We Help Communities Help Themselves.

CEN is an organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty and dependency of many poor communities by helping them acquire and apply the basic skills, habits and mindsets necessary to be self-reliant in the modern economy. Our mission is to empower rural communities with the necessary for them to address their economic challenges on their own terms, and improve their living conditions while maintaining their culture and their environment. We help them improve their lives and living conditions, maintain a vibrant culture and preserve their environment. Our focus is to help transform an "I can't" or "I'm not worth it" mentality to one of "I might not know how, but I will figure it out."

We distinguish ourselves from other rural development initiatives by not "handing" our clients the solutions to their problems. Dictating needs undermines the potential of each community member to tackle their own priorities with knowledge, skill and confidence. We do not help communities in need; we help them help themselves.

Working hand-in-hand with locally based organizations, as well as NGOs, government agencies and corporations, we train participants in our PRACTICAR methodology. From the onset of our work, we put the decision-making power in the hands of the individuals and communities we serve. We allow them to decide their own priorities and objectives, then, using tools such as mentoring, training and information technology, we help them build the skills and confidence to achieve them. Our goal is for community residents to use the skills and mindsets honed in this training to create a better future for themselves and their families, and to continue this progress after we have disengaged .

Our Creating a Culture of Learning and Empowerment in the Amazon Region (cCLEAR) Program, which we are currently implementing in several Amazon communities, utilizes PRACTICAR learning process to build a firm foundation of basic skills and mindsets, followed by an integrated approach that helps communities there build sustainable livelihoods for themselves and their families.

Read more about:

• Problems we address (pending)
• Our Approach to Development (pending)
• Our History and Future Plans
  
• Our Prinicipals and Values (pending)
  
• What is the PRATICAR Learning Approach? (pending)
• Our Programs
  
• What makes us Unique (pending)
• FAQ (pending)
• Frequently Used Terms (pending)

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