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We are delighted to welcome Martina Grossi, our newest Gold Member at ES VICIS Foundation! Martina’s story is a testament to the passion, resilience, and sense of community that define the Argentine spirit. Her journey to supporting ES VICIS began in a moment filled with national pride: the World Cup.  When Passion Meets Purpose  During the excitement of the World Cup—a time when emotions and a sense of unity run high in Argentina—Martina felt a powerful urge to contribute to her community. As the match progressed and the tension mounted, Martina remembered her mother’s example: “In the face of challenges, especially health issues, my mom would turn to her faith, asking for help with the promise of giving back to the community. That’s how I grew up, learning the value of donating and helping those in need.” “I didn’t know which organization I wanted to support,” Martina shared. “But I knew I wanted to back a cause that was making a real difference in Argentina.” Amidst the collective emotion, Argentinians made all kinds of promises if the team won the World Cup: from getting a tattoo of Messi’s name to pilgrimaging to Luján, quitting bad habits, or even naming their future children “Emiliano” or “Lionel.” This decision, made in a moment of national celebration, reflects the deep-rooted value Argentinians place on belonging and mutual support. For Martina, the World Cup wasn’t just about football; it was a reminder of what can be achieved when people come together with a shared purpose.  Why ES VICIS?  After nearly a decade abroad, Martina returned to Argentina, convinced of the country’s potential and determined to invest in its future. With a new vision and renewed confidence in the land of her birth, she embarked on her own path, reaffirming her commitment to Argentina’s development and transformation. “For me, it is an honor to contribute to the cause promoted by ES VICIS. By considering Argentina as ‘my village,’ I feel I live the spirit of the ‘Bienvenidos a mi Pueblo’ program. This initiative aims to strengthen local communities, seeing repopulation as an act of reconnection and support for the development of our land. I believe the talented and dedicated team behind the foundation is doing extraordinary work, changing the narratives that no longer serve us, restoring empowerment to the villages, and ultimately to our country,” she shared. Martina discovered the ES VICIS Foundation and found a mission that resonated deeply with her values. “For me, being a member and giving back means supporting causes I believe in—ones that I wouldn’t be able to directly aid otherwise. It’s about acknowledging those actively making a difference and expanding the reach of exceptional projects, which really gives me hope,” she explained. Her story highlights the mission of ES VICIS: creating opportunities in rural communities and fostering connections that inspire collective progress. Join the Movement  Martina’s journey is a call to action for all of us. Every action has the power to transform. Her story reminds us that impactful change often begins with a simple decision—to support, to belong, to contribute. Join us in this movement of generosity and help shape a brighter future in this beautiful country and beyond.

The ES VICIS Foundation’s “My Business ROOTED in my Village” program has empowered rural entrepreneurs in Argentina, helping them turn their ideas into impactful businesses. Here are three inspiring stories of entrepreneurs whose ventures have made a real difference in their communities. Natasha Dubrowsky: Innovating Education Through Gaming Natasha Dubrowsky, from Labordeboy, Argentina, is the founder of Synkronic Labs, a gaming studio with the mission of transforming education through play. Thanks to the “My Business ROOTED in my Village” program, Natasha took her project to new heights, securing 2nd place and proving that passion and innovation can turn dreams into reality, no matter where you are. With the support of @fundacionalimentaris, Natasha advanced her educational video game project, designed to support children with ADHD by providing engaging tools to enhance focus and learning in a fun, interactive way. [Watch Natasha’s Story here] Juan: Building Communities with Affordable Construction Solutions From Maggiolo, Argentina, Juan is transforming his community through his venture, La Roca, which produces affordable, high-quality anti-humidity wall panels. His project addresses common housing challenges in the region, offering practical solutions for local families. Through the “My Business ROOTED in my Village” program, Juan gained key business skills that helped him refine his model and plan for growth. Today, his venture is not just a source of income but a testament to the power of entrepreneurship in rural areas. [Watch Juan’s Story here] Brian Savino: Revolutionizing Local Hardware Commerce In Maggiolo, Argentina, Brian Savino is reshaping the hardware retail market with his business, Ferretería La Grange. With the support of the “My Business ROOTED in my Village” program, Brian gained essential business skills to streamline his operations and expand his reach. Today, his store offers a physical location, an online catalog, and digital payment options, making shopping easier for his community while expanding sales beyond Santa Fe to other provinces. [Watch Brian’s Story here]

We have signed a cooperation agreement with Junior Achievement. Utilizing our methodologies to engage young people, nearly 20 individuals aged between 14 and 25 from five villages have benefited by participating in three of Junior Achievement’s most sought-after programs: ‘I Can Program,’ ‘Personal Economy,’ and ‘Plan Your Future.   The ES VICIS Foundation and Junior Achievement have signed a cooperation agreement aimed at implementing initiatives and providing training that will benefit the education and employment of young people in the small towns where the ‘Welcome to My Village’ program is carried out. To ensure the participation of young people, the ES VICIS Foundation requested that the Support Committees of “Welcome to My Village” designate a motivator who would be responsible for mobilizing and supporting the youth to encourage them to complete the entire curriculum proposed in each program. More about Junior Achievement: Junior Achievement is one of the largest NGOs in the world. Through active learning in financial education, workforce readiness, and entrepreneurship, they empower young people to be the architects of their own future. Their initiatives reach over 10 million children and youth in more than 100 countries. It is ranked as the seventh most influential NGO globally. In Santa Fe, they have been operating continuously since 1997, with an office in Rosario, reaching more than 11,000 students annually, with the support of volunteers and business allies.

On November 9th, the ES VICIS Foundation’s Scholarship Program for entrepreneurs was launched in Carmen, Labordeboy, Maggiolo, Murphy, and San Eduardo. This marked the inception of the ‘I Start  business in My Village’ program, aimed at continually integrating entrepreneurs into this network.   In our program ‘Welcome to My Village’, entrepreneurs take center stage. By supporting and nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit, we promote the economic development of small towns, fostering local growth and community ties,” stated Mercedes Manfroni, Coordinator of the ES VICIS Foundation in Argentina, during the launch of the institution’s Entrepreneurship Scholarship Program. She added, “This contributes to our goal of fostering a sustainable balance between urban and rural areas.” The training provided to more than 50 entrepreneurs from these towns included a Business Model Workshop and a Digital Marketing Workshop. The Business Model Workshop was led by Romina Gleria, a Master in Business Sciences with extensive experience in training entrepreneurs, both at the ES VICIS Foundation and in other organizations. Gleria is also a professor at the Universidad Austral de Rosario. Participants were equipped with tools to efficiently manage their businesses, correctly identifying customer segments, channels, revenue sources, cost structures, resources, key partnerships, and activities. During the Entrepreneurship Scholarship Program, we conducted a Digital Marketing workshop led by Cintia Cantero, an expert in areas like graphic design and social media. Over three days, entrepreneurs learned how to enhance their communication on platforms such as Instagram, WhatsApp Business, and Facebook. They also explored tools to improve content, create videos, and schedule posts. This workshop marks the beginning of an ongoing journey for our ES VICIS network of entrepreneurs operating in rural towns. We are committed to enriching this network with new opportunities and developments through collaborative efforts. At the program’s conclusion, we gathered positive feedback through a satisfaction survey, highlighting the usefulness of the content, clarity of explanations, and expectations for future training. These testimonials validate our approach and help us measure the impact of our initiatives. The comments received were positive, here are some of the testimonials: “The most valuable thing was the bond and relationship that was generated with other entrepreneurs in the area. Personally, it has already opened the door for me to work with another entrepreneur in the program”. “The practical aspects of the program, the hands-on experience…. It helps a lot to understand.” “The practical aspect and the clarity in explaining the instructions.” “I value everything, because it is a course that I was very interested in and I loved it.” “All the information provided was of great personal interest”. “This course motivated me to continue betting on a personal project or an idea to be realized”. “I really appreciated learning how to obtain potential new clients”. “Very good predisposition of the speakers and good communication skills”. “The practical aspects, those that help us in the day to day, add to our undertakings”. “That it was also by zoom, that the meetings were punctual and, for the most part, entertaining. The information was quite clear. It was very important that the classes were recorded. That we were able to ask questions and that the post-meeting question returns were answered very quickly.” “I liked the patience in teaching”