On 22 July, the Fondo Ecuatoriano Populorum Progressio (FEPP), to which the Camari Fair Trade cooperative belongs.celebrated its 50th anniversary. And at AlterNativa3 we wanted to dedicate this article to highlight the work it has done over these decades.
The FEPP was founded in 1970 under the leadership of Bishop Cándido Rada with the aim of creating a "common fund to assist the most destitute". And, in short, to contribute to the "development of humanity in solidarity". Since then, and up to the present day, it has consolidated itself as a social group that unites several entities in the search for welfare, equity and solidarity.
A social group with several lines of action, including Fair Trade.
In short, the EPPF has developed numerous lines of action that we would like to summarise:
- Popular and solidarity finance, such as the donation of loans to institutions for various purposes. These would be, for example, the construction of housing and the strengthening of small businesses.
- Vocational training and technical assistance for labour market integration.
- Establishment and support of grassroots and second-tier organisations.
- Promotion of access to land through legalisation, acquisition and titling of land in Ecuador's poorest cantons and parishes.
- Development of integrated agricultural production systems for healthy food.
- Support for the establishment of micro-enterprises that add value and quality to agricultural production.
- Planting of forest and fruit trees and support for forests and agroforestry crops.
- Establishment of community drinking water and irrigation systems.
- Construction of houses, schools, health posts and other civil infrastructure.
- Supply of tools and equipment for agricultural production.
- Provision of basic IT tools for grassroots organisations.
- Own publishing productions ranging from books to magazines.
- Distribution of Fair Trade products marketed by Camarione of the cooperatives we work with at AlterNativa3 , as well as directly by the organisations. Camari, in fact, sells around 3.5 million dollars annually, adding to the local and national market the exports it makes to Asia, North America and Europe.
Happy 50th Anniversary!
Now that we have introduced you to FEPP - Camari is already available in our cooperatives section- It only remains for us to wish the people who make it up a happy 50th anniversary! And, of course, may it continue to do so, because at AlterNativa3 we love to support organisations that, beyond Fair Trade, work for solidarity and collective well-being.
- 28-07-20
