WAYUU TAYA FOUNDATION INC
"Helping To Build Sustainable Communities"
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
The Wayuu Taya Foundation aims to address a range of socio-economic challenges faced by the Wayuu indigenous people of Venezuela. These include poverty, lack of access to education, food, and medicine, and limited economic opportunities. The foundation is dedicated to empowering the Wayuu people by providing them access to education, food, medicine, and economic development opportunities. We work to provide the necessary infrastructure, food, and clean water. The organization has expanded its aid to many other areas of Venezuela, reaching over 102,000 people with medicine and supplies in 2022. The foundation's overall goal is to reduce poverty, improve living standards and break the cycle of poverty among the Wayuu population while respecting their traditions and cultural beliefs.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Shukumajaya (Women's Center)
Shukumajaya: women's center that helps educate women on parenting
and nutrition, family planning and hygiene. Women are also provided with
materials to sew traditional Wayuú bags or “Susus” which are then sold as part
of an income generation initiative. The bags are sold on our website, and
100% of the proceeds go back into the community.
Tepichi Talashi (elementary)
Tepichi Talashi (“happy child”): preschool and elementary school
where Wayuú children are guaranteed to have the minimum infrastructure needed
to obtain the primary cycle of education. The school has bilingual professors
teaching in both Spanish and Wayuúnaiki (Wayuú dialect).
Humanitarian Aid
In 2022, the foundation has continued to provide aid to more families and communities in Venezuela through Humanitarian Aid helping 102,495 people.
In 2022, the ACCESO food program has benefited 148 communities, 62 schools, 58 institutions, and NGOs, providing 151,949 kilograms of vegetables and serving over 660,487 plates of food, benefiting over 60,000 people since the program's inception.
The foundation has received 4,834 tons of medicine and supplies from Direct Relief, benefiting 26,028 people.
The foundation has also provided assistance to communities affected by natural disasters with medical supplies for approximately 1,500 families thanks to Global Giving.
The foundation received 12,000 kilograms of dental and hygiene supplies from Colgate Palmolive, which has enabled the foundation to provide oral hygiene education and distribute toothbrushes, toothpaste, and other supplies. More than 120,000 bars of soaps have been distributed in the area thanks to Clean the world.
Water For The Community
In rural areas where the biggest Wayuu population settlement is located, the water source is far away from their homes, this is why women and children have to walk long distances in the heat to reach the water. With the aim of alleviating the crisis, The Wayuu Taya Foundation has created the "Water for Community" program. Help us reach the goal of giving 15 gallons of freshwater daily to 3,200 people!
Go Music
The Foundation started music classes for the children of Mara on the border between Venezuela and Colombia. With 314 children from 17 communities, the classes are taught by El Sistema (the National System of Youth and Children's Orchestras and Choirs of Venezuela) twice a week, organized into two groups by age. WITH YOUR HELP, WE CAN PROVIDE A LIFE-CHANGING OPPORTUNITY FOR THE WAYUU CHILDREN.
Sustainable Agriculture
The foundation operates farms and cultivates crops using sustainable agriculture practices. In 2022, the foundation produced over 2,000 kilograms of food for local markets and planted over 10,000 tomato plants.
Where we work
External reviews

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Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Average number of service recipients per month
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth, People of South American descent, Economically disadvantaged people, Cross-border families, Victims of disaster
Type of Metric
Context - describing the issue we work on
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of volunteers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of organizational partners
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of food donation partners
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Humanitarian Aid
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
The main goals of the Wayuu Taya Foundation are:
Providing humanitarian aid and assistance to vulnerable communities through various programs such as the ACCESO food program, medicine, and supplies program.
Improving access to clean water through the "Water for All" program aims to provide clean water to the North Region of the city of Maracaibo while donating to hospitals, schools, health centers, elderly centers, and other foundations.
Promoting sustainable agriculture and food security by implementing agricultural programs that focus on producing food for local markets.
Building and improving infrastructure, including classroom spaces, building new bathroom modules for children, and restoring recreational areas.
Providing professional improvement training through programs.
Providing education programs to preserve cultural heritage through programs such as the Intercultural Orchestra Program, which aims to teach music classes and promote participation in music programs to children from different communities.
Creating networks and amplifying the aid with the support of local organizations.
Receive financial or in-kind donations of necessary supplies requested in a gradual and continuous form to increase the reach of people and communities assisted.
Reduce the number of victims of malnutrition, diseases, and recollection of anthropometric data with an offline digital methodology to ensure early identification of cases that require nutritional attention.
Create sustainable programs.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
1-Implementing specific programs to address specific needs such as food distribution, healthcare, and disaster relief.
2-Using transportation resources such as cargo trucks to facilitate the distribution of supplies to communities.
3-Utilizing partnerships and collaborations with other organizations such as World Centar Kitchen, Colgate Palmolive - Venezuela, Digisalud, National System of Youth and Children's Orchestras and Choirs of Venezuela, Nucleo Zulia, to increase impact and achieve their goals.
4-Leveraging in-kind donations such as new tanker trucks, medicine, supplies, etc., to improve our programs and services.
5-Creating sustainable programs that support ongoing efforts and continuity of the mission.
6-Utilizing technology such as offline digital methodology for collecting anthropometric data to identify the people that require immediate nutritional attention.
7-Networking with other organizations and foundations to increase the impact of the aid and amplify the reach of the communities assisted.
8-Ensuring the integral development of indigenous children in education, culture, health, and sports through programs applied in schools and communities of the most vulnerable populations.
9-The teaching staff, social workers, and doctors work directly in the schools and communities where the foundation makes continuous presence to verify and monitor that the programs are completed.
10-The staff and volunteers are present in the Municipality Mara, Jesús Enrique Losada, and Guajira schools to ensure the food and medicine provided by the foundation and to serve the most vulnerable populations. The mobilization and transfer go hand in hand with the volunteers and collaborators of the Wayuu Taya Foundation.
11. Currently, an average of 12000 people receive direct attention, distributed in 29 schools and 16 communities, and 7 Institutions.
Overall the foundation works holistically and ensures that all the aspects of the life of the people we aid are covered. We also ensure that our programs are implemented with the presence of the staff and volunteers to provide continuity and monitor the effectiveness of our programs.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
The organization, Wayuu Taya Foundation, has several capabilities that could help us meet our goals:
-Specific Programs: The organization has implemented particular programs, such as the ACCESO food program, healthcare program, and disaster relief, to address different needs in our communities.
-Transportation Resources: The organization has access to transportation resources such as cargo trucks to facilitate the distribution of supplies to communities. This helps distribute food, medicine, and other necessary supplies to communities in need.
-Partnerships and Collaborations: The organization has partnerships and collaborations with other organizations such as World Centar Kitchen, Colgate Palmolive, Digisalud, National System of Youth and Children's Orchestras and Choirs of Venezuela, Nucleo Zulia, which can help increase their impact and achieve their goals by leveraging resources, knowledge, and expertise of other organizations
-In-kind Donations: The organization has leveraged in-kind donations, such as new tanker trucks, medicine, supplies, etc., to improve the programs and services.
-Professional Staff: The organization has experienced staff and volunteers in the schools and communities, which allows us to ensure the food and medicine provided by the foundation are reaching the people in need, as well as providing continuity and monitoring the effectiveness of the programs.
-Utilizing Technology: The organization uses technology such as offline digital methodology to collect anthropometric data to identify the people requiring immediate nutritional attention and ensure that the programs reach the people who need it the most.
-Sustainability: The organization focuses on creating sustainable programs that support ongoing efforts and the continuity of its mission.
-Direct attention to the community: The organization provides immediate attention to around 12,000 people distributed in 29 schools, 16 districts, and seven institutions. This allows us to directly and immediately impact the communities we serve.
-Integral development approach: The organization's strategy is to ensure the essential development of indigenous children.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
The Wayuu Taya Foundation continues to grow and contribute to the social development of vulnerable communities in Venezuela, benefiting more than 102,495 people in 2022.
This year, the scope of the ACCESO food program continues to benefit more than 148 communities, 62 schools, 58 institutions, and NGOs. In 2022, Wayuu Taya Foundation received 151,949 kilograms of vegetables. We served more than 660,487 plates of food, serving more than 8,467 children weekly with food in schools, benefiting more than 60,000 people since the beginning of the program.
In 2022, we received 4,834 tons of medicines and supplies, benefiting 26,028 people in the national territory.
Wthe operation of the "Water for all" program .We have benefited 8,671 people.
Agriculture Program Our agricultural plan for the Apüna and Mirabello farms continues to advance. To date, we have produced 2,093.6 kg of food suitable for local marketing. We expect production of about 15,000 kilos at the beginning of the year 2023.
We finished conditioning, and the improvement of the classroom spaces in the Tepichi Talashi school, with the capacity to serve over 400 children. Works for a new bathroom module for Elementary children is ongoing, as well as the restoration of the school's recreational area.
We incorporated the Intercultural Orchestra Program "Nucleo Wayuu Taya," which we carried out with the National System of Youth and Children's Orchestras and Choirs of Venezuela for 314 children and over 100 on the waiting list.
We are implementing the collection of anthropometric data with an offline digital methodology,
GOALS FOR 2023
Humanitarian aid Increases the scope of the ACCESO food program to more communities, schools, institutions, and NGOs.
Water for All Program
Increase the distribution and sale of water by acquiring two new tanker trucks.
Continue bringing water to schools, nursing homes, clinics, and other foundations, benefiting 10,900 people.
Agriculture Program
The organic products are grown manually in the Apüna Farms, and the program will offer them in the local market.
Continue with the schedule established for the Agroecology program for Mirabello farm.
Infrastructure
Installation of 15 portable handwashing stations. Beneficiaries: 3,000 people.
Education: Start a recycling and waste treatment program in schools.
Apply to obtain one or more means of permanent transportation (Bus) for the Wayuu Taya Nucleus in the Guajira Subregion.
Overall, the Wayuu Taya Foundation is proud of its ongoing contribution to the social development of countless vulnerable communities in Venezuela. We remain committed to providing aid and assistance to those in need.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
WAYUU TAYA FOUNDATION INC
Board of directorsas of 01/11/2023
Patricia Velasquez
No Affiliation
Limayri Estevez
Secretary
Michelle Jean
Treasurer
Linda Carbone
Director
Sonja Nutall
Director
Leilani Johnson
Director
Louis Freedman
Director
Hector Rojas
Director
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
Equity strategies
Last updated: 01/10/2023GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.