Team
Evelyn
Flores
Evelyn is a feminist human rights advocate and educator with more than 30 years of experience. She holds degrees in law and journalism, as well as a diploma and specialization in human rights. She has published articles and research studies and developed educational materials on women’s human rights, with a particular focus on women’s right to live free from violence and to have control over their own bodies.
She is a training facilitator with decades of experience in developing communication and education campaigns. As a founder and member of various NGOs, feminist coalitions, and coordinating bodies in Central America, she has facilitated inter-institutional dialogues with government entities and diverse sectors of the women’s movement.
Fernando
Carcache
Fernando is an advocate for racial justice and the human rights of LGBTIQ+ people. He holds a Ph.D. in Management, a Master’s degree in Economics, a Master’s degree in Business Administration, and a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology. He has supplemented his education with executive education courses at the INCAE Business School in Costa Rica. He has served as a university professor and is an international consultant for institutions such as the Inter-American Development Bank, the United Nations, Free Press Unlimited, World Learning, and Women Win, among others.
She has held leadership positions at various development NGOs focused on social and economic justice, and has led communication campaigns, developed social innovations using technology, and implemented training and research processes as well as monitoring and evaluation systems. In addition to her work with Puntos de Encuentro (in both Nicaragua and Costa Rica), she has worked with the Luciérnaga Foundation (Nicaragua) and the ARTCORPS Foundation (Boston, U.S.).
Fernando is the Assistant Director of Puntos and Treasurer of the Board of Directors.
Leticia
Picado
Leticia is a feminist activist, communications professional, and educator on sexual and reproductive rights. She specializes in communication for social change, radio and audiovisual production, and is a content creator focusing on issues of sexuality, reproductive rights, and the prevention of violence, sexual abuse, and commercial sexual exploitation.
She has extensive experience organizing educational campaigns and leading and facilitating training programs for young communicators using experiential methodologies, and she coordinates projects on migration and gender.
Leticia is the Assistant Director of Puntos and the Coordinator of DKY Digital.
Indira
González
Indira holds a master’s degree in Entrepreneurship and a bachelor’s degree in Social Communication. She has worked as a university professor and brand management consultant for organizations and political movements, and has more than a decade of experience working with organizations that defend human rights and work to prevent and eliminate violence against women, LGBTIQ+ people, youth, and migrants,
Indira is the communications director at Puntos and the coordinator of the digital magazine *Miradas Moradas*.
María José
Chaves
María José is a sociologist and feminist. She works as a researcher and university professor at the School of General Studies at the University of Costa Rica. She has also been a member of the Feminist Center for Information and Action (CEFEMINA) for more than 18 years.
Throughout her professional and activist career, she has been committed to defending and promoting human rights, particularly the rights of women and migrants. This has allowed her to work with a wide variety of groups, international organizations, public institutions, universities, and social movements. With them, she has coordinated interdisciplinary research teams, designed and facilitated training and awareness-raising programs on various topics, and has been involved in the day-to-day work of various social actors.
María José is the Chair of the Board of Directors of Puntos.
Katherine
Estrada
Katherine is a feminist with extensive experience in radio, television, and print media, focusing on social issues and human rights, particularly the migration of Nicaraguans. With a bachelor’s degree in Social Communication, she is currently part of the Nicas Migrantes team at the independent online news outlet Confidencial, where she covers both the challenges and the triumphs of Nicaraguans who have emigrated from their home country.
She was a member of the Puntos de Encuentro Foundation’s DKY-FM radio program for more than two years, participating in tours throughout the country and providing resources to teenage listeners. She was also part of the Foundation’s communications team and has worked on training programs addressing human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of adolescents, as well as women’s economic empowerment and dating violence among adolescents. For the past three years, she has collaborated with Puntos on audiovisual projects and as an editor for the digital magazine *Miradas Moradas*.
Katherine is Vice Chair of the Board of Directors at Puntos.
Álvaro
López
Álvaro is an economist with a master’s degree in economic development who specializes in social issues. He has more than a decade of research experience focused on economic development, migration, and poverty, and has worked as a researcher at institutions such as the Inter-American Development Bank and Central American think tanks including Estado de la Nación (Costa Rica), PIACES (Panama), and FUNIDES (Nicaragua).
He has published more than 15 analytical papers on Nicaragua’s economic and social situation, providing key insights into its context. At the same time, he has taught at the undergraduate and master’s levels at several Nicaraguan universities, has developed and implemented MEAL systems, and possesses advanced proficiency in quantitative research methods, microdata management, and the development of experimental models applied to socioeconomic studies.
Álvaro is the Secretary of the Board of Directors of Puntos.
Jota Vargas Alvarado
Jota holds a bachelor’s degree in law from the University of Costa Rica, a specialization in Notarial and Registry Law from Fidelitas University in Costa Rica, and a postgraduate degree in Gender and Equality Policies from the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences in Uruguay.
She is a professor at the International Polytechnic University of Costa Rica and has worked at various national and international human rights organizations, such as the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the Mulabi Association—Front for Equal Rights / Latin American Space for Sexualities, Rights, and Non-Binary People.
Jota is a member of the Board of Directors of Puntos.
Leticia
González
Leticia holds a bachelor’s degree in Education and Human Rights and is a certified accountant with extensive experience in project administration and institutional management. She is a financial specialist and an expert in fund management for national and regional NGOs focused on the environment and human rights.
She has 20 years of experience working with donors in the Americas and Europe, managing various financial platforms, formats, and institutional administrative manuals provided by donors. She is currently undergoing training in Business Financial Analysis.
Leticia has served as Financial Manager at Puntos for four years, leading the project management team, responding to requests for financial documents from donors and governments, and overseeing audits conducted by both donors and institutions.