JESÚS

Director, UTOPIA (Mexico City) – FIGHT FOR PEACE ALLIANCE

In recent years we have expanded Utopia’s reach, strengthened our programmes and created networks to maximise our impact.

Our organisation exists to ensure that young people living in vulnerable situations have access to the same educational opportunities as others, and in recent years we have expanded our reach, strengthened our programmes and created networks to maximise our impact. Being part of the Fight for Peace Alliance has been a key driver in our growth.

In particular, since joining the Alliance in 2015, we have expanded our service provision by adding new combat sports to our programmes and tapping into examples of good practice contained in the Alliance to evolve our education programme. We have also obtained new facilities in which we can deliver our services, and have expanded our reach to work with greater numbers of young people.

We have made strides in strengthening our monitoring and evaluation processes with the support of the Alliance, and have invested in our brand and identity while learning from and sharing our own expertise with other organisations via an international exchange to communities in Colombia.

We have built solid partnerships with local service providers and institutions. This has seen us broaden our programme delivery and create pathways into higher education for our young people. We have also built partnerships with international funders like the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation and The Global Fund For Children.

And, latterly, in order to increase our impact further, we have begun developing our own network of organisations aimed at influencing policy at the local government level. In 2019, we were very proud to receive a Beyond Sports Sport for Peace and Social Justice Award in recognition of the impact we are having and the progress we have made over the course of our history.