China-Latin America Youth Responding to Global Challenges

2026 Poverty Alleviation Challenge Program

Official Launch

China-Latin America Youth Responding to Global Challenges

Join the 2026 Poverty Alleviation Camp

Discover poverty around you

Explore solutions for poverty reduction together

Outstanding teams are invited to visit Brazil or Chile for cross-cultural mutual learning

Join hands to address global challenges

About the Poverty Alleviation Challenge Program

Poverty alleviation is a common challenge for developing countries and a shared challenge for the whole world. In 2024, the Tsinghua University Latin America Center, Research Center for China-Latin America Management Studies of Tsinghua School of Economics and Management (SEM), and Center for Global Competence Development at Tsinghua University, in collaboration with Latin American university partners, launched and carried out the "China-Latin America Youth Responding to Global Challenges — 2024 Poverty Alleviation Challenge Program" in China, Brazil, and Chile, sparking a wave of university-led poverty alleviation dialogues between China and Latin America. In November of the same year, during Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Brazil to attend the G20 Summit, Tsinghua University and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro signed a cooperation agreement for this project. The agreement was included in the list of visit outcomes, becoming a landmark project for win-win development between China and Latin America. On this basis, the "2025 Poverty Alleviation Challenge Program," jointly hosted by Tsinghua University and Latin American partner institutions, attracted over 310 teachers and students from 27 universities and enterprises across four countries in China and Latin America, with 12 teams advancing to the cross-national finals held in Chile and Brazil.The "2026 Poverty Alleviation Challenge Program" will build upon the 2025 edition with greater innovation, injecting new momentum into the global poverty alleviation cause. Through cross-national teaming, competitions, and field research, it will gather the strength of Chinese and Latin American youth to jointly explore poverty alleviation solutions. Winning teams will also have the opportunity to travel to Latin America for study and exchange. If you are eager to inject new momentum into global poverty alleviation, now is the best time to set off.

Why Our Theme is Important to Ending Poverty

These topics address core challenges facing vulnerable communities in Latin America: creating inclusive jobs, protecting the environment, and designing truly effective social programs. They connect environmental sustainability, local employment, and social innovation — issues that directly link to poverty reduction and community empowerment. Both topics are practical, scalable, and fully aligned with the mission of the 2026 Poverty Alleviation Challenge.

About FOSIS

FOSIS (Fondo de Solidaridad e Inversión Social) is Chile’s national Solidarity and Social Investment Fund, a key public institution dedicated to reducing poverty, strengthening social protection, and improving living conditions in vulnerable communities. With rich on-the-ground experience, FOSIS supports inclusive development, local employment, and sustainable social programs across Chile.

Topic 1: Integration of Circular Economy in Vulnerable Communities to Generate Local Employment

This topic invites students to design a community business model that turns waste — including plastic, textiles, and food — into marketable products. It explores how local cooperatives can protect the environment, create stable income, and reduce poverty at the same time.

Topic 2: Using Design Thinking to Co-create Social Programs

with Vulnerable Communities

This topic encourages students to build social innovation labs where communities, governments, and universities work together to solve local challenges such as employment, food security, and housing. It focuses on how participatory methods can make social programs more effective and trusted.

Topic 3: Intersectoral Intervention Model for Inclusive Habitability

This topic invites students to design an integrated system linking housing, health, and social protection for people with disabilities. It explores how shared data and common prioritization can improve coordination and efficiency, while identifying barriers and proposing scalable policy solutions.

Topic 4: Integrated Model of Low-Cost Solutions to Improve Accessibility in Vulnerable Neighborhoods

This topic invites students to design a model that integrates affordable, small-scale interventions—such as walkways, ramps, and lighting—to improve accessibility in vulnerable neighborhoods. It explores how these solutions can enhance mobility and inclusion, while identifying barriers and pathways for scalable implementation.

Topic 5: Digital Teacher Development: Strengthening Teaching Capacities of Rural Educators

This topic invites students to design an online training model for rural teachers with limited access to professional development. It explores how digital courses, peer-learning communities, and educational technology tools can strengthen teaching capacities and improve learning outcomes in underserved areas.

Topic 6: Intersectoral Model for Local Food Security

This topic invites students to design a coordination system across health, agriculture, and social development sectors to address food access, availability, and nutrition simultaneously. It explores governance mechanisms that improve alignment between actors, while evaluating their impact on food security outcomes and scalability.

Topic 7: Social Intervention and Psychosocial Support Model for Families in Poverty and Vulnerability

This topic invites students to design an integrated support model that combines psychosocial assistance, access to services, and the strengthening of family capacities. It explores how comprehensive accompaniment can improve well-being, resilience, and long-term autonomy in vulnerable households.

Meet the Mentors

Mentor 1: 

Name: Rodrigo Hernández Allel

Title: Head of the Habitability Department, FOSIS

Bio: Public sector leader at FOSIS with over a decade of experience in habitability programs, specializing in technical assistance, housing conditions, and social interventions for vulnerable communities.

Mentor 2:

Name: Rodrigo Tapia Vera-Cruz

Title:

Technical Specialist– Habitability Program FOSIS

Proffesor of Architecture in Pontificia Universidad Católica

Bio: Professional with extensive experience in habitability and social housing programs, specializing in improving living conditions in vulnerable communities. He also serves as an Associate Professor focused on urban development and housing at Universidad Católica .

Mentor 3:

Name: Patricia Peters Millan

Title: Technical Specialist– Families’ Program FOSIS

Bio: Public sector psychologist with over 20 years of experience in social programs for families in poverty and vulnerability, specializing in psychosocial intervention and social protection policies.

Mentor 4:

Name: Marignacia Pávez Tetlak

Title: Specialized Technical Assistant (Agronomist) - FOSIS

Bio: Agronomist with experience in productive technical assistance at FOSIS, specializing in food security and support programs for vulnerable communities. Her work focuses on strengthening local production systems and promoting sustainable livelihoods in rural contexts.

Mentor 5:

Name: Maricel Retamal Schwenke

Title: Technical Specialist – Families Program FOSIS

Bio: Public sector professional specializing in family-centered social programs, with experience in psychosocial support and helping vulnerable households access services and overcome poverty.

Mentor 6:

Name: María José Durán Farías

Title: Innovation Unit Specialist - FOSIS

Bio: Experienced in leading multidisciplinary teams and implementing socially innovative projects in agroecology, food security, renewable energy, and community development. Strong background in project design, public–civil society collaboration, and teamwork.

Mentor 7:

Name: Karin Volgger Moll

Title: Regional Coordinator, Families Program, Los Ríos Region

Bio: Social Worker with experience in public policy focused on poverty reduction and family support. Specialized in psychosocial intervention, child protection, and regional coordination of family accompaniment programs.

Mentor 8:

Name: Eduardo Albornoz Lagos

Title: Innovation Unit Specialist - FOSIS

Bio: Strategic Designer focused on user-centered innovation and service design. Experienced in leading public and private innovation projects and developing value-driven solutions.

Mentor 9:

Name: Leslie Cornejo Loncón

Title: Technical Specialist– Families’ Program FOSIS

Bio: Social Worker with experience in public program coordination, family support systems, and gender-based violence prevention. Skilled in team supervision and implementation of social protection policies in public sector settings.

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Bring your creativity, cross-cultural vision,

and passion for public welfare.

Join the 2026 Poverty Alleviation Challenge,

work with FOSIS,
and turn your ideas into real social impact!