Being up to the country we are
Argentina is a country rich in resources. We have vast land, mountains, seas, fertile fields, industries, production, and one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Yet 5 out of 10 children live in poverty.
The fact that there are children who don’t receive proper nutrition during their first year of life only shows one thing: we are not living up to a country as rich as ours. In simple terms, Argentina is getting too big for us.
The first years of life are crucial for a child’s development and growth. For 20 years, Haciendo Camino has been working to fight child malnutrition through an integral approach alongside families, so that each of them can move forward through their own effort.
Today, more than 200 professionals and 100 volunteers are working across three provinces. “Malnutrition is not just about feeding a child; it’s about influencing their entire environment so that, in addition to being well-nourished, they receive the stimulation and everything else they need to develop correctly in all aspects.”
The programs are not only aimed at promoting the growth and integral development of children from 0 to 5 years old but also at supporting and training mothers from pregnancy onward. “Our objective is to provide them with the tools to improve their lives through their own effort and personal growth.”
What started as a single center in Añatuya has grown into a network of 12 Child Development and Family Strengthening Centers, and also 22 rural communities in Santiago del Estero and Chaco.
Her remarkable work has led to several recognitions. In 2010, she received the Abanderados Award from Fundación Noble for her efforts in northern Argentina. Soon after, other distinctions followed. In 2014, she was awarded the Entrepreneur of the Year prize by Ernst & Young, and two years later, she received the Mujeres Solidarias distinction from Avon.
The scalability of her work has undoubtedly been one of Catalina’s greatest achievements. In 2022, the organization HELP Argentina honored her with the Social Leadership Award in recognition of her efforts to mitigate the effects of poverty and inequality in the country. A year later, Fundación Centro Rossi presented her with the Flor de Mujer Award.
In 2024, the Buenos Aires Legislature declared Catalina and Haciendo Camino as an organization of public interest and recognized them for their work in promoting and defending the rights of children and adolescents.
“We will never be able to replace the role of the state in achieving large-scale changes, but it gives me peace to know that in that family, in that home, in that person, there is a change—and in those children, there is a difference.”
Through years of tireless work, Haciendo Camino has supported more than 18,185 families.
Catalina will continue paving the way for an Argentina with equal opportunities, supporting every child and family because she knows that every step counts for their future. She believes that the only way to transform realities is by getting involved, connecting with others, and working together to achieve meaningful change.
Mariana Fabbiani
Since 2006, we have supported more than 21803 families through our programs. Over 30826 children have received growth monitoring, and 14087 have received comprehensive treatment.
Fighting child malnutrition does not simply mean feeding a child. It means working with the entire environment around them so that, in addition to proper nutrition, they receive the stimulation and support they need to develop fully in every aspect of their lives.
This campaign was launched in 2024 with the goal that, as a society, we rise to the level of the country we have, so that thousands of children in northern Argentina can build a better future. With your help, we can continue nourishing their future and transforming stories.
Diego Latorre, Belén Lucius, Lizy Tagliani, and Gustavo Sylvestre wearing the campaign T-shirt.
