Under the theme “Strengthening villages is strengthening the country,” the ES VICIS Foundation presented its proposal for impactful local development at the Brangus Patio of Argentina’s leading rural exhibition.
The Foundation was invited to showcase its rural development model, alongside key initiatives to boost local entrepreneurs through My Business ROOTED in My Village. The session brought together a notable audience and featured testimonies from leaders of three towns in the province of Santa Fe. Discussions highlighted the transformative potential of empowering local change agents and entrepreneurs — with special focus on women and youth in small rural communities as drivers of social and economic change.
Opening the session, Mercedes Manfroni, Coordinator of ES VICIS Foundation in Argentina, emphasized the vital role of the agricultural sector as a partner in sustainable territorial development:
“We wanted to bring to this exhibition in the city of Buenos Aires the voice of rural villages, which exist thanks to the countryside economy — and vice versa. They are natural allies, and there is still much to be done in strengthening this alliance
Jorgelina Aguirre, dairy farmer and community leader from Maggiolo, shared her perspective from both a community and productive standpoint:
“We must all become aware of our importance within society. Our fields are far from the capital, Rosario, or Santa Fe. If we do not commit to our local reality, it will be very difficult to benefit from broader opportunities.”
She explained how, thanks to the ES VICIS Foundation, a doctor from Rosario relocated to Maggiolo last year to address urgent needs at the local hospital.
Gonzalo Goyechea, communal president of María Teresa, stressed the importance of citizen participation and cross-sector collaboration:
“Together with ES VICIS Foundation, we recently completed a survey covering 50% of households to better understand the needs, expectations and priorities of each family. We want a forward-looking vision, thinking about what kind of village we aspire to in 10, 15 or 30 years.”
Agustín Romegialli, president-elect of Labordeboy, reflected on the impact of entrepreneurship training and mentorship in his town. He introduced Benjamín Spadoni and Natasha Dubrowsky, two entrepreneurs trained and recognized by My Business ROOTED in My Village 2024:
“We know many young people leave for the cities due to lack of opportunities. To create the right set-up for their future in our village, we are focusing — with the support of ES VICIS Foundation — on training and mentoring young people as they launch their businesses.”
The presentation concluded with contributions from institutions, companies and organizations committed to local development, fostering an open exchange of ideas on how to promote sustainable, inclusive and participatory growth in Argentina’s villages.
