Posted by: Robert Bortner in Untagged on
Dec 31, 2009
On December 11, 2009, CEN partner organization
Amazon Association was named Environmentalist of the Year 2009.at the Copenhagen Conference as result of it's role in preventing deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon, particularly surrounding the community of
Xixuau. The Association played a key role in this year's establishment of the
Extractive Reserve Baixo Rio Branco-Rio Jauaperi, which protects thousands of hectors from mining and havesting of trees.
The work of the Amazon Association and the people of the Xixuau prove that a standing forest can worth more than a dead one and that development does not necessarily have to mean the senseless use of natural resources. The model has been created and now we need to expand and replicate it.
Posted by: Robert Bortner in Untagged on
Dec 9, 2009
This 5 min video entitled
CEN and Couro Ecologico - Preserving a Way of Life in the Amazon discusses a little about what CEN is doing to preserve culture and increase incomes through a modern adaptation of a traditional livelihood.
Watch it.
Posted by: Robert Bortner in Untagged on
Oct 15, 2009
Both CEN and Program Participants Learn Alot
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| Table produced by Alison Camilo |
Dated: 15 October 2009
We’re pleased to announce that the cCLEAR Phase 1 pilot in Suruacá, the first community with which CEN began in May 2008 has been completed. As result of the pilot project, the eight participants in Suruaca gained critical basic skills they will need to become successful and independent entrepreneurs, and CEN learned many valuable lessons which will be key for replicating and expanding the program.
Posted by: Caron Baker in Untagged on
Jun 16, 2009
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Lauren Mehl - one of Team CEN's runners.
Two thumbs up and thank you to everyone who did their part in the Run to Fight World Poverty!
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Posted by: Robert Bortner in Untagged on
Apr 8, 2009
Although selling Couro Ecológico’s purses online is a new step for CEN, it’s only one of many in our ongoing attempt to help the communities we serve become more self reliant. Couro Ecológico (“Ecological leather” in English) was founded in 1997 in Maguary, Brazil as a worker-owned association that makes eco-friendly purses from locally-produced, sustainably harvested natural rubber latex. Since then, the association has now grown to over 15 workers--men and women--in an area with extremely few employment and economic options. Enterprises such as Couro Ecológica are very important, as they serve as successful models for other community members and neighboring communities.
CEN began working with Arimar Fietosa, one of the association’s founders and a key visionary, as part of our Amazon Prototype Project starting in early 2005. We recognized Arimar’s vision and drive to be a unique asset for the community and our goal was to support his work so that he could become an entrepreneurial role model for the entire region. During the Prototype Project, we primarily focused our efforts on advising him on US market dynamics, how to reach more customers through the internet and on marketing efforts in general. Last August,, we organized a visit by a group of MBA students from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania to travel to Maguary to evaluate Couro Ecológico and provide feedback on how to improve their business (read more about this visit). We based many of our activities this year on the team's findings.
