Institutos/Fundaciones

These are organisations located in Latin America and were either founded by or are in partnership with COFRA Group companies.

• Instituto Ibi is the charitable institute founded by Banco Ibi in Brazil and focuses primarily on job creation for poor Brazilian youth. After carrying out studies into where opportunities lie, Instituto Ibi then liaises with and funds the correct partners to give training in essential skills. Programmes funded include restaurant and catering services, auto repair, IT security and logistics.
  
  
• Instituto Akatú in Brazil is a renowned, independent, Brazilian NGO working in close partnership with COFRA's Banco Ibi to promote so-called "conscious consumption". The aim is to educate Banco Ibi customers via communication campaigns and Ibi's network of associates about the consumption of money and the principles of credit. The aim is to provide the best possible advice, explaining both the risks as well as the advantages, to new and existing clients. This in turns reduces the credit risk and helps prevent the client falling into a debt trap.
  
  
• Instituto C&A in Brazil is committed to providing equal learning opportunities for children and youth from poor communities. This is not just in the field of formal education but also other activities such as sport, music, art and dance, to which they would not normally have access. Instituto C&A supports the training and development of teachers and managers in the partner institutions as well as supporting the public school system to help improve the standards of the education that they provide. Away from the school environment, Instituto C&A works with various companies and individuals to promote social awareness and responsibility (including encouragement of volunteering), as well as liaising with NGOs to identify solutions to common problems and exchange ideas.
  
  
• Fundacion C&A Argentina and Fundacion C&A Mexico work in similar fields to Instituto C&A in Brazil but with a more limited scope in respect to supporting the public schools and networking actively with NGOs. Fundacion C&A Mexico also helps the indigenous communities of Mexico including much needed material support (clothing, blankets, etc.) in the wake of Hurricane "Stan".