Almost three hundred applications for the prestigious award were received from 24 IDB member countries

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) today announced that four institutions from Chile, Mexico and Argentina won the Juscelino Kubitschek Visionaries Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions made by civil society organizations to Latin America and the Caribbean in the following areas: citizen participation, social inclusion and equitable societies.

The awards were created in 2009 in honor of Brazilian President Juscelino Kubitschek (1956-1961), who was instrumental in the creation of the IDB, the world’s first regional development bank.

The Executive Selection Committee awarded the first place to Fundación Kodea of Chile and the second place to Alternare, A.C. of Mexico. The third and fourth places went to Patronato Pro Zona Mazahua A.C. of Mexico and Fundación Forge from Argentina.

The first prize winner will receive $100,000 in recognition of its work and to encourage its efforts to improve lives. The second prize winner will receive $50,000, while third and fourth place winners will each receive $25,000.

The Committee also recognized two institutions with Honorable Mentions: Grupo para Promover la Educación y el Desarrollo Sustentable from Mexico and Mais Diferenças from Brazil.

Winners were selected by two Committees. The Technical Selection Committee, consisting of IDB specialists, selected the 26 finalists. The Executive Selection Committee, which included members of the IDB senior management, a past winner of the award, and former IDB President Enrique V. Iglesias, selected the four winners.

About the winners:

FIRST PRIZE:
Fundación Kodea  (Chile) Kodea encourages the generation of talent for the digital world and fosters more inclusive technological development by helping to develop computer skills in groups that lack them. Kodea also promotes the creation and adoption of information technology to help Chile transition to the knowledge economy and thrive in the digital era.

SECOND PRIZE:
Alternare, A.C.  (Mexico) It was born 22 years ago with the mission of motivating the self-esteem of people in rural communities and generating a change of attitude toward the use of their natural resources. The organization's integral sustainable development model focuses on strengthening individual, group and community capacities to guarantee food security and sovereignty; eradicate poverty; and promote the conservation and recovery of their natural resources. 

THIRD PRIZE:
Patronato Pro Zona Mazahua A.C  (Mexico) For 22 years it has been providing well-being, integral development, and self-sustainability to indigenous communities. More than 10,000 Mazahua, Otomi, Tseltal, Maya, Mazatec, Chinantec, Purepecha and Me'phaas families in seven Mexican states are no longer in extreme poverty and are now actors in their own development thanks to Patronato’s work on sustainable integral development projects in health, education, food security, sustainable housing, productive projects, cultural rescue and environmental care. 

FOURTH PRIZE:
Fundación Forge (Argentina) It was founded in 2005 to facilitate quality job insertion for low-income young people, through an innovative employment and training system. The foundation focuses on the development of social-emotional and digital skills that are essential for success on the job market now. 

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Grupo para Promover la Educación y el Desarrollo Sustentable  (Mexico) The organization offers solutions to address poverty by providing training in self-construction of eco-technologies that meet water, food, housing, energy, and waste management needs. It also implements social projects in different areas of Mexico, especially in Oaxaca and Estado de México, where it has training and demonstration centers, and live models for learning, which exhibit more than 30 eco-techniques.

Mais Diferenças  (Brazil) In 2005, the institution was created to contribute to the equality of opportunities for people with disabilities. Through advisory actions, consulting and creation of projects and products for all, the organization seeks to build, articulate, promote, and implement inclusive practices and policies, together with various sectors of society, to ensure human rights.