. .”

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PROJECT OVERVIEW

EDUCATION FOR THE CHILDREN FOUNDATION

» Grant in 2024: £4,860 » Location: Guatemala » Partner since: 2022

EFTC’s School of Hope and Further Education Program supports over 630 students and their 385 families in Jocotenango, a remote region in Guatemala.

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. EFTC offers extensive education, nutrition, healthcare, social support and employment programs to local children to remove any obstacle to education and enable students to realise their potential.

In 2024, La Vida continued to sponsor a cohort of nine children at the School of Hope, and this group now includes several siblings. The children's ages span across 1st, 3rd and 4th Grades.

The school's broad curriculum includes maths, language and literacy, history, geography, PE, art, music, ICT, and Kaqchikel. Additionally, the children have English classes three times per week. The curriculum also includes Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education – for example, 4th Grade students have been working on fostering healthy habits, establishing daily routines, fellowship and reinforcing self care and personal hygiene.

Besides academic and personal 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.

For more information, visit www.eftcfoundation.org

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PROJECT OVERVIEW

EL RIO FOUNDATION

» Grant in 2024: £10,280 » Location: Colombia » Partner since: 2021

El Rio Foundation provides ten eductional, sporting, environmental and wellbeing programmes that positively impact five local communities around Buritaca, benefiting more than 600 children.

La Vida continues to support El Rio’s flagship Academic Tutoring programme, which provides a safe, positive space for disadvantaged children to access tailored academic and wellbeing support. Local government-run schools often suffer from insufficient funding, lack of qualified teachers and large class sizes. Children can also face significant challenges at home and so El Rio’s Academic Tutoring programme offers a vital lifeline of education and personal support. 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.

Numbers of regular students are rising year-on-year, with more than 80 weekly attendees. Assessments in 2024 concluded that participants’ academic and life skills have improved by 57% on average, with maths seeing the greatest progress. The children’s English, teamwork skills and empathy also saw great improvement.

As a reward for high attendance and good behaviour, El Rio organised several enjoyable trips for students throughout the year, including a pony club theme park day, several trips to Yay Sustainable Eco-hotel, and a Halloween Horror Maze Experience. Multi-sports beach games provided a fun end-of-year celebration.

For more information, visit www.elriofoundationco.org

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PROJECT OVERVIEW

FONDO GUADALUPE MUSALEM

» Grant in 2024: £1,450 » Location: Mexico » Partner since: 2022

By providing educational bursaries, one-on-one mentoring and a rich programme of extracurricular activities, Fondo Guadalupe Musalem helps talented girls from indigenous, underprivileged backgrounds access high school and university education. The organisation’s mission is to help these girls develop all the skills and ethical values that will enable them to achieve their full potential and exercise their rights.

Since its foundation in 1996, Fondo Guadalupe Musalem has awarded more than 200 high-school bursaries and has supported 66 young women through university. In 2024, La Vida funded bursaries for three girls – Betza (above left), Zeltzin (above right) and Brenda.

Seventeen-year-old Betza lives in a rural community without a local high school. Thanks to a bursary, Betza can afford the accommodation, transport, uniform and school supplies for her to attend school. In addition to achieving top marks, Betza dedicates time to volunteering in her local community and is applying to study medicine.

Brenda is a high-school student who particularly values FGM’s extracurricular activities and the opportunity to volunteer in community programmes, which make her feel capable and empowered. Brenda says: “Being part of the group has been very important because we have received love, economic and psychological support, and help in many academic subjects.” See our case study on page six for more details of Brenda’s achievements.

For more information, visit www.fondoguadalupemusalem.org

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PROJECT OVERVIEW

HELPING HANDS

» Grant in 2024: £5,000 » 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.

Helping Hands has supported more than 500 young people since the organisation was founded in 2004. More than 120 students have finished high school with the support of the project, and more than 250 have finished a program of post-secondary studies. In 2024, Helping Hands supported 64 students with help from La Vida's funds.

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.

In 2024, students’s subjects have included nursing, tourism, languages, systems engineering, veterinary medicine, dentistry/medicine, psychology, social work, mechanics, graphic design, and accounting.

Helping Hands also provides dental, medical and eye care for its students, taking care of healthcare expenses and removing health barriers to educational success.

For more information, visit www.helpinghands-bolivia.com

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INDIVIDUAL IMPACT

CASE STUDY ~~fir~~ Miriam, university graduate HELPING HANDS, BOLIVIA

‘‘ I’m deeply grateful for the financial and moral support I’ve received

Single mother Miriam graduated with a degree in Public Accounting from UNICEN University in La Paz, after receiving support from Helping Hands and La Vida.

Despite many challenges, Miriam was determined to achieve a brighter future for herself and her young son, Ismael, and now has long-term, stable employment at Farmacorp Pharmacy.

Miriam has plans to further her education by pursuing a ; diploma program. She hopes = i | = i, this additional qualification will —, te, open doors to even better ae ~ | career opportunities. 4[a“]

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PROJECT OVERVIEW

MANO VUELTA

» Grant in 2024: £5,000 » Location: Mexico » Partner since: 2020

Mano Vuelta was founded six years ago in Oaxaca, Mexico, by a multidisciplinary team of indigenous and Afro-Mexican women. Mano Vuelta’s mission is to promote an equitable life and rights for children and women in Oaxaca. The organisation offers a broad range of educational, community and research initiatives with a focus on gender, cultural and ethnic diversity.

In the last year, more than 500 people participated in Mano Vuelta’s initiatives including its seventh Artistic and Feminist Retreat for girls and young women, funded by La Vida. The primary objective of the retreat was to educate and empower indigenous and Afro-Mexican girls aged seven to 15, giving them the confidence to address and discuss sensitive and important topics including sexual health and sexual violence.

Through targeted workshops, participants were equipped to understand and express openly their views on women’s rights, sexual health and other issues such as harassment, discrimination, and domestic violence.

Throughout the year, the Mano Vuelta team also participated in more than 50 panels at workshops and conferences on topics including gender rights, community participation and PHSE. They led a seminar for 34 indigenous women focused on empowering political participation and organised five artistic festivals to promote PSHE and gender equality.

For more information, visit www.manovuelta.org

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PROJECT OVERVIEW

PLANT YOUR FUTURE

» Grant in 2024: £5,000 » Location: Peru » Partner since: 2023

Plant Your Future empowers farmers in the Peruvian Amazon through agroforestry, education and promotion of responsible land use.

La Vida’s grants have enabled Plant Your Future to support 28 smallholder farmers in Honoria, Peru. The project has helped farmers build sustainable agroforestry systems by providing training, tools, and over 59,000 trees, including valuable native species such as mahogany and cocoa.

Since February 2024, Plant Your Future’s regular farm visits and monthly field schools have delivered hands-on support in pruning, pest control, organic fertilisers, and fire prevention. Farmers, including women entrepreneurs, have gained vital skills and are beginning to see measurable economic benefits from harvesting crops like cocoa and guava.

This project is already transforming lives and landscapes. With farmers reinvesting in community nurseries and sharing knowledge, the initiative is fostering resilience, restoring ecosystems, and building a sustainable future for both people and planet.

In 2024, the organisation continued to expand their conservation area, purchasing 40 hectares of primary rainforest. An international team of scientists documented a wide variety of wildlife, including two species of frog that are yet to be classified.

For more information, visit www.plantyourfuture.org.uk

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PROJECT OVERVIEW

PODER JOVEN

» Grant in 2024: £12,570 » Location: Colombia » Partner since: 2010

Based in Medellin, Poder Joven provides support to 75 children, aged five to 17, who live in precarious conditions and often suffer from insufficient food, limited healthcare access and exposure to drugs and gangs. Poder Joven’s comprehensive programme offers essential support, including school enrolment, homework and academic reinforcement, nutrition, psychosocial support, vocational guidance and family counselling.

While poverty, violence, and deprivation are prevalent in Medellin, Poder Joven contributes to social development, provides opportunities for personal progress and supports families, ensuring children are well cared for, free of charge.

In 2024, 45,000 meals were provided to children. Each menu was designed with the advice of a doctor and nutritionist. Seventeen children also received medical appointments and medications.

All 75 children in the program were enrolled in the local school and provided with a school kit, supplies and daily support for homework. Complementary activities were offered, including sports training, yoga, art and workshops on topics such as substance abuse prevention, pregnancy prevention and hygiene. Additionally, 24 adolescents received vocational training in barbering, hairstyling, and manicure courses, and 14 have been able to generate personal income using their new skills.

For more information, visit www.fundacionpoderjoven.org

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PROJECT OVERVIEW

PROJECT SOMOS

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» Grant in 2024: £1,970 » Location: Guatemala » Partner since: 2023
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Project Somos Learning Village is a nurturing educational community for at-risk children in Guatemala. They provide early-childhood education, academic support for primary school students, and nutritional programmes.

Many young women in the village of Tecpán and the surrounding area face economic, cultural and family constraints that prevent them from graduating high school. This limits their future opportunities and can result in early marriage and motherhood.

In 2023, with funding from La Vida, Project Somos launched an eight-week training programme to teach cooking skills, offering participants a chance to work at the Learning Village and then go on to secure future employment. Trainees are empowered to see alternative life possibilities, inspired by Guatemalans and visitors leading vibrant lives. Project Somos also provides educational and psychological support where needed.

At exit interviews conducted by La Vida, trainees said the experience had broadened their horizons and created a desire to finish school and pursue further professional or vocational opportunities. One of the trainees is in the process of opening her own business after leaving the programme.

La Vida is currently funding a second cohort of young women.

For more information, visit www.projectsomos.org

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PROJECT OVERVIEW

VILLA MARIA SCHOOL

» Grant in 2024: £7,250 » 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 ofcommunity 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 c.30 children per year and providing additional support for computers, books and sports equipment as needs arise. The school is run in conjunction with Quest Overseas, an organisation which attracts students from the UK to volunteer at the school, 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

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FINANCIAL STATEMENT & NOTES

Financial review

Policy on reserves

For 2024, La Vida kept six months of our ongoing commitments to projects as reserves. We will continue to do this in 2025.

For the period from January 2024 to December 2024

Section A: Receipts and payments

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Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
funds funds funds Total funds Last year
A1 RECEIPTS
(nearest £) (nearest £) (nearest £) (nearest £) (nearest £)
Donations
31,034 29,000 60,034 59,010
Fundraising events 20,444
Interest on deposit 420 420 90
SUB TOTAL
(Gross income for AR) 31,454 29,000 60,454 79,544
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A2 Asset and investment sales (see table)
SUB TOTAL
TOTAL RECEIPTS	31,454	29,000		60,454	79,544

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FINANCIAL STATEMENT & NOTES

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----- 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 1,455
Internet costs 216 216 198
Grants to LATAM
projects 55,391 17,250 72,641 70,205
FX and bank charges 66 66 66
SUB TOTAL 55,673 17,250 72,923 71,925
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----- Start of picture text -----
A4 Asset and
investment
purchases
(see table)
SUB TOTAL
TOTAL PAYMENTS 55,673 17,250 72,923 71,925
Net of receipts/
(payments) (24,219) 11,750 (12,469) 7,620
A5 Transfers between
funds
A6 Cash funds last
year end 72,643 15,414 88,057 80,438
CASH FUNDS THIS
YEAR END 48,424 27,164 75,588 88,057
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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	48,424	27,164
TOTAL CASH FUNDS	48,424	27,164

Signed by two Trustees, on behalf of all Trustees:

Helen Ilsley, date of approval: 20/09/2025 be) Vadis Katy Vatis, date of approval: 20/09/2025

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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 2024 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 31/12/2024. 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.

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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 20/09/2025 — Name Tracey Falero

Relevant Association of Chartered Accountants (ACA) professional qualifcations or body (if any) ~~ee~~ 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

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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

»

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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 2024, we continued to support our existing ongoing projects in Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Peru.

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.

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