Fundacion amigos americanos para la salud, la educacion y la economia familiar

Who (first and last name) is the Team Lead for your application and LEAP Project?

Ariel Sosa

Describe the role the Team Lead plays in your organization. [100-200 words recommended]

As Executive Director of America Solidaria Argentina, Ariel is in charge of strategic planning, operational management and overall leadership of the organization. His primary role is to ensure that the Foundation moves forward to effectively achieve its mission and objectives. 

Ariel leads the Foundation's strategic planning process, setting clear goals and developing strategies to achieve them. This involves identifying America Solidaria's priorities according to the needs of children, adolescents and youth and defining the actions necessary to achieve the desired impact.
As leader of the management team, Ariel is responsible for the management and development of the Foundation's staff. This includes hiring and supervising staff, defining responsibilities, and creating a collaborative and motivating work environment that fosters professional growth and optimal team performance.

In turn, Ariel represents the Foundation to various stakeholders, including donors, private companies, alliances, government authorities and other non-profit organizations. He establishes and maintains strategic relationships with these stakeholders to ensure continued support for the Foundation's programs, as well as to identify opportunities for collaboration and funding.

Finally, Ariel oversees the Foundation's financial management and budget, ensuring that resources are allocated appropriately. This involves monitoring expenditures, financial reporting and seeking additional funding to support the organization's activities.

Explain how your Team Lead and supporting team members are well-positioned to effectively support the LEAP Project, given other priorities within your organization. [300-500 words - recommended]

Both the Team Leader and team members have relevant experience in key areas related to the LEAP Project. The team members who will participate are the following:

• Executive Director, Ariel Alejandro Sosa: He has been working for 20 years in impact and social innovation projects and programs. Additionally, he has experience in fundraising and social investment. He is a consultant in project development and public policy advocacy.

• Operations Coordination, Gisella Vedovaldi: Professional with more than 9 years of experience in the private sector. She is currently studying pedagogy and social education. She began her career in civil society institutions 5 years ago.

• Communications Coordinator, Mercedes Invernizzi: Multimedia artist, teacher and communicator. She has a degree in Multimedia Arts and teaches Design at the Torcuato Di Tella University (Argentina). She works as a communicator and multimedia artist in different social organizations in Latin America. 

• Environmental Technician, Regina Luraschi: Environmental engineer with experience in the implementation of environmental indicators and the development of environmental management instruments. She works as a consultant and participates in international financing projects in Latin America. 

The Foundation has different priorities and activities but the design, implementation and improvement projects are the top priority. In turn, as a team we have the ability to balance multiple responsibilities and work on several tasks simultaneously. We are able to manage our time and resources efficiently to ensure that the LEAP Project receives the necessary attention and support to achieve its objectives.

Within the America Solidaria Argentina team we are committed to a culture of collaboration and teamwork so we have the ability to collaborate and divide tasks efficiently to ensure the success of the project as a whole.

One-line solution summary: In 20 words or less, summarize your organization's product or program that is the focus of your LEAP Project.

Network of alliances to provide better access to water for children, adolescents and young people on the continent.

Define the problem that your solution seeks to solve. [300-500 words recommended]

Generation AA (alpha) is characterized as the first generation born between 2010 and 2025 to grow up in a fully digital environment. However, in Latin America, this theory is being challenged, especially in the most vulnerable communities in each country. Difficulty in accessing information and technology is just one consequence of the many challenges these communities face, such as malnutrition, lack of access to clean water and poor living conditions, particularly among children and adolescents.

We have monitored neighborhoods and communities in Colombia and Argentina that face great difficulties in accessing clean water and adequate living conditions for Generation AA. These communities are not connected to the drinking water network and rely on alternative water sources, such as wells, rivers, streams or lakes. Unfortunately, these sources may be contaminated with bacteria, parasites, chemicals or other harmful substances, posing a serious risk to public health. Consumption of contaminated water can trigger waterborne diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, hepatitis and other gastrointestinal and parasitic diseases. This public health problem disproportionately affects children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.

Children under the age of five are especially vulnerable to the risks associated with lack of access to clean water and quality basic sanitation. This situation increases their susceptibility to contracting preventable and potentially fatal diseases. In addition, children who suffer from diseases related to lack of access to clean water and adequate sanitation may experience stunted physical and cognitive growth, which negatively affects their ability to learn and develop optimally. It is concerning to know that diarrhea-related mortality is the third leading cause of death among children under five worldwide.

These challenges translate into a lack of opportunities and loss of income for these communities, thus perpetuating the cycle of poverty and inequality. In this context, it is crucial to implement effective measures to improve access to safe drinking water and ensure decent living conditions for all, especially for future generations.

Describe your solution and how it works in simple terms. [300-500 words recommended]

The main objective of the program is to implement a comprehensive strategy that contributes to improving the quality of life and community development of children and adolescents in vulnerable areas with limited access to drinking water in localities in Colombia and Argentina through the management of water purification and the strengthening of community skills.

By combining appropriate technology with training and monitoring programs, it is possible to ensure that communities that are not connected to the drinking water network have access to safe water and can improve their quality of life and health. It is important that these solutions are tailored to the specific needs of each community and are implemented in a participatory manner, involving community members in all stages of the process.

• This program is structured in three fundamental pillars: 
• Installation of technology (filters): This involves Providing water purification systems at the community level that are accessible and easy to use.that ensure the availability of quality drinking water for all members of the community.
• Training: Through playful workshops, we seek to educate children and community members on the use of filters, proper hygiene and sanitation practices, such as hand washing, safe food handling and cleanliness of the environment.
• Community integration: The aim is to promote the active participation of the community and especially children in all stages of the project, from planning to implementation and long-term maintenance. This is achieved through playful methodologies that enhance their leadership skills to create a multiplier effect.

The specific objectives are:

• Characterize communities with evident needs for access to potable water through the implementation of a participatory rapid diagnosis.
• Install adequate water purification filters to ensure access to safe water in a sustainable way in the long term.
• Train the community on food safety issues, such as food handling and food care.
• Develop community workshops on the proper use of technology and promote hygiene and sanitation practices.
• Encourage the participation of children to become "Water Guardians" and train them to have a multiplier effect through their leadership.
• Incorporate volunteers from different organizations in the development of the project.

Select the key characteristics of your target population. Select all that apply.

• Women & Girls
• LGBTQ+
• Pre-primary age children (ages 2-5)
• Primary school children (ages 5-12)
• Rural
• Poor
• Urban
• Low-Income

Upload your solution's Theory of Change or Logic Model.

Where would you place your solution on Nesta's Standards of Evidence?

To date, what research/studies has your organization conducted or commissioned that have helped demonstrate the effectiveness of your solution? [300-500 words recommended]

To date, we have conducted basic research, including a review of the available literature. This process has provided us with an in-depth understanding of the urgency and critical need for prompt action to ensure access to safe drinking water in Argentina and Colombia. By analyzing studies and reports from reliable sources, we have clearly identified the magnitude of the problem and the devastating impacts that lack of access to safe drinking water can have on the health, economic and general well-being of vulnerable populations, especially children. This research has strengthened our conviction that our intervention is crucial and has provided a solid foundation upon which we build and design this Program.

What has the data collected from the research/studies revealed about your solution and how did it inform your work moving forward? [300-500 words recommended]

The research findings underscore the need for immediate and effective intervention to address access to water. These findings have had a significant influence on the design of a comprehensive program to address this challenge. They have also served as a catalyst for our determination to expand the scope and effectiveness of such a program. In response, we have been actively pursuing financial resources and building strategic alliances to enhance the positive impacts of this initiative, recognizing the importance of collaborating with diverse stakeholders to achieve more meaningful and sustainable results over the long term.

Describe your organization's need to strengthen the evidence base of your solution. [300-500 words recommended]

Having data that evidences the impacts and benefits generated by the Program will allow us to evaluate the impact of our actions more accurately. We will be able to measure not only the number of water filters installed or the number of people trained, but also the actual changes in access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation practices, and the incidence of water-related diseases in beneficiary communities. This will help us identify which approaches are most effective and make adjustments to our strategy as needed to tailor our interventions to be more effective.

What are 2-3 research questions that you would like your LEAP Project to help you answer? [100 words recommended]

What are the main impacts of the project and how can we measure them?

How does this program and implementation idea help these children, adolescents and young people to reduce the problem of diseases derived from unsafe water consumption? Is it an effect that can be considered in the long term?

What tools can we incorporate and improve to measure the nutritional status of children?

What type of research methods do you think will help answer your stated questions? Select all that apply.

• Formative research (e.g. usability studies; feasibility studies; case studies; user interviews; implementation studies; process evaluations; pre-post or multi-measure research; correlational studies)

Please elaborate on your selection above by describing your desired outputs of the 12-week LEAP Project sprint. [300 - 500 words recommended]

We are looking to LEAP grantees to help us design a post-implementation evaluation of the program in order to effectively measure the impacts generated by the program.

The study proposed by the fellows will provide us with a solid methodological structure that will outline the variables to be measured, data collection methods and analysis criteria, allowing us to obtain detailed information on the outcomes and impact of our interventions in the beneficiary communities.

The research recommendations produced by the grantees will help us strengthen the empirical basis of our solution. By integrating these study designs into our post-implementation evaluation of the program, we can ensure that our actions are supported by solid evidence and that we are maximizing the impact of our work in the communities in which we operate.

How will your organization put these outputs into action? [300-500 words recommended]

With the data obtained, we will conduct community education and awareness campaigns on the importance of access to safe drinking water and the risks associated with the consumption of contaminated water. We will use various media and social networks to show the need for action and how our Program improves the needs of communities without access to safe water.

The idea is to develop communication and dissemination materials such as newsletters that highlight the impacts and results of the program, as well as the dissemination of relevant research on the issue of access to water and water quality. In addition, we will organize educational talks and campaigns in schools, development agencies and human rights forums to raise community awareness and promote the importance of access to safe drinking water. 

A crucial part of the communication strategy will be to encourage the active participation of project beneficiaries, including children and adolescents, so that they can become spokespersons and advocates for this cause in their own communities. By allowing beneficiaries to share their experiences and perspectives, we not only strengthen their empowerment and leadership, but also ensure that the voices of those directly affected by the issue are heard and valued in the search for sustainable and equitable solutions.

In turn, having this data will be essential to have accurate data and indicators that demonstrate the effectiveness and positive impact of the program, which will help to obtain funding, participation in calls for proposals with the objective of replicating the program in other communities that present the problem of access to safe water.

Describe your desired long-term outcomes of the 12-week LEAP Project sprint for both your organization and solution. [300-500 words recommended]

The expected long-term results are:

• To have real, evidence-based data that demonstrates the positive impact of the program's implementation.
• To strengthen alliances with relevant organizations to maximize the impact of the program.
• Communicate and disseminate the needs of the communities and how the program helps to improve the quality of life of the communities.
• To have a program that shows the results obtained in a solid way and allows obtaining funding for its replicability.