EC 01 - CHACHI HERITAGE - PROCESSING AND MARKETING OF ARTISAN CHOCOLATE
Project Location
Santa María de los Cayapas is a rural community located in the heart of the forest in northern Ecuador, accessible only by river. The province of Esmeraldas, of which it is part, is one of the poorest in the country: between 95% and 100% of the population lives in conditions of poverty, social exclusion, and ethnic discrimination.
Families are primarily dedicated to growing cocoa, which is sold at very low prices, with no possibility of processing or valorizing the product. This leads to marginalization, family breakdown, violence, and forced migration.
Project description
This project aims to promote local cocoa through the production and marketing of artisanal chocolate, aiming to improve family incomes and foster the economic independence of women in the Cayapas River communities.
The project involves 15 training workshops, including twelve for women leaders from local communities and three for agronomy students from the Santa María de los Cayapas Educational Unit. The workshops will include both theoretical workshops on cocoa processing and practical workshops on artisanal chocolate production.
Participants will also receive training in marketing and sales to promote leadership, teamwork, and personal development. The trained women will become knowledge multipliers within their communities.
Objectives
- Contribute to the sustainable development of Cayapas River communities through female entrepreneurship
- Increase family income and strengthen the economic and social role of women
- Promote micro-entrepreneurship and marketing skills
- Promote artisanal chocolate as a local product
- Strengthen the community fabric, reducing poverty and social risks
Beneficiaries
Direct: 200 young mothers from families experiencing poverty and 40 students from the Santa Maria de los Cayapas school
Indirect: families and local communities
Local Contribution
Local communities will participate by providing approximately 900 kg of cocoa (estimated value approximately 1,500 dollars).
Referent sister of the project: sr Marina Serralde Toledo
Project's costs