Our history

Throughout her professional career as an agricultural instructor, Zoila del Carmen Bautista, founder and president of FICO Foundation, identified firsthand the needs of rural communities. Later, her postgraduate studies and professional experiences allowed her to recognize that these challenges also affected urban and semi-urban areas.

Driven by her vocation for service, she has carried out numerous volunteer activities both in the Dominican Republic and abroad, collaborating with organizations such as Fundación Terra Nova, Heifer Project International, Fundación Cero Niños en la Calle, and the Ministry of St. Catherine of Siena Church, among others.

She also participated in initiatives supporting homeless individuals in Marietta, Georgia (USA).
Dialogues with other professionals inspired her to create a broader impact beyond her technical work, which led her to establish, on October 24, 2015, the International Foundation for Community Development (FICO), together with a group committed to the country's social realities. Initially founded with multiple goals, the foundation gradually focused its mission on an integrated educational approach under the concept of a “Healthy School,” after identifying deficiencies in the existing school curriculum.

Vision

To promote the integral development of individuals and communities, especially youth and vulnerable groups, through programs focused on education, health, vocational guidance, technology, the environment, and social well-being, fostering inclusion, empowerment, local talent, and equitable access to opportunities. This mission is carried out in collaboration with national and international partners, under a framework of sustainability, equity, and human rights.

To be a leading organization in the Dominican Republic, the region, and internationally, promoting sustainable community development by creating opportunities for youth and communities through education, innovation, inclusion, and sustainability, contributing to the transformation of lives and the building of fairer, more resilient societies committed to human development.

Mission