ARGENTINA

From Labordeboy (900 inhabitants), Santa Fe Province, Argentina, an entrepreneur supported by My Business ROOTED in My Village, a program of ES VICIS Foundation, reached the most important exhibitions in the video game industry with an educational project aimed at raising awareness about a condition common in children and adults. Natasha Dubrowsky is an entrepreneur and video game developer. She lives in Labordeboy, a small village in Santa Fe Province, Argentina, and participated in My Business ROOTED in My Village, a program of ES VICIS Foundation. Her journey shows how support, planning, and a concrete opportunity can transform an idea into a project with real impact. Thanks to the work carried out together with her mentor Romina Gleria within My Business ROOTED in My Village, and the financial incentive she received after obtaining second prize in this program, Natasha was selected by a video game incubator and participated in two key industry events: XR – Rafaelina Video Game Industry Exhibition, a showcase that brings together video game developments from across Santa Fe Province. There, her project was the only one coming from a small village, in a space largely dominated by productions from Rosario, Santa Fe city, and Rafaela. Expo EVA, the largest video game exhibition in the Argentine industry, which brings together developers, studios, investors, and sector leaders at the national level. Reaching these stages was not accidental. Natasha explains that before participating in the program she had many ideas but struggled to organize them: “I have many ideas in my head and it’s very hard for me to bring them down to earth. That’s exactly what My Business ROOTED in My Village helped me do: stop fantasizing and start executing.” “I started working on documents, visualizing where I saw the company and how I saw myself. I didn’t want to do it without a purpose.” That process led her to define a clear mission: to develop immersive video games that not only entertain but also teach. “I’m tired of casual games where you don’t learn anything. That’s why one of the most important pillars is that the player has to think. We’re not going to solve everything for them, because today there’s an overuse of tutorials and constant help for players.” The experience in My Business ROOTED in My Village also allowed her to prioritize concrete goals: “That’s when I defined that one of my goals for 2025 was to reach Expo EVA, the most important video game industry exhibition in Argentina.” The path was not easy. Natasha couldn’t meet development timelines on her own and decided to bring Kevin on board, who is now her partner. Later, the project was selected by a Santa Fe–based video game incubator seeking to strengthen developments from the province: “There were only 10 spots and they asked for a lot of requirements, and we were one of the first games selected,” she says with joy and pride. That selection was decisive, enabling participation both in Expo EVA and in the exhibition held in Rafaela. In addition, the financial award granted within the framework of My Business ROOTED in My Village, which recognized the value of her venture, allowed her to make key investments to move the project forward: “The game is developed on a graphics engine that is quite expensive. With the prize, I was able to buy equipment and materials so the engine would run properly on the computer. That was super important.” Nina Moreau: A Video Game to Build Empathy and Strategic Thinking The project Natasha presented at both exhibitions is called Nina Moreau, and it centers on the experience of a detective who lives with a neurodivergence that science today refers to as AuDHD, a co-occurrence within the autism spectrum and Attention Deficit Disorder, with or without hyperactivity. “In the game, no diagnosis is mentioned. Since the story takes place in the late 1970s, she simply feels ‘different’ or excluded in a system that doesn’t understand her, but she ‘thinks’ and ‘feels’ in a particular way,” Natasha explains. Personal Inspiration “My greatest inspiration for developing Nina Moreau’s character was my dad and my own experience for the game mechanics. Many times, it was hard for me to put my neurodivergence into words, so I designed the game so others could experience it from the inside rather than receiving a medical lesson,” Natasha explains. She also notes that the game includes many mechanics inspired by the neurodivergent mind: Hyperfocus: When activated, it reduces external stimuli (sounds and lights) and highlights key clues to connect the dots.  Stimming: Repetitive behaviors people use to self-regulate—especially common among people on the autism spectrum, but also present in people with ADHD, anxiety, or even neurotypical individuals. It is a mechanic that can help or hinder the player when connecting clues.  Hyperfixation (Photography): Nina is a photography enthusiast; she uses her Polaroid camera to record clues and write her conclusions in a notebook.  From a small village in Santa Fe Province to the main stages of the national industry, Natasha’s story shows that when planning, support, and concrete opportunities come together, impact multiplies.  

Thanks to the agreement between ES VICIS Foundation and Junior Achievement Santa Fe, secondary school students from the villages of Maggiolo and Santo Domingo (Santa Fe Province, Argentina) accessed scholarships for high-impact training opportunities that strengthen their economic autonomy and future employability.. During the last quarter of 2025, this alliance enabled students to participate in online courses focused on Personal Finance and Artificial Intelligence—two critical skill areas for navigating today’s labor markets, digital economies, and everyday financial decisions. Why Early Financial Literacy Matters Understanding how money works from a young age is a key driver of long-term economic resilience. Financial literacy empowers young people to make informed decisions, plan ahead, and reduce vulnerability to debt, exclusion, and informal financial practices—particularly in small rural communities where access to guidance and tools is limited. This need is reflected in global data highlighted by Junior Achievement Santa Fe: according to S&P’s FinLit Survey, nearly two-thirds of adults worldwide are financially illiterate. More specifically, 44% of young people under 35 lack basic knowledge of core concepts such as inflation, interest rates, and saving. Addressing this gap early is essential to breaking cycles of economic fragility. Personal Finance Training in Santo Domingo In Santo Domingo, a village of 1,800 inhabitants, more than 40 students from 4th and 5th year of the Agricultural Technical School completed a Personal Finance course designed to provide practical, everyday skills. The training covered saving, investment, financial planning, and the use of digital financial tools, including fintech platforms increasingly present in daily life. Beyond theoretical knowledge, the course strengthened students’ confidence and decision-making capacity, helping them understand how to manage personal income, contribute to household stability, and plan future projects. For many participants, this was also their first experience with virtual learning—an additional step toward digital inclusion. Students reflected on the impact: “It gave us tools for everyday life and for the future.” “We learned about fintech, fixed-term deposits, bonds, and stocks—things we use or hear about but didn’t really understand before.” “It helped us move toward financial independence and even support our families.” Introduction to Artificial Intelligence in Maggiolo In Maggiolo, around ten secondary school students participated in an introductory course on Artificial Intelligence. The training explored generative AI, ethical considerations, real-world applications, and practical tools such as Microsoft 365 Copilot. The objective was not only technical literacy, but also the development of critical thinking, creativity, and digital autonomy—skills increasingly required across professions and educational pathways. Students highlighted the relevance and applicability of the content across subjects and daily tasks. “We learned a lot and found it very engaging.” “It’s something we can apply in other subjects and in the future.” Impact Beyond the Classroom By facilitating access to high-quality financial and digital education in small villages, this initiative contributes to long-term community resilience. Young people gain tools to better navigate economic systems, make informed choices, and envision future opportunities without needing to leave their territory prematurely. This experience reinforces a core principle of ES VICIS Foundation’s approach: investing early in human capital—especially among youth—is one of the most effective ways to strengthen rootedness, autonomy, and sustainable local development.

During 2025, ES VICIS Foundation implemented a comprehensive strengthening process with the CONFEMAG Textile Workers’ Cooperative in Maggiolo, Santa Fe Province, Argentina. Through the strategic channeling of impact funds, combined with targeted training and organizational support, the cooperative strengthened its structure, increased local employment, and sustainably improved its productive capacity.   The Foundation supported CONFEMAG through an integrated approach that combined productive investment, business model strengthening, and organizational development. As a result, four new jobs were created, and the foundations were laid to increase productivity and members’ returns over the medium term. A key milestone of the process was the USD 10,000 impact investment provided by the Ameropa Foundation, a Swiss non-profit organization promoting long-term humanitarian, educational, and agricultural initiatives in vulnerable communities, and a supporter of ES VICIS programs in Argentina since 2025. These funds were strategically allocated to the acquisition of essential machinery: two bartack machines, one overlock machine, one button machine, and one steam iron. This targeted investment removed critical production bottlenecks, enabling the cooperative to expand capacity, optimize workflows, and improve efficiency in the production of workwear. In parallel, CONFEMAG participated in My Business ROOTED in My Village, an ES VICIS program focused on strengthening local enterprises. The cooperative completed an intensive training process on business models and received personalized one-on-one mentoring to refine its growth strategy, value proposition, and economic sustainability. Recognizing the positive impact of this integrated process, the Alimentaris Foundation supported an extension of specialized mentoring. This additional phase deepened the impact of the productive investment by addressing key organizational dimensions, including a workplace climate survey and facilitated working sessions on internal communication, coexistence, and collective planning. Technical assistance was provided by sector specialists, supporting the cooperative in implementing concrete management tools such as cost and pricing models, monthly production planning, and indicator dashboards to monitor production volumes, client portfolios, financial returns, and the valuation of working hours. The process concluded with an in-person workshop where productive advances, machinery integration, and the results of the workplace climate survey were collectively reviewed, and future development priorities were defined. Thanks to this comprehensive strengthening and effective channeling of impact capital, CONFEMAG is now positioned to further increase its productive capacity, improve the profitability of cooperative work, and project the creation of an additional three to four quality jobs in the village. For 2026, members are expected to see a 40–50% increase in returns, supported by sustained production and improved economic resilience. A Cooperative with History and a Future CONFEMAG is a cooperative with more than 50 years of experience in the production of workwear in Maggiolo, Santa Fe Province, Argentina. It is composed of 24 members—predominantly women heads of household—who generate local employment in a largely agricultural region, strengthening the village’s productive and social fabric.  

The ES VICIS Foundation and María Teresa, a village in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina, with 4,000 inhabitants, carried out a comprehensive diagnostic of the town that included a survey of 40% of households to understand their social, economic, and community reality. The study reveals high levels of institutional trust, pride of belonging, and willingness to stay rooted. It also identifies challenges in making possible the desire of young people to live in their hometown. November 2025 – The Santa Fe village of María Teresa, with just over 4,000 inhabitants, took an exemplary step: together with the ES VICIS Foundation, it promoted a local survey to gain an in-depth understanding of its social, economic, and housing reality. The work, carried out between April and October within the framework of a collaboration agreement between the local government of María Teresa and ES VICIS, reached 40% of households and offers an accurate snapshot of life in the town, as well as a concrete tool for planning evidence-based public policies. The survey was developed based on a methodological framework previously prepared by the ES VICIS Foundation, with the support of an interdisciplinary team of project evaluation and local development professionals from FLACSO Argentina, ensuring the technical quality and comparability of the data obtained. “Having high-quality local data is a sign of institutional maturity. María Teresa demonstrates that a small town can lead knowledge and planning processes that inspire other towns in the country,” said Mercedes Manfroni, coordinator of the ES VICIS Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to revitalizing rural towns. “This diagnostic shows us a community with trust, identity, and a desire to grow. It provides us with the tools to design fairer and more sustainable policies, from and for the town,” highlighted Gonzalo Goyechea, president of the local government of María Teresa. A snapshot of a community with identity and trust The study shows a cohesive community with a strong identity: 68.6% of residents express high pride of belonging and 29.4% medium pride. Only 2% of households reported feeling little pride in belonging to the town. Meanwhile, 63.5% trust the local government, which is the institution generating the most confidence in the community. This institutional capital, together with a strong sense of rootedness, constitutes a strategic advantage for promoting local development. In terms of housing, 58% of households own both their home and land, a value close to the national average, but with a latent demand for accessible housing solutions: more than one-third of households are seeking a housing alternative for all or some of the co-inhabitants. The local economy combines self-employment, family businesses (19.8%), and public employment (15.9%), forming a diversified structure with growth potential. The unemployment rate (9.9%), slightly above the national average (7.9%), highlights the challenge of continuing to expand employment and productive opportunities. Regarding health, 73.4% rated the local service positively: 9.9% consider it “excellent”; 25.8% “very good”; and 37.7% “good.” However, there is high demand for certain medical specialties, such as pediatrics. Indicators of digital inclusion and safety show encouraging levels: 91.9% of households have internet access, and 94% perceive the town as safe. The study also addresses the perceptions of young people, who on one hand, largely expressed high appreciation for their life in the town, but on the other hand, eight out of ten have heard that “to progress, you have to leave the town.” This is a deeply rooted narrative in the community, which the report recommends addressing through workshops, as well as employment and housing policies, to prevent the outflow of young people. Overall, the results show that María Teresa has a solid social base, reliable institutions, and a strong sense of belonging, but also structural challenges regarding housing, employment, and opportunities for young people. Capitalizing on its strengths —trust, safety, digitalization, and social cohesion— will be key to deepening its model of sustainable local development with rootedness.

English Translation of the TN Campo Article In Carmen, province of Santa Fe, a village of 2,000 inhabitants, Carlos, Adriana, and Bruno transformed a hobby into a family food truck that generates work in the community and promotes sustainable practices. In the small village of Carmen, 35 kilometers from Venado Tuerto, gastronomy has not only become a business, but also a bond between family, community, and the environment. Carlos Paulina, together with his wife Adriana and his son Bruno, runs “Sabor Callejero”, a gastronomic venture that started as a family project and today is a local reference for its economic, social, and environmental impact. The project began at the end of 2018, when Bruno, freshly graduated as a chef in Venado Tuerto, joined the family team. With his culinary knowledge and the experience of his parents, both retired teachers, they decided to install a 2 by 4-meter food truck. What started as a venture in the interior of Santa Fe, offering sporadic services at fairs and birthday parties, soon consolidated as a project capable of reactivating the local economy. “The economic importance is the reactivation we give to local businesses because we work with local raw materials,” explained Carlos. Family roots and environmental awareness During 2019, the family began offering their services in nearby villages. The pandemic temporarily halted activity, but later they resumed with more strength, incorporating events and venues in the region. To date, they have completed more than 300 events. The gastronomic offering combines tradition and innovation. “Our strength is dishes with meat, but we also offer vegan options and children’s menus,” says Bruno, 25 years old. Everything is prepared with local products, and the hamburgers are homemade, made directly by the team. For larger events, they add waiters and collaborators who help maintain quality and personalized service. The venture not only focuses on flavor, but also on sustainability and the circular economy. The family collects bottles and used oil from their homes and neighbors’, which are then taken to recycling plants in Venado Tuerto and Rosario. They also participate in battery collection programs managed by municipal authorities. “We work on three pillars: environmental, economic, and legal. We strictly respect all food safety regulations and maintain traceability of our raw materials,” said Carlos. Participation in the program My business rooted in my Village, promoted by the ES VICIS Foundation, strengthened the project. There, the family received training in business management, gastronomic marketing, and social media, and was awarded for their local impact. “With the monetary award, we acquired equipment such as a fryer, a cold cut slicer, and a food warmer. This allows us to serve larger events and maintain the quality of our offering,” explained Carlos. Caring for quality and the origin of each ingredient In addition, they shared knowledge with their suppliers, giving food safety classes and advice on producing necessary inputs. This strengthened the circular economy and ensured that all products come from the village. “Prioritizing the quality and origin of raw materials is fundamental for us. We want our work to generate a positive effect on the entire community,” added Carlos. The food truck has become a symbol of rural rootedness, an example of how talent and initiative can flourish even in small villages. The family not only offers food, but also temporary employment, training opportunities, and a tangible economic impact on local businesses. Each event demonstrates how family tradition, gastronomic innovation, and environmental responsibility can come together. “What started as a hobby today is a project that fills us with pride. Maintaining quality, caring for raw materials, and giving back to our community is our daily motivation,” assured Carlos. “Seeing people enjoy our food and how local businesses benefit confirms that it was worth betting on rootedness,” he emphasized. This venture demonstrates that rural talent is not limited to agricultural production, but can also transform into economic, environmental, and social opportunities, creating a virtuous circle that strengthens the community and preserves local identity.

Santa Fe, September 2025 — Under the principle of “no one left behind,” the ES VICIS Foundation, in partnership with Junior Achievement Santa Fe, is offering scholarships to primary and secondary school students in rural villages across the province of Santa Fe, Argentina, where many young people migrate to urban areas in search of opportunities. The initiative ensures equal access to essential skills for inclusion by integrating financial management and applied artificial intelligence courses directly into the school timetable.   The training is delivered through Junior Achievement’s online campus, with materials adapted for children and young people. Local teachers accompany students throughout the process, making sure every participant can follow and benefit. One of the programmes introduces generative AI, addressing ethics, daily applications and tools such as Microsoft 365 Copilot. It consists of six modules (12 hours in total) designed to foster creativity, critical thinking and digital autonomy. In parallel, financial education modules provide age-appropriate paths on budgeting, saving, credit, insurance and investment. Depending on the level, each course lasts between five and six hours, combining self-directed learning with sessions led by volunteer professionals. With this alliance, ES VICIS Foundation and Junior Achievement Santa Fe reaffirm their commitment to rural youth, equipping them with essential financial and digital skills. The goal: to strengthen career prospects, empower participation in the 21st-century economy, and ensure that no student—no matter how remote their community—gets left behind.   Santa Fe, September 2025 — In partnership with Junior Achievement Santa Fe, the ES VICIS Foundation is offering scholarships to primary and secondary school students in rural towns across the province of Santa Fe, Argentina. The initiative provides access to courses in financial management and applied artificial intelligence, integrated into the school timetable to ensure equal participation. The training is delivered through Junior Achievement’s online campus, with materials adapted for children and young people. Local teachers accompany students throughout the process. One of the programmes introduces generative AI, addressing ethics, daily applications and tools such as Microsoft 365 Copilot. It consists of six modules (12 hours in total) designed to foster creativity, critical thinking and digital autonomy. In parallel, financial education modules offer age-appropriate paths on budgeting, saving, credit, insurance and investment. Depending on the level, each course lasts between five and six hours, combining self-directed learning with sessions led by volunteer professionals. By providing these opportunities, ES VICIS Foundation and Junior Achievement Santa Fe aim to equip young people in Argentina’s rural communities with essential financial and digital skills, strengthening their career prospects and empowering them to actively participate in the 21st-century economy.

Buenos Aires, September 2025 — Entrepreneurs with strong potential for local impact have entered the second stage of My Business ROOTED in My Village. After nine weeks of intensive training with more than 100 participants, selected projects are now receiving individual mentorship. The mentoring process is tailored to each business, aiming to strengthen growth strategies, refine value propositions, and support scaling. 📌 Selected ventures include: Piel y Cosmética – Pilar Fox (Maggiolo) SV Polirrubros – Sintia Mabel Venialgo & Rubén Nicolás Bravo (María Teresa) Naturale – Natural Cosmetics – Marisa (Humberto Primo) Chocolates S Artesanales – Susana García (Dolavon) Tortas Negras ALIS Teissen Duu – Alicia Elaine Vera (Dolavon) Doble V Deco – Mariana (María Teresa) Lavadero de Ropa ANATY – Alicia Exner (Santo Domingo) Bicicleta Eléctrica CARGO BIMAC_MOBI – Miguel Corbalán (Colonia Raquel) Cooperativa Textil CONFEMAG – Mónica Saralegui (Maggiolo) Gestoría Integral – Griselda Tardini (Maggiolo) Huepil Eco – Eco Products – Romina Ramallo (Arias) Dulce Cielo Jewelry – Martina Brisa Serrano (Colonia Belgrano) Para Todo Hay Remedio – Ángela Argañaraz & Morena Orellana (Telsen) This stage is led by two experienced mentors, Josefina Goñi Bacigalupi and Sofía Piqué, and coordinated by Romina Gleria, Head of Economic Development at ES VICIS Foundation. This new phase marks an important step in strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Argentina’s rural communities, fostering innovation and generating opportunities that encourage young people and women to build their futures locally.

Buenos Aires, May 2025 — For the second consecutive year, ES VICIS Foundation and the Swiss-Argentine Fundación Alimentaris have renewed their partnership to promote entrepreneurship in small rural towns through the programme My Business ROOTED in My Village. The new edition of the programme, launched in May 2025, supports local entrepreneurs with training and mentoring to strengthen their business plans and enhance their digital marketing skills. The initiative seeks to foster businesses with strong local impact while unlocking the entrepreneurial talent within each community. The agreement was signed in Buenos Aires by Cintia Jaime, Co-Founder and Executive Director of ES VICIS Foundation, and Karina Bentivoglio, Co-Founder and President of Fundación Alimentaris. For Fundación Alimentaris, the partnership forms part of its Sustainable and Inclusive Value Chains programme, which aims to reinforce environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive businesses. Both foundations reaffirm their shared goal of revitalising local economies and creating rooted, decent employment in rural areas. By promoting sustainability principles in local enterprises, the alliance contributes to the development of responsible and resilient business models that can strengthen Argentina’s rural communities.