Our Structure
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AVANZAR is officially registered as an association with a board and members. It enjoys tax exemption within the scope of its non-profit activities.
The vision, strategy and goals of the Avanzar Foundation in Ecuador are closely worked out between the organization in Switzerland and the Foundation in Ecuador. It is also in Switzerland that their fulfillment is monitored, and the necessary financial resources for the operation of the foundation are raised and managed.
Its main tasks include various fundraising activities. One of these is the sale and distribution of the bags produced by Atelier Avanzar in Ecuador.
AVANZAR is operative thanks to generous private donors, as well as donations from other foundations.
All bodies in the association work on a voluntary basis. The bookkeeping is the responsibility of an external fiduciary office.
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AVANZAR in Ecuador was established as a non-profit foundation.
The main task is to create and implement various vocational training programs in the areas of gastronomy, health, cosmetics and textiles. Additionally business knowledge is taught in the areas of finances, accounting, social media, marketing and sales.
Every year, hundreds of women benefit from this training programmes.
In addition to this main task, the Fundacion Avanzar also offers children who are being treated in the main public local hospital the opportunity to play, learn and relax. Furthermore, parents who accompany and look after the children in hospital also receive free meals.
Another, different activity is the initiation of the Caja Solidaria Avanzamos Juntas, were women learned to run their own co-operative bank where they can finance each other's entrepreneurial activities by means of micro-credits. The first one was created in 2021. We are planing to create a new one in the near future.
A further activity of the foundation is an early-pregnancy prevention program for female teenagers.
Moreover, the Avanzar Foundation runs the Atelier Avanzar – a social enterprise - where fashionable, high-quality bags are made by hand individually. The Atelier Avanzar works with 14 female artisants, most of them with some form of disadvantage, which prevents them from getting a job in the labour market. The women are paid fairly and work under safe and flexible conditions. The bags are primarily sold in Europe.
The profit generated from the sale of the bags is used to finance part of the activities of the Foundation.
Although the AVANZAR Foundation receives most of its funding from Switzerland, it is important to mention that it also receives local support, especially in the form of strategic partnerships with universities, institutes, other foundations, and private individuals. Every franc donated in Switzerland is doubled in Ecuador in the form of voluntary work and donations in kind.
In order to be able to offer these various programmes, the Fundacion currently employs 6 people and is supported by volunteers and interns, both local and international.
Our Finances
The bookkeeping for the Avanzar Association (Switzerland) has been carried out by an external fiduciary office (PROTAX St. Gallen) for many years. The annual financial statements are audited by an external auditor.
The accounts show the amount of the annual donations from the Avanzar Association to the Foundation Avanzar in Ecuador.
The accounts of Fundacion Avanzar (Ecuador) are prepared by an external accountant. This information is submitted annually to the Ecuadorian IRS (Internal Revenue Service). These accounts show in detail how the funds received are utilised.
The President of the Avanzar Association (Switzerland) and the President and Director of the Fundacion Avanzar (Ecuador) decide together where the Fundacion Avanzar's priorities lie, which programs are to be funded, and to what extent.
These decisions are in writing and are reviewed at least once a year and adjusted if necessary.
Please write us if you would like to receive our latest Financial Reports.