Impact

Given YSSLA’s roots in Latin America, our team is incredibly passionate about giving back to our community and caring for future generations. YSSLA was founded on the idea of connecting Latin American designers and brands to the rest of the world, a process that would enrich the lives of all involved. In addition to the products we sell, the team works with and donates to many charitable causes within Latin America. We believe that through the continued effort to grow YSSLA, combined with our charitable efforts, we can make a difference in fighting some of the problems many living within Latin America experience. Below are some of the issues we look to push back against:

Poverty:

The extreme poverty rate in Latin America is seen having risen from 13.1% of the population in 2020 to 13.8% in 2021. The overall poverty rate is estimated to have fallen slightly, from 33.0% to 32.1% of the population. (Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean)

The Latin American economy contracted 7% last year, more than double the decline of any other region.

Healthcare/Covid:

The Latin American region accounts for about 30% of the world’s Covid-19 deaths, despite having only 8% of its population. Of the 25 countries globally that have had the highest number of deaths per million inhabitants, six belong to Latin America. 

Poor Latin Americans lack access to basic health care services. Approximately 20 percent of the Latin American and Caribbean population lack access to health care due to their poverty conditions. The region also has high rates of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity and cancer.

Those living in poverty in Latin America lack access to safe water and sanitation. The World Water Council reported that 77 million people lack access to safe water or live without a water source in their homes. Of the 77 million, 51 million live in rural areas and 26 million live in urban areas. An estimated 256 million rely on latrines and septic tanks as an alternative to basic sanitation.

Education:

Latin America is falling behind other regions of the world with respect to years of school and quality of schooling. In 2015, Latin America, on average, 2.5 years of schooling behind the OECD average (IDB, 2015). 

Latin American 15 year olds score especially poorly in math and science, critical skills in today’s job market. Approximately 50% of Mexicans, Colombians and Brazilians do not have the skills necessary to solve simple math equations or to explain basic scientific phenomena. On average, in Mexico, students score 81 points below on math than the OECD average (494 points).