Support young leaders to change Latam's future

Dear LALA Supporters,

As the year comes to a close, we’re thrilled to share the remarkable progress your support has made possible. Together, we’ve empowered a new generation of young leaders, paving the way for a brighter future in Latin America.

While we eagerly await the release of our official 2024 Annual Report in 2025, we’re excited to offer you an exclusive glimpse into this year’s incredible journey!

Thanks to your generosity, the "Support 20 Young Leaders to Change LatAm's Future" project has been a tremendous success. At the Latin American Leadership Academy (LALA), we remain steadfast in our mission to develop ethical and transformational leaders equipped to address the region’s most pressing challenges. Since our founding in 2017, the impact we’ve achieved is a testament to the unwavering dedication of supporters like you.

Warm regards,

Oriana Torres, Director of Development
On behalf of the LALA Team

Key Milestones in 2024

I. LALA Brazil: A New Chapter and Our First CEO

We’re proud to announce that LALA Brazil is now a reality! This year, we welcomed Fernanda Caloi as our inaugural CEO in Brazil, a key milestone in establishing our first hub in the country. Her leadership is already driving LALA’s reach and impact.

Feel free to explore the media coverage we received and watch the webinar where Fer introduced herself to the LALA community.

This is just the beginning of our country-based expansion strategy, aimed at creating hubs across Latin America to provide a more localized and relevant experience for our youth. Until new hubs open, all students will continue to be served on a continental level.

II. Growing Applications Across LatAm

In 2024, we held two application cycles (February-March and July-August), receiving over 1,600 applications from talented young leaders eager to join our community and create lasting change.

III. Engaging Over 2,600 Youth since 2017

Since 2017, over 12,000 young leaders have applied to join LALA, with more than 2,600 participating in our boot camps. These leaders hail from 20+ countries, with 70% coming from underrepresented backgrounds, including LGBTQIA+, rural, Afro-descendant, Indigenous, low-income, and first-generation college students.

IV. Launching a New Mentorship Program Cycle

This year, our mentorship program connected 122 mentor-mentee pairs with over 240 participants, fostering meaningful, cross-generational relationships to support our leaders’ personal and professional journeys.

If you’re interested in becoming a mentor, sign up here to express your interest (this is not an application form; we will contact you when applications open, typically in July each year).

V. Expanding University Access

We launched a new cohort of our University Placement Program, supporting 34 exceptional students in applying to top U.S. universities and securing scholarships. This program bridges the gap for high-achieving, low-income youth, ensuring they have a fair chance to achieve their academic dreams.

VI. Innovating in Fundraising

Through our enhanced Student Fundraising Program, 260 students collectively raised over $26,000 to attend leadership boot camps. Additionally, our first-ever Shark Tank LALA brought together 40 youth pitching their ideas to 11 donors, securing an additional $3,000 in contributions.

VII. EcoVision Sustainability Summit

On October 30, we hosted the EcoVision Sustainability Summit in partnership with the Mitsubishi Corporation Foundation for the Americas. This event connected hundreds of youth passionate about environmental issues, fostering collaboration and innovation to address critical challenges.

Check out the public keynotes from the event here and a quick recap of the initiative here.

VIII. First external impact evaluation

Sponsored by our esteemed donors at VelezReyes+, the LALA Team worked closely with 60 Decibels in preparing and deploying the first external impact evaluation, which involved a sample of 275 LALíderes. You can download the draft report from here.

Thank you!

Your unwavering support has been instrumental in identifying, developing, and connecting these young leaders. Together, we are creating opportunities for youth to thrive, regardless of their background, and empowering them to drive meaningful change in their communities.

Thank you for being an integral part of this journey. With your continued partnership, we look forward to shaping Latin America’s future, one leader at a time.