Who we are
History
ViaNiños was founded in 2003 in Munich by three former CENIT volunteers who met whilst volunteering with working children in Quito, Ecuador. Since then, sister charities have been set up in the UK and Switzerland to work alongside our German team. The charity is run primarily by volunteers who want to make a difference in the world. Through fundraising activities, we provide our partner organisations with funding so they can continue to deliver education and social support for street and working children in Quito, Ecuador.
Our approach
Our Mission
To create equal opportunities for all Ecuadorian children, adolescents, and families, especially girls and women.
We are fully aligned to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Our aim is to enable Ecuadorian street children and marginalised youth to create a better future for themselves and their families through education. We do this by supporting grassroots Ecuadorian Non-government organisations (NGOs) that offer targeted support and education programs, particularly to indigenous girls and women. The NGOs have decades of experience in transforming child labour and destitution by providing educational opportunities, decent work, financial support and strategic advice.
Sustainability
We have supported our partners for nearly two decades and hold the equivalent of at least one year of support in order to give partners enough time to find new funding sources should there be an unexpected end to our support.
Working with our partners
ViaNiños does not micromanage any of its Ecuadorian partners. They know the local problems and solutions best and can efficiently address community demands.
Strong links
Nearly all ViaNiños volunteers have worked with one of our partner organisations. Several volunteers visit partners in person annually and inbetween we are in regular contact with them to ensure both sides understand current developments. In this way, we build the trust and foster accountability to achieve our organisational mission with our partners.
OUR MEMBERS
Bridget Higginson has an MA in Human Rights, a first degree in German and Spanish and has worked for various NGOs. She is the executive director of the charity Hands Around the World. Bridget spent a year as Volunteer Coordinator at CENIT (2007-2008) and has been involved with ViaNiños ever since. She is responsible for the partner organisation CENIT and is ViaNiños UK’s Treasurer.
Tania Songini, Chairperson of ViaNiños UK. Tania has been a member of ViaNiños since 2003. She regularly visits Ecuador and monitors our projects there. Tania worked for 18 years as Finance Director at Siemens, before transitioning to a portfolio of non-executive and consulting roles in the renewable energy and development sectors.
Nicola McGregor studied Spanish and German at university and through her Spanish studies developed an interest in Latin America. She has travelled to South America twice and has spent two weeks travelling across Ecuador. Nicola currently works as a Marketing Manager and manages our marketing activity.
Lucy Nickoll has over ten years of experience in international development and project management, working largely on natural resources and private sector development projects across Asia and Africa. She currently works as Framework Manager for the development consultancy IMC World wide. Lucy worked in Bolivia for over one year as well as in Rwanda, Thailand and Kenya.
Silvia Zerbo is the Events Coordinator for ViaNiños UK. Silvia works as a Sales Manager for Dishman Europe Ltd. She started teaching salsa dancing many years ago through which she developed an interest in Latin American music and culture.