Our History

Fundación Ávila Cruz AC, started in 2013 as a secular, non-partisan and non-profit organization of the Mexican Civil Society.

In the community of Joya Grande, a small indigenous town in the municipality of the Heroic City of Tlaxiaco, Oaxaca, the four siblings Edgar, César, Laura and Armando were born.
Our childhood was a reflection of challenges and values, with days of fetching water, working in the fields and studying under the light of an ocote tree. At that time, we were part of a community of just 189 inhabitants who were struggling to get ahead. While our mother dedicated herself to taking care of the home, our father, as a teacher of indigenous education, instilled in us the value of work and education as tools to transform our future.
Despite the adversities, our commitment to education was unwavering. After years of effort, we managed to complete our professional careers: Edgar and César became lawyers, Laura a dentist and Armando a public accountant.
In 2013, we founded Fundación Ávila Cruz, A.C., an organization created to contribute to sustainable community development and the reduction of extreme poverty in indigenous communities in Mexico. Inspired by our experiences, we designed a comprehensive intervention model based on five strategic axes.
Today, after a decade of work, we continue to honor our roots and build a more just and equitable future for the indigenous communities of Mexico. Our commitment is to be a bridge between dreams and reality, bringing hope and development where it is most needed.

WHERE DO WE WORK?

In the Mixteca region there are the Municipalities with the lowest Human Development Index (HDI).

We work in the southern states of Mexico due to the degree of state marginalization (very high) and the results of the measurement of multidimensional poverty in Mexico (extreme poverty line by income, social deprivations and the territorial context).

In 2020, the federal entities with the highest percentage of the population in extreme poverty are Chiapas (29%), Guerrero (25.5%) and Oaxaca (20.6), CONEVAL.

In 2020, the municipalities with the highest percentage of the population living in extreme poverty were located in the entities of Oaxaca, Chiapas and Guerrero, CONEVAL.

Likewise, the results in 2020, the highest concentration of poverty is located in the regions that have historically registered the greatest social lags: Nayar, Tarahumara, Altos de Chiapas and the Mixteca de (Oaxaca, Puebla and Guerrero), CONEVAL.

We are headquartered in the municipality of the Heroic City of Tlaxiaco in the Mixteca region of the State of Oaxaca, Mexico.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

We understand that joint responsibility in the integral development of the human being is the essential value for the achievement of the common good and the defense of human dignity.

TEAM OF COLLABORATORS

We work from the cooperation and co-responsibility of people to common interests, with volunteers, donors and organizations through networks and alliances.

ABOUT US?

Fundación Ávila Cruz A. C., contributes to reducing extreme poverty in indigenous communities.

Fundación Ávila Cruz AC, was founded in 2013 as a secular, non-partisan and non-profit Mexican Civil Society Organization (OSC) with the commitment to manage and implement participatory, inclusive and sustainable community development projects in communities indigenous people in situations of extreme poverty for social well-being.

We have the authorization of the Tax Administration Service (SAT) to receive tax-deductible donations in Mexico and abroad, in terms of the Income Tax Law and with the Accreditation in Institutionality and Transparency (AIT) by the Mexican Center for Philanthropy, A. C. (CEMEFI), at the optimal level.

MISSION

Contribute to reducing extreme poverty in Mexico’s indigenous communities and vulnerable groups through comprehensive initiatives such as training, sustainable community development, food security, access to healthcare and inclusion of people with disabilities, assistance in the event of natural disasters, and cultural promotion to improve living conditions, transform realities, and generate comprehensive well-being.

VISION

To be a leading organization in promoting social inclusion and the comprehensive development of people living in indigenous communities and vulnerable groups in Mexico, generating equitable and sustainable opportunities to improve their quality of life.

INSTITUTIONAL VALUES

Inclusion:

Ensure the active and equitable participation of all sectors of the community, especially the most vulnerable groups.

Equity:

Promote social justice and equal access to resources and opportunities.

Sustainability: 

Implement practices that ensure long-term development, respecting the environment and future generations.

Community participation:

Promote the active involvement of communities in the planning, execution and evaluation of projects.

Innovation: 

Constantly seek creative and effective solutions to face challenges in indigenous communities.

Respect for cultural diversity:

Value and preserve indigenous traditions, customs and knowledge.

Transparency: 

Act with clarity and responsibility in the management of resources and in the communication of results.

Solidarity: 

Work with empathy and commitment towards collective well-being.

Empowerment: 

Train and strengthen local capacities to promote  self-management and community leadership.

Resilience: 

Develop the capacity of communities to adapt and overcome adverse situations, including natural disasters and emergencies.

OUR PRINCIPLES

  • Respect for cultural diversity.
  • Equity and inclusion.
  • Community participation.
  • Sustainability.
  • Community empowerment.
  • Solidarity.
  • Innovation and continuous learning.
  • Transparency and accountability. 
  • Adaptation and resilience. 
  • Multisectoral collaboration.
 

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

  • Strengthen capacities and promote well-being: Provide social guidance and group counseling on family, education, nutrition, employment, and health issues to improve decision-making and generate a positive impact on families and communities.
  • Promote comprehensive development and the defense of rights: Offer training workshops on community management and human rights, awareness campaigns to promote culture and non-discrimination, and specialized legal advice that defends rights to health, education, housing, and food, empowering communities in their struggle for justice and equity.
  • Promote economic development and self-management: Provide training in trades and job skills, create support networks, and advise entrepreneurs, reducing dependence on external aid and generating job opportunities that improve the quality of life for communities.
  • Ensure food and nutritional security: Improve the nutrition of vulnerable populations, especially those in early childhood and women of childbearing age, through the distribution of nutritious foods, food education training, and the promotion of community and family gardens.
  • Promote community health and well-being: Sustainably expand access to clean water and basic sanitation systems in the homes and community spaces of Indigenous communities and vulnerable groups; facilitate access to first-level health services with comprehensive medical clinics, distribution of medications and supplements, disease prevention training, and reproductive health awareness campaigns to promptly detect and treat conditions and reduce health inequalities.
  • Include and empower people with disabilities: Provide technical aids, therapies, training in the use of technological devices, and create support networks, promoting social integration, autonomy, and respect for diversity.
  • Respond to natural disasters: Provide timely and coordinated assistance in health, nutrition, and psychosocial support, strengthening community resilience through training and drills, and establishing strategic alliances with authorities and organizations.
  • Preserve and promote cultural identity: Defend and revitalize ancestral traditions, customs, and artistic expressions, encouraging the intergenerational transmission of knowledge and strengthening community participation in the management and promotion of their cultural heritage.

MODEL OF INTERVENTION

We intervene based on conceptual approaches that in turn help us define the changes that we seek to achieve together with the subjects of rights, through Management for Development Results (MfDR), the Human Rights-Based Approach (EBDH), the Model of Sustainable Community Development, Logical Framework, Theory of Change and contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the 2030 Agenda.

THEORY OF CHANGE

RESULTS

STRATEGIC PLANNING

The 2024–2029 Strategic Plan constitutes the roadmap that will guide the work of Fundación Ávila Cruz, A. C., during the next five years in its commitment to reduce extreme poverty and promote comprehensive development in indigenous communities in Mexico.

This plan was developed in a participatory manner with the valuable collaboration of the founding partners, the operational team, community leaders and committees, as well as the rights holders themselves. The active inclusion of these stakeholders ensures that actions are aligned with the real needs, local knowledge, and collective aspirations of the communities.

Throughout this period, a continuous monitoring, evaluation, and learning system will be implemented, which will allow for:

  • Analyzing progress toward strategic objectives,
  • Making informed decisions in real time,
  • Making adjustments, corrections, and improvements to interventions,
  • Guaranteeing transparency and accountability.

The results of the periodic evaluations will be shared with all stakeholders, thus strengthening a culture of continuous improvement, co-responsibility, and sustainability.

The plan is organized around five strategic axes of action that articulate a comprehensive, systemic, and rights-based approach:

  1. Capacity Building and Sustainable Community Development
  2. Food and Nutritional Security
  3. Community Health and Well-being
  4. Natural Disaster Relief
  5. Cultural Identity

Through this strategic framework, Fundación Ávila Cruz, A.C., reaffirms its mission to transform realities, dignify lives, and build more just, healthy, and resilient communities.

Strategic allies

Alliens in Networks

Academic Allies

Multi-stakeholder allies

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Privada de Independencia, S/N, Barrio San Pedro, Heroica Ciudad de Tlaxiaco, Oaxaca, México. C. P. 69800
Tel. Oficina + 52 (953) 5522175