Tigo Foundation and Seattle International Foundation Partner to Promote Transparency and Combat Corruption in Guatemala

SEATTLE, WA -- (Marketwired) -- 05/28/15 -- Today Tigo Foundation signed a partnership agreement with Seattle International Foundation (SIF) to support significant transparency and accountability measures in Guatemala.

Tigo Foundation and SIF are investing US$100,000 in grant funds for Acción Ciudadana for projects to monitor public funds and promote transparency. Acción Ciudadana is the Transparency International chapter in Guatemala.

"Today we are taking a new step, a very necessary one, to contribute to the creation of a better society. We are going to work to promote transparency, and we are happy to do so together with an organization like Seattle International Foundation. We want to actively support initiatives that drive transparency and combat corruption in all sectors of the Guatemalan society," commented Acisclo Valladares Urruela, Director of Tigo Foundation.

"Corruption wears away people's confidence in the judicial system, the government, private business and society…At Transparency International we firmly believe in the importance of collaborating with the private and social sectors. Only with these types of alliances, working together with diverse sectors of society, can we advance in the shared aspiration of achieving a world free of corruption," expressed José Ugaz, President of the Board of Transparency International.

"The issues of corruption and transparency are critical for the region. We are very pleased to partner with Tigo on this important initiative." said Mauricio Vivero, CEO of Seattle International Foundation.

This investment comes at a critical moment for Guatemala. The country faces a growing political crisis amid widespread corruption that has sent shock waves through the highest levels of government. In the past week, bribery and contract-rigging scandals have led to the dismissal of the ministers of the interior, energy and environment, the country's intelligence chief, central bank chief and other senior officials. Three weeks ago, Vice-President Roxana Baldetti resigned after being linked to a multi-million dollar customs scam.

Tigo Foundation is a Guatemalan nonprofit organization most active in projects relating to education development. Since it began its operations in 2010 more than 70,000 low-income children have benefited directly from their programs, including ABC Schools (Escuelas ABC), which offers dignified education centers and Digital Schools (Escuelas Digitales), which opens windows to the world.

The Seattle International Foundation supports poverty alleviation efforts through grant-making and other activities, with a strategic focus on Central America. SIF has awarded more than $8 million in grants to NGOs working in the region. www.seaif.org

   For more information contact:Jeff ReadingPHONE: 360.888.9520E-MAIL: [email protected]  

Source: Seattle International Foundation

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