Peer learning is one of the key principles of the Transforming Territories Program, which supports the strengthening of 15 community foundations (CFs) focused on specific territories in ten states and four regions of Brazil. With the aim of expanding this collaboration beyond Brazil’s borders, leaders from the CFs participating in the program will engage in exchanges with leaders from Latin American community foundations, such as Fundación Punta de Mita (Mexico) and Fundación Comunitaria Cajamarca (Peru). In addition to these exchanges between foundations and community institutes, IDIS will organize an exchange with a supporting organization from Chile, Comunidad Organizaciones Solidarias. This initiative is made possible through a partnership with Conectando Comunidades en América (CCA), an institutional partner of the program.
Learn more about what community foundations and institutes are
The exchanges, however, are not limited to the international scope. There will also be exchanges between Brazilian FICs, promoting a deeper understanding of the territories and broadening access to knowledge generated by local practices. This exchange of experiences between different realities strengthens the support network and the articulation of practices that benefit the involved communities.
Among the objectives of knowledge exchanges with support organizations is learning about building networks of community/territorial foundations, as well as exchanging experiences on the implementation processes of FICs in different contexts, such as those in Brazil and Chile.
“Participating in the exchange of practices and mutual learning between Community Foundationsn is essential to expand local impact and strengthen collective articulation. By observing how social technologies are applied in different contexts and how they can be adapted to local realities, we see the transformative power of collaboration. These learning visits not only expand horizons but also reinforce the importance of building support networks that create broader and more lasting impacts,” says Rosana Ferraioulo, program manager for Transforming Territories
Visits to the territories bring additional layers to the exchanges, which have already begun virtually with foreign organizations. The first of these trips is scheduled for March, when representatives from the Chilean support organization, Comunidad Organizaciones Solidarias, will participate in a meeting with organizations involved in the Transformando Territórios program.
Throughout 2025, representatives from various FICs will make specific visits: Mundaú Mundo (Alagoas) will visit Fundación Comunitaria Cajamarca (Peru), while Instituto Comunitário Paraty (Paraty, RJ) will visit Fundación Punta de Mita (Mexico). Nationally, there will be exchanges between FEAV (Valinhos, SP), FUNDAES (Espírito Santo), and ICOSE (Sergipe).
