The Story
An Unlikely Start
EF started as a pilot project in 2014 in the neighborhood of Lomas Modelo. The co-founders were Worrall Matthews, an American studying his Masters in youth development and gangs in Sweden, and a professor at TEC University with a PhD in child psychology, Dr. Nadia Vázquez.
International Support
The pilot program attracted a large online fundraising campaign: press included Vice, Reuters and Climbing Magazine. Many researchers and supporters from around the around climbing community world. Directors hosted volunteers in a small climbing hostel, and climbing gyms opened their doors to invite the program.
Why Sundays
Sunday was a day that the kids were out of school, but also the most dangerous day in the neighborhood: weekends were the height of drug and alcohol abuse by residents, and Sundays were so high in crime that alcohol was banned from sale after 6pm.
EF Today - Still Inspired!
With the support of the international and local community, then grants and government support, EF grew to be independent and autonomous, incorporating various community projects to engage families and empower the residents of Lomas Modelo to take on large-scale community initiatives - like paving their road.
The current director is Alejandro Medina Fuentes.