On January 24, the U.S. government ordered the suspension of most foreign aid funding. As a result, hundreds of non-governmental organizations have been forced to immediately halt essential humanitarian aid, health, human rights and education programs.
The freezing of these funds has disrupted the continuity of educational projects financed by donors and North American Fe y Alegría agencies in countries such as El Salvador, Paraguay and Honduras.
This situation has forced the suspension of ongoing operations, directly impacting more than 16,372 people living in extreme poverty who benefit from our cooperation and humanitarian aid programs. Without extraordinary support, 333 jobs are also at risk. These global public goods transcend borders and are the responsibility of all humanity.
From Fe y Alegría, as an international popular education movement, we raise awareness about the impact of these measures, which not only have immediate economic consequences but also profoundly challenge the principles of solidarity and justice that should guide all global action.
Our work as an educational network in frontier areas is essential to defending the right to quality education for all, an education that serves as a driver of social transformation in the communities we work with. While our primary funding has always been local—since national governments must be the main guarantors and responsible entities for educational systems—we also believe that, in contexts of extreme vulnerability, the international community has a duty to protect and ensure essential rights such as education, healthcare, and a healthy environment. These global public goods transcend borders and are the responsibility of all humanity.