In 2023, Thousand Currents decided to close the Buen Vivir Fund after five years of successful operation rooted in the principle of buen vivir, which emphasizes holistic well-being. The fund brought together various grassroots organizations and US philanthropies to revolutionize capital flow for sustainable development. Despite its closure, former leadership reflects on the valuable lessons learned, especially pertinent in a changing funding landscape, emphasizing that the journey toward buen vivir is critical, not just the outcome.
Buen vivir is a complex concept that is central for numerous Indigenous peoples across Latin America and beyond. The term denotes a balanced way of being and operating that promotes the overall wellbeing of oneself, one's family, the community, the natural world, and generations past, present, and future.
As former directors of the BVF, we feel compelled to share highlights of what we learned and how to build forward on those lessons... in which it is essential to build creative resourcing flows that meet the complexities of this moment.
The BVF sought to reshape how capital flowed by bringing together 18 members from 10 grassroots organizations from Mexico, Guatemala, India, Nepal, and South Africa.
...the BVF cannot be about achieving buen vivir in the future, it must instead be about being on the path of buen vivir every step of the way.
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