Interamericana Community Self-Development Society
The Interamericana Community Self-Development Society is a Canadian charity registered under Business Number 869273706RR0001. Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, the organization focuses on improving living standards in underserved Latin American communities through local empowerment and access to education[1].

History and Mission
Interamericana was established to address systemic poverty by providing tools and training tailored to the economic, cultural, and environmental needs of partner communities. Its approach emphasizes collaboration with local leaders to foster self-sufficiency rather than dependency on external aid[1].

Major Initiatives
A central project has been the construction of a vocational training center in El Chimbo, Honduras, a village near Tegucigalpa. Initiated in June 2006, the facility occupies land donated by co-founder Dr. Antonio Urrello, an Emeritus Professor at the University of British Columbia. The center offers free courses in practical skills such as garment production, shoe repair, traditional medicine, and sustainable agriculture, using computers donated by UBC. Instruction is provided by Honduran trainers to ensure cultural relevance[1].

Impact
The organization prioritizes communities overlooked by governmental programs and commercial investors due to their limited economic influence. By equipping residents with employable skills, Interamericana aims to break cycles of poverty while preserving local environments and traditions[1].

Leadership
Dr. Urrello has played a key role in overseeing land development and construction projects in Honduras, reflecting the charity’s commitment to grassroots collaboration over prescriptive aid models[1].

Structure
As a registered Canadian charity, Interamericana operates through partnerships with Honduran leaders and relies on donations and institutional support, such as UBC’s technology contributions, to fund its initiatives[1].

[1] http://www.interamericana.ca [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interamerican_Association_for_Environmental_Defense [3] https://www.usa.gov/agencies/inter-american-foundation [4] https://wiconnect.iadb.org/en/osc/fuller-interamericana-c-a/ [5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICFTU_Inter_American_Regional_Organisation_of_Workers