24/07/2025
Ever thought about what it means to be so dedicated to helping people after a crisis that you would consider living in a van for months just to make sure you can be right there, on the ground, ready at a moment's notice, to lend a helping hand?
🔥 Last year, Chile experienced devastating wildfires that decimated homes and communities. Desafío Levantemos Chile was on the ground within 24h and as always, put the priority on listening to community needs and working with them to make sure they got the support they needed in the immediate aftermath but also longer term.
One of Desafío's team members lived in a van, parked next to the church that became the hub for response and recovery, for months.
🫂 "The form of being present with people addresses a fundamental human need in disaster recovery. 'What people most appreciate after a disaster is that there is someone who is there for them, who accompanies them in the next steps, like finding the necessary documents to apply for aid programmes,' Mayegas explains. In Quilpué, the simple act of showing up became the foundation upon which an entire community rebuilt itself."
And finally, at the end of last year, they keys to 72 rebuilt homes were handed to their owners.
That kind of community engagement, of dedication, of passion? That's what makes the world a better place. And in this case, also makes Chile a more resilient nation.
Photos: Desafío Levantemos Chile
