We are a development non-guvernmental organization, non-denominational and non-partisan, which has as a mission to put technology at the service of human development to build a fairer and more solidary society

Poverty and the infringment of Human Rights in the world remains at massive levels, but change is possible.

In spite of the difficulties many societies are escaping poverty and having a louder voice regarding the matters that affect them, women are gaining space and influences and tackling the historical discrimination, an ambitious international agenda to promote sustainability has been agreed upon, and citizenship in many countries has mobilized like never before.

Society requires organizations that can lead in the necessary changes, from ethical budgets, firmness and concrete proposals. Development NGOs have to be understood as organizations of civil society called upon to promote change. We aspire to a world where Human Rights are protected, respected and promoted while keeping in mind the well-being of future generations, and from this perspective we consider our work. The universality of Human Rights demands that we pay attention to situations of vulnerability in the particular areas of specialization in all of the countries we work in.

We understand poverty as an infringement of Human Rights, which is the reason we place them at the nucleus of our intervention model.

As an organized civil society we demand the assumption of responsibilities from all stakeholders to achieve a world free from poverty, even when our proposals question policies, power relations and behaviors from people or institutions. We do this from a position of mediation between the technical, social and institutional aspects, in order for technology to be at the service of human development, integrating our focus on the sustainable relationship between people and territory, through the supply, of services, the strengthening of capabilities and incidence.

We engage ourselves with people, women in particular and the most vulnerable collectives, and with the processes which lead to improve their lives and the practice of their rights through a long term implication which guarantees obtaining long lasting development results.

We support the formation of a, critical, global active citizenship contributing towards the global movement of people engaged with the termination of poverty and sustainable human development. In order to keep attracting people with values and compromise with the transformation of injustice situations, and especially students as future engineering professionals, we emphasize the transforming dimension of technology and the ethical relevance of the options chosen.

We are an associative Project, a space of collaboration and a meeting point for people who join their energies for social change.

We believe in participation, common reflection and cultural, geographic and social diversity of those of us who make up ONGAWA enrichens our work. We drive volunteering as key element to our identity and ways, as well as the educational and transforming process of volunteers and employees.

Ongawa is an associative Project which strengthens itself with experience, work and the motivation of the people and institutions which conform and support it.

We rely on the participation of 1142 members and 250 who, helped by a team of 50 professionals and through alliances, networks and platforms we belong to, work with the common objective of putting technology at the service of human development and the battle against poverty.

How do we organise ourselves?

The member assembly is the most powerful government body of the association, and is in charge of choosing the board of directors, and judging their management. It is summoned at least once a year.

The board of directors is the representative body which manages and represents the interests of the association in coordination of the demands of the General member assembly. This government body is independent and does not hold any links to political parties, syndicates, private companies, religious group or public administration. No members of this body hold any position in any of the institutions named above.

The commissions, of permanent nature or ad hoc, are work sub groups promoted by the Board of directors to speed up proposals, reflections and decision making about particular matters of strategic relevance for the organization. Depending on the nature of the matter different experts or people within different areas of the organization participate in these commissions.

Since December 2013, ONGAWA has an advisory board, which’s function is of consulting and advise the government body, and is made up of 10 people of recognized prestige in the academic, business and communication sectors and who act in a voluntary and personal basis.

ONGAWA 2020  is the strategic framework for the organization is the 2016-2020 timelapse and defines the commitment agenda that will guide ONGAWA in the next years in order to achieve the vision we want for the world and of ONGAWA, which we aspire to.

It has been elaborated from a participative process and consolidates the contributions made by many people directly or indirectly linked to ONGAWA, as well as the conclusion reach by the different debates that have taken place.

This new strategy aims to orientate the way in which ONGAWA – from its identidy, potential and is differencial value – has to answer to the necessary changes that need to be implemented in order to terminate poverty.