Letter of Introduction

The Passion for Serving and New Pathways for Local Development

In the heart of Brazil, where cultural richness and the socioeconomic challenges of small municipalities intertwine, a new way of thinking about development is gaining strength. It is a model that does not wait for top-down solutions but cultivates them locally, through creativity, organized solidarity, and the power of human capital. At the forefront of this movement emerges ILAECS – Latin American Institute of Creative and Solidarity Economy, headquartered in Terezópolis/GO, as a beacon of innovation and inspiration. As a nonprofit institute, our mission is clear and bold: to discover and open new paths for the sustainable development of small municipalities in Goiás, offering a portfolio of creative solutions that can later be expanded to other Brazilian states and Latin American nations.

In this context, volunteering is reimagined. At ILAECS, it transcends the traditional idea of occasional charity to become a high-impact strategic tool. It is the materialization of our passion for serving, channeled toward a greater purpose: transforming lives and realities from the inside out, strengthening the local economy, valuing regional culture, and empowering communities to become architects of their own future. The I Impact My Community program is the practical embodiment of this philosophy. More than just a program, it is a movement of commitment that invites professionals from diverse fields to contribute their talent and expertise to catalyze real and lasting change in the cities where we operate.

ILAECS and the Vision for Small Municipalities

Our headquarters in Terezópolis/GO is not a mere geographic coincidence; it is a statement of purpose. We are immersed in the very context we seek to transform. We live the same challenges, celebrate the same achievements, and understand in practice the complexity and latent potential of municipalities in the interior of Goiás. These localities, often overlooked by macro development strategies, are fertile ground for social, cultural, and entrepreneurial innovation.

ILAECS’s work is to activate this dormant potential. Our portfolio of creative solutions is co-designed with many hands, involving community assessments, the formation of cooperation networks, the promotion of the creative and solidarity economy, and the implementation of pilot projects that become replicable success stories. We act as connectors, linking local needs with technical knowledge, the region’s economic vocation with new markets, and the public sector with private initiatives and the third sector. And it is at this intersection—this act of building together—where strategic volunteering finds its most fertile ground.

Strategic Volunteering: The Soul of I Impact My Community

The I Impact My Community program was conceived under the premise that every professional possesses a set of skills that can be transformative when applied in the right context. Its name is a declaration of power and belonging. It is not about saying “I do” something external, but “I impact” something intrinsically mine: my community. This semantic shift is profoundly symbolic, reinforcing the idea of agency, shared responsibility, and organic connection with the social space.

Unlike assistance-based volunteering, our model is guided by strategy and sustainability. We do not limit ourselves to “giving the fish”; we teach and co-structure the entire local production chain so that participants learn to fish for themselves. We call this skills-based volunteering applied to territorial development.

Impact Leaders: Ambassadors of the Territory

The backbone of I Impact My Community is the group of Impact Leaders. These are professionals, often linked to partner companies or originating from the community itself, who take on a leading role in local coordination. They are the arms, ears, and heart of ILAECS in every municipality where we operate. Their role goes far beyond organizing actions. They are:

• Local Diagnosticians: With sensitivity and active listening, they identify the real needs and opportunities of the territory, ensuring that volunteer projects are perfectly aligned with local realities.

• Network Builders: They know all the key players in the city and connect them with each other and with ILAECS volunteers, fostering a collaborative ecosystem.

• Project Managers: They lead the execution of volunteer missions, ensuring that volunteers’ knowledge is effectively absorbed and applied, generating tangible results.

The Multiplier Effect: From Terezópolis de Goiás to Latin America

Every successful project in a municipality of Goiás becomes more than just a local victory; it transforms into a case study, a proven and validated solution that becomes part of ILAECS’s portfolio. This is how we fulfill our mission step by step: first, we refine our methodologies and demonstrate their value here in Goiás. Later, this body of creative and solidarity-based solutions will be ready to be adapted and offered to other Brazilian states and, eventually, to our Latin American neighbors facing similar challenges.

From this perspective, volunteering is the initial engine that allows us to build this legacy. It is the passion for serving, transformed into strategic action, that will enable us to rewrite the history of development from the inside out.

At ILAECS, we believe that the future of small municipalities does not lie in dependency, but in the strength of their own people—properly supported, trained, and inspired. And with this unshakable conviction, we move forward, inviting you to be part of this transformation.

Sincerely,

André Milhomem Franco
President of ILAECS
Terezópolis/GO