VIA INTERNATIONAL

VIA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOSTERS LEADERSHIP FOR THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITIES IN THE CALIFORNIA/BAJA BORDER REGION, MEXICO, CENTRAL AMERICA AND BEYOND. KEY INITIATIVES INCLUDE:- VIA MIGRANTE: WE CONTINUED TO SUPPORT NEWLY ARRIVED PEOPLE TO TIJUANA, BOTH MIGRANTS AND DEPORTEES, TO ESTABLISH THEIR LIVES AS RESIDENTS OF THE CITY AND/OR DETERMINE THEIR NEXT STEPS. WE ORGANIZED FOR PARTICIPATION IN NUTRITION/ECOLOGY PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN THE REGION OVER THE PAST 49 YEARS. WE ALSO PROVIDED FOOD SERVICE SUPPORT TO SHELTERS AND DISTRIBUTIONS AT THE BI-NATIONAL FRIENDSHIP PARK WEEKLY, SERVING OVER 5,800 PEOPLE.- VIA BAJA: FAMILY HEALTH AND FOOD SECURITY. COMMUNITY FOOD SECURITY IS DEFINED AS ALL PEOPLE IN A COMMUNITY OBTAINING A CULTURALLY ACCEPTABLE, NUTRITIONALLY ADEQUATE DIET THROUGH NON-EMERGENCY FOOD SOURCES AT ALL TIMES. THE VIA PROCESS INTEGRATES NUTRITION, HEALTH AND ORGANIC GARDENING TO OFFER COMMUNITY MEMBERS SELF-RELIANT METHODS TO ADDRESS THEIR FOOD NEEDS. FOUR COMMUNITIES, THREE IN TIJUANA AND ONE IN ROSARITO, MEXICO, PARTICIPATED IN THE NUTRITION/ECOLOGY COURSES. - VIA BAJA: MICRO ENTERPRISE FOR FAMILY FINANCIAL SECURITY. COMMUNITY AND INDIVIDUAL FAMILY WELL-BEING IS ENHANCED BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO CREDIT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES. IN 2003, VIA BEGAN A COMMUNITY BANK FUND TO INCREASE HOUSEHOLD INCOME AND THEREBY ADDRESS CHILD HEALTH AND SCHOOL/EDUCATION COSTS. HEALTH AND EDUCATION ARE PRIORITIES FOR FAMILIES. THE MICRO-ENTERPRISES PROVIDE A WAY TO CREATE SELF-RELIANCE TO ADDRESS IDENTIFIED NEEDS. OVER $2.1 MILLION HAS BEEN LOANED AND REPAID. IN 2023/2024, A SMALL NUMBER OF LOAN GROUPS RECONVENED AFTER A MORATORIUM DURING THE PANDEMIC.- VIA BAJA: COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP EDUCATION: COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT. VIAS LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM PROVIDES COMMUNITY OUTREACH VOLUNTEERS TRAINING INCLUDING SKILL AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING COMPONENTS. VIA COLLABORATES WITH A UNIVERSITY TO PROVIDE CREDENTIALING FOR THIS PROGRAM AND SERVE THE PARTICIPANTS TO IMPROVE THEIR COMMUNITY WORK, PROVIDE SKILL TRAINING FOR POTENTIAL EMPLOYMENT AND BUSINESS TRAINING FOR DEVELOPING MICRO-ENTERPRISES AND ENHANCE SELF-ESTEEM. THE PROGRAM HAS 440 GRADUATES.