TEKIO Vision

TEKIO has had a singular vision since its inception - to empower youth toward sustainable livelihoods in social and environmental restoration. In the Nahuatl language of central Mexico, the word "tequio" means " My work offering to the community". TEKIO has fostered an interactive global community, where youth and adults come together to build a better world. Whether the youth are developing in a rural or an urban setting, TEKIO offers skills and mentoring to support their actions towards restoration through open, replicable and sustainable practices.

Created in 1985 by Ashoka fellow Helen Samuels, TEKIO has been evolving a powerful network of committed youth and adults who, working in concert with similar projects around the world, have successfully launched more than 600 youth-run incubator projects for the social, cultural and economic welfare of the communities in which they operate. Under the careful stewardship of Helen Samuels and TEKIO collaborators, hundreds of active social entrepreneurs have emerged worldwide. These courageous and committed individuals have transformed their communities through practical projects, such as clean water systems, dry toilets, ecologically sound construction techniques, renewable energy systems, waste management, cultural and artistic exchanges, personal development, entrepreneurial skills and community building activities.