First Prize - $100,000.

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 - $50,000.

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 - $25,000.

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 - US$25,000.

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.

First Prize - US$100.000

Fundación Paraguaya (Paraguay) Since its foundation in 1985, Fundación Paraguaya, a self-sustainable NGO, it has superheaded microfinance. Its objective is to eliminate the poverty that affects the families of more than 86,000 clients. It has more than 450 staff in 28 offices across Paraguay.

Second Prize - US$50.000

TeenSmart International (Costa Rica) Its mission is to help adolescents and young adults develop the knowledge, skills and motivation to live healthy, effective and satisfying lives through self-care and self-empowerment.

Third Prize - US$25.000

Glasswing International (El Salvador) It is an institution that implements programs in the areas of education, health and community development and identifies innovative projects and forges intersectoral partnerships that emphasize community participation while mobilizing human, financial and in-kind resources. The main objectives of its action are to involve people from all sectors of society, promote social integration and reduce fatalism in Central America. It seeks not only to add value to donor investment, but also to serve as a catalyst through the structuring of volunteer programs that result in donors and beneficiaries working hand in hand.

Fourth Prize - US$25.000

TECHO (Chile) It is an NGO that operates in 19 Latin American countries. More than 140 million people in the region live in substandard housing. It undertakes mass mobilization of young local volunteers together with communities of informal settlements in the region to eradicate the poverty affecting them.

Honorable Mention

ProMujer (United States) This institution, which is located in several countries, has the mission of empowering women to reach their full potential through programs with a holistic approach and activities to empower women such as microcredit, workshops where they are trained in financial management, human rights, rights to combat violence against women, self-esteem, digital education, health issues through a network of different institutions that provide these services.

I. Economics and Finance

Fonkoze (Haití) Fonkoze has fostered social inclusion in Haiti for the last 20 years. It includes Sèvis Finansye Fonkoze (SFF), the country’s largest microfinance institution and the Fonkoze Foundation, which provides complementary education, health and business development services to SFF clients and members of the community. SFF’s objective is two-fold: to lift Haitian families and communities out of poverty and move them towards financial independence. SFF is also committed to extending services to the most vulnerable communities in Haiti leveraging and integrating innovations – such as mobile phone technology- to reach additional clients; and build a fully Haitian organization by placing Haitian nationals on the Board and in key leadership positions. Fonkoze has 200.000 active depositors and 60.000 borrowers, most are located in rural areas and are served by its national banking network.
It has played a key role in providing capital to small businesses and has fostered savings and entrepreneurship among women. Fonkoze has developed “Boutik Santé,” a social franchise initiative that expands access to basic health products and services in rural areas while serving as a source of income for its clients, who then become franchisees.

II. Social, Cultural and Scientific

The Social, Cultural and Scientific award was shared by two recipients:

Instituto Promundo (Brasil). Instituto Promundo’s main objective is to promote gender equality and violence prevention by creating innovative programs focused on various age groups, including children, youth and adults, particularly women. It has been in existence for 18 years and currently operates in nine countries in the region including Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico and Nicaragua.
In Brazil Promundo has helped 104,000 people, including 2,100 teachers and 4,000 students alone in the “Promovendo a Igualdade de Gênero nas Escolas Program” (PEGE). Internationally it counts 10,000 education and health professionals from 22 countries as participants.
Promundo creates, innovates and experiments with new methodologies that are validated by health and education professionals and community members to ensure the success of their interventions/models and replication internationally by other institutions. Its models have been recognized in the past by NFPA, UNICEF, the World Bank and PNUD.

Fondo Ecuatoriano Populorum Progressio (Ecuador). Fondo Ecuatoriano Populorum Progressio – Ecuador Fondo Ecuatoriano Populorum Progresio’s (FEPP’s) main objective is to foster the development of rural and marginalized urban populations (indigenous, afroecuatorians, montubios and mestizos). FEPP has existed for 45 years and coordinates its programs with 2.175 grassroots organizations and supports 144.000 families or approximately 724.000 people in 21 provinces and 92 cantons in Ecuador. It has pioneered and generated significant replicable impact on securing property rights and land stewardship and in supporting community microfinance.
As a result of its work, local financial structures have emerged across the country, they perform financial intermediation, provide services to members and contribute to local development. These 18 provincial financial networks have united into a national network (RENAFIPSE). FEPP has received several international awards for their work in agricultural microfinance from the UNDP (2003), the Italian social associations (2002 and 2004), and the Presidency of Ecuador (National Order of Merit).

I. Economics and Finance

Caribbean Center of Excellencefor Youth Entrepreneurship (Barbados) CEYE is an innovative, one of a kind regional mechanism, which helps to entrench the philosophy of entrepreneurship into the psych of Caribbean youth and women, accelerating the culture of entrepreneurship, thus making it a natural school to work transition choice. The CEYE is a not-for-profit company founded to advance a redefined sustainable development agenda in the Caribbean. This is an initiative, borne out of an increasing demand by Caribbean countries wanting to provide decent work for their youth and women populations utilizing best practices and innovative, on-traditional strategies and tools.

II. Social, Cultural and Scientific

The Social, Cultural and Scientific award was shared by two recipients:

Associação de Ballete Artes para Cegos (Brasil) The Association has existed since 1995 and is recognized worldwide for pioneering a method developed by ballerina and physiotherapist Fernanda Bianchini. Through "contact" the visually impaired learn to dance Ballet gracefully, like any other beautiful dancer. The Association offers ballet classes free of charge for the blind and disabled of all ages. With these courses, the students' posture, balance, spatial perception, and self-esteem improve, and barriers and prejudices are broken down.

Instituto Nicaragüensede Cultura Hispánica (Nicaragua) The Instituto Nicaragüense de Cultura Hispánica [Nicaraguan Institute of Hispanic Culture] (INCH) is recognized as a prestigious institution in the country. In the 54 years since it was founded (1959-2013), with the support of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation and recently with a supplementary item from the General Budget of the Republic, it has become a bedrock of cultural promotion in Nicaragua.

I. Economics and Finance   

The Economics and Financeaward was shared by two recipients:

Centro de Implementación de Políticas Públicas para la Equidad y el CrecimientoCIPPEC(Argentina)Founded in Buenos Aires in 2000, CIPPEC works for a just, democratic and efficient public sector to improve the lives of people. CIPPEC analyzes and promotes public policies to foster equity and growth in the region, helping strengthen and develop the institutional capacity of public agencies and community organizations through its interactions with policymakers.

Fundación Salvadoreña para el Desarrollo Económico y Social-FUSADES (El Salvador)Created in 1983 in El Salvador by a group of independent entrepreneurs and professionals with a vision to improve the economic and social conditions of Salvadorans, FUSADES set out to become a highly credible think tank dedicated to economic and social progress through sustainable development under a democratic system and individual liberties. FUSADES carries out research to promote public policies aimed at economic, social and institutional development.

II. Social, Cultural and Scientific

The Social, Cultural and Scientific award was shared by two recipients:

Instituto Mexicano de Investigación de la Familia y Población - IMIFAP (México)Founded in Mexico in 1985 by a group of social psychologists in order to pursue the investigation of sexual health issues, IMIFAP set out to create and implement programs that contribute to sustainable human development by empowering individuals to take control of their health, their productivity and their lives. IMIFAP develops programs to promote the skills and abilities of people and sustainable human development, with emphasis on gender issues, so that individuals take responsibility over their own health, productivity and lives, through integrated development and community development programs.

Proyecto Salesiano Chicos de la Calle Guayaquil (Ecuador)The Salesian order started working in Ecuador in 1888 to address the needs of poor young people through quality education and vocational training. Inspired by the values of the Gospel, they sought to form “honest citizens and good Christians.” The street children project works with at-risk children and youths in seven Ecuadoran cities, offering them services to improve their education, shelter, social services, counseling, vocational training and employment opportunities.

I. Economics and Finance

ACCIÓN Internacional (Latin America and the Caribbean)This microfinance pioneer, founded in 1961, provides financial tools, such as microloans and business training, to enhance the living conditions of the poor, helping them to climb the economic ladder.

II. Social, Cultural and Scientific

FE Y ALEGRÍA (Latin America and the Caribbean)Established in 1955, this organization works primarily in comprehensive education for low-income populations and social welfare. It targets poor or excluded sectors, to strengthen personal development and social involvement. It has a network of more than 1,600 support centers, with 2,700 service units including schools, radio stations, and distance learning centers.

VAGA LUME (Brasil) Vaga Lume carries out cultural and educational projects in rural communities in the Amazon, primarily promoting reading, writing, and oral expression. Its vision is one of cultural exchange to forge ties and carry out learning that strengthens each individual and society.