Fundación 21 supports community projects in Villa 21 - one of the largest shantytown “villas” in Buenos Aires. Villa residents face a daily struggle with extreme poverty, gang violence and a lack of basic services such as clean water, electricity, education, sewerage systems and healthcare.

Despite these challenges, local people work tirelessly to improve conditions and support their community. Fundación 21 funds small scale, locally run projects which empower villa residents to make a better future. Villa 21 is located in Barracas, an area in the south of Buenos Aires city.

Founded in 2017, Fundación 21 has offices in London and Buenos Aires. The organisation was set up by a group of British, Colombian and Argentine friends who met while working with grassroots organisations in Villa 21. Time and time again we saw that local people had the knowledge and motivation to help their community but lacked funding to implement their ideas. Fundación 21 aims to provide this financial support, while allowing local residents to drive the change in their community.

As an organisation we are aware of the ethical dilemmas surrounding charity work in deprived areas. We recognise that the charitable sector must tread carefully and ultimately encourage government action rather than be a sticking plaster solution to problems that require state investment and infrastructure. Fundación 21 supports organisations that work with the Argentine government to promote long term, sustainable change. However, we recognise that Villa 21 residents face immediate and critical problems including hunger, poor health and lack of access to education. We therefore also support projects which provide acute relief in these areas.