AVSI received the “Impacto en Acción” recognition in Ecuador

AVSI participated in the Kumbre de Sostenibilidad 2026, organized by Grupo Ekos in Quito, Ecuador. This event brought together more than 120 actors and experts from the public, private, and academic sectors, international organizations, and civil society, with the purpose of discussing concrete solutions to the country’s environmental, social, and economic challenges.

Over the course of two days, the Kumbre consolidated itself as a platform for exchange, multi-stakeholder coordination, visibility, and the promotion of initiatives aimed at fostering a more sustainable Ecuador.

Within this framework, AVSI presented its Laboratorio Verde experience, a community and productive urban garden implemented in 2024 in Ecuador under the “Integrados” project, funded by the U.S. Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration. This initiative combines environmental sustainability, social cohesion, the strengthening of productive capacities, and the rebuilding of the social fabric in La Ferroviaria, Quito, a priority area due to the presence of migrants and refugees in situations of vulnerability.

Participation in this space provided the opportunity to share a proposal that demonstrates how sustainability can be translated into concrete territorial actions, placing people, their relationships, and their development opportunities at the center. Likewise, this initiative highlights the importance of coordination with public institutions, as it was implemented directly with the Ministry of Economic and Social Inclusion through the Espacio Integral Familiar of La Ferroviaria.

Currently, the project is managed by the community itself and is led by Marco Flores, a community leader trained during the implementation of the initiative. This reflects the strengthening of autonomy and community development through the transfer and installation of local capacities.

This space is also characterized by its intergenerational approach, since its methodology makes it suitable for all audiences.

According to its technical and social approach, Laboratorio Verde goes beyond the implementation of an urban garden. It is also conceived as a space for environmental education, community gathering, and practical learning, incorporating sustainable methodologies such as the use of organic fertilizers, crop rotation, rainwater harvesting, solar energy use, and the reuse of materials.

The process also includes training sessions on composting, seedbed preparation, the benefits of medicinal plants, organic pest control, harvesting, drying and dehydration techniques, together with workshops focused on strengthening entrepreneurial skills. From this perspective, Laboratorio Verde contributes to environmental care, capacity building, and the creation of opportunities through a community-based approach.

With a budget of USD 15,000, the main results achieved included the implementation of the space’s infrastructure and the training of 20 community leaders.

From a social perspective, this initiative creates a safe space where migrants, refugees, and host community members can strengthen relationships, build a sense of belonging, and participate in processes of care and protection. From an economic perspective, it opens opportunities for learning and productive development in areas related to agriculture, the environment, and sustainability.

This approach is closely aligned with the themes addressed during the Kumbre de Sostenibilidad 2026, particularly the need to connect purpose with action, strengthen cross-sector partnerships, and promote solutions that generate real impact. In this sense, the experience presented by AVSI Ecuador highlighted how a localized community intervention can contribute to broader challenges related to resilience, sustainability, and human development.

For AVSI, sustainability gains meaning when it is connected to people’s daily lives and to concrete processes that strengthen communities.

Being present in this space not only allowed the organization to share an experience, but also to contribute to a national conversation about the type of development the country needs, helping build safer, more resilient environments capable of sustaining long-term development processes with lasting impact.