Together, We Are Unstoppable

One of the interventions being run by Viva’s partner networks in Latin America is CAFIs: Centro de Aprendizaje y Formación Integral, which are Comprehensive Learning and Training Centers in English. CAFIs create an opportunity for churches to transform the quality of life of children and their families in the community.

Over the past couple of years, nearly 3,000 children and over 1,800 families have been positively impacted as 63 churches and organisations have mobilised thousands of volunteers to offer education support, psycho-social support and safeguarding awareness raising to people in their local community in 12 partner networks.  

CAFI Red Viva Caaguazú, Peru

Through CAFIs, churches can work for a common interest to help vulnerable children and families. There are five components to CAFI Community Centres (CCCs), but not all of them are implemented in all centres. Churches in a network can either run their own CAFI in their own space or a particular component, while other churches host other components, so there is no central location. The five components can be found in the column on the right:

1)      Attention to basic needs: This could include clothing, shoes, toys, school supplies and food.

2)     Education: Learning Spaces help with school recovery for children outside of learning, emphasising reintegration to local schools.

3) Recreation and use of free time: Sports, games, or other activities help children emotionally and socially.

4)    Resilience: Emotional, psychological, and spiritual interventions are delivered, including training in child protection and good parenting practices.

5)     Family and unemployment: Effort is made to prepare adults who need support to return to work.

Photo credits, left to right: CAFI Red Viva Chaco, Argentina; Red Viva Buenos Aires, Argentina

In each community where CAFIs are run, various issues have led to children’s vulnerability. These include broken government policies, family socio-economic crises, the migrant pandemic and unexpected natural disasters. One such child who attends a CAFI in Costa Rica is Pablo. Due to political instability, his family emigrated to Costa Rica from Nicaragua 16 years ago. Pablo is one of six children and was attending a community school in 6th grade when his teachers noticed that he had learning problems and needed curricular adaptation; this means that he would not be graded like the other children but rather on his own progress. Ideally, Pablo would need extra support, and yet his community teacher struggled to give him the attention he would need to help him flourish. When Pablo’s family heard about a CAFI in a local church, they expressed an interest in him joining, and in June 2024, Pablo began attending. Eight months down the road, his mother is delighted: “He has improved a lot. I notice a big change and he may not need a significant adjustment for a while.” The CAFI proved such a welcome space for Pablo that he started attending the church bible club, which led to his whole family joining the church and committing to the Christian faith.

A special online event was held in late 2024 to mark the closure of a funding cycle for the CAFI project and simultaneously provide a learning opportunity for Viva’s associated networks. The event celebrated how networks could implement the same programme, each significantly impacting children such as Pablo - yet in nine different countries.

The event celebrated these achievements:

• Currently, there are 12 networks running CAFIs in 9 countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela, El Salvador, and Guatemala, Costa Rica and Cuba). 

• 63 churches and organisations are actively engaged, including public and private schools, community organisations, and government institutions.

• 2,964 children (1,340 boys and 1,624 girls) have directly benefited from educational support, resilience-building, and the creation of safe environments.

• 1,848 families have received food assistance, parenting training, and entrepreneurship development, empowering them to build stronger futures.

• 4,349 volunteers (2,011 men and 2,338 women) have been mobilised, dedicating their time, skills, and passion to make a difference in their communities.

Some of the reflections from the networks as to the importance of CCS were as follows:

The ability of the networks to multiply resources thanks to our solid membership and the alliances that know how to build and grow in constant relationships is undoubtedly a key strength to raise the level and impact of our actions. - RENACSENIV, Venezuela

After the pandemic, many children in school finishing 1st and 2nd cycle, were not learning to read and write. The community asked for support in this. And the high need for protection in the social context of the community. - Red Viva Paraguay.

The education system does not achieve good performance for children. So all parents are looking for extra school reinforcement, which for many is impossible to pay. Faced with this need, CAFIs in Peru are a school reinforcement solution for the most vulnerable families. - Viva Network, Peru.

As one of the ways Viva supports its partner networks is in measuring impact, it was encouraging to see that the CCC model has been highly effective in engaging network members and key stakeholders as active allies in this collective programme.

• The education component has been the most successful, drawing strong interest from children, families, communities, local governments, and other actors.

• Sustainability is possible at the local level through collaboration between networks and Viva. Networks have learned how to design and implement strong projects while keeping sustainability as a central focus. So far, 90% of the networks have successfully run fundraising activities.

• Experience-sharing spaces are critical for continued growth, stronger partnerships, and long-term sustainability of both networks and collective initiatives.

Isaac, one of the Viva Coaches who has been integral to this work, says, “Together, we are unstoppable! When we stand together, change is not just possible—it is inevitable. Each child reached, each family strengthened, and each volunteer mobilized is proof that compassion, commitment, and collaboration can transform the world. The CCC Program is more than an initiative; it is a beacon of light, a testament to what we can achieve when we work hand in hand for a better future.”

As we move forward, these inspiring Viva-supported networks are determined to:

• Expand their knowledge-sharing initiatives, ensuring that best practices continue to inspire and guide others.

• Strengthen fundraising models, securing resources that will allow them to keep making a difference.

• Keep growing the CAFI model, reaching even more children, families, and communities in need.