Building capacity and sustainable development in Mendoza, Argentina
Partner Background
The Vines Foundation is a catalyst for positive change in Tunuyan, a city in the Western province of Mendoza, Argentina. Our mission is to promote the capacity of our community through sustainable initiatives that improve food security, strengthen socioeconomic independence, and contribute to the holistic wellbeing of each child in our community. As the philanthropic arm of The Vines, an Argentine farming, winemaking and hospitality company (vinesofmendoza.com, vinesresortandspa.com) with deep international connections, the Foundation is leveraging its resources to meet the immediate and long-term needs of the local community. Most importantly, we are seeking to increase capacity and participation through engaging community members and organizations, local and national businesses, and the municipal government to address complex challenges.
Definition of Opportunity
We seek to communicate through our work the importance of accompaniment and co-creation, in which we see our community members as partners who are the first and best teachers capable of enacting change and creating opportunities for their families and neighborhoods.
For the Spring of 2023, The Vines Foundation is partnered with the University of Notre Dame Development Advisory Teams (DAT) to explore strategies for turning community kitchens (comedores) into community spaces that become hubs where the community can find connection, take advantage of recreational and educational activities, seek assistance, and take ownership of the comedor’s direction.
During 2023, we aim to:
Work with comedor leaders to create and implement workshops on girls’ and women’s empowerment, education, nutrition, and mental health. Embed strategies for encouraging parents’ participation in the workshops and in the comedor more generally.
Outline a program of hands-on volunteer experiences and workshops for employees and vineyard owners to connect with the work of The Vines Foundation.
Identify and provide wellness, recreational, and educational resources and opportunities for The Vines employees, from seasonal laborers to year-round staff, that they identify as being beneficial to their wellbeing.
Definition of Success
Through working with a Spring 2023 DAT, we hope to generate interest, excitement and actions in support of The Vines Foundation. We define success as effectively and sustainably increasing community participation and receiving positive feedback from community members on the programs and opportunities that we work with various stakeholders and community leaders to provide.
Meet the Team
Final Deliverable
Final Deliverable Vines F23 by Joseph Drey on Scribd