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Coffee, birds, honey and food security in CESMACH

Sumary

Theme: Communication and Marketing for organic agriculture and community development at CESMACH Placement At the CESMACH offices at Jaltenango on the Chiapas State, Mexico. Requeriments: This is a great opportunity for people with e-marketing with interest on the organic agriculture´s community-based enterprises marketing as well to get a deeply understanding on small farming livelihoods. Fluency on Spanish language is an asset. Project language: Mainly Spanish and very limited English Highlights: Visiting the CESMACH members’ organic coffee farms and backyard gardens is an amazing experience in fair trade, organic farming and food security challenges in today’s globalized world, in a biologically and culturally diverse region, which presents many challenges for overcoming marginalization. Short description: Campesinos Ecológicos de la Sierra Madre de Chiapas (CESMACH) is an inspiring organic coffee cooperative. Established in 1994, it currently has more than 350 partners in 24 communities. During its first years, it has focused successfully on the transformation of its production methods; its organic production efforts have been widely recognized due to its success in adapting hundreds of hectares to incorporate organic production methods that are socially and environmentally responsible. Recently, CESMACH has focused on implementing a marketing strategy. Although it has made significant progress in positioning its high quality coffee on the international market, there is still much to be done to achieve the goals that have been proposed. Also, recently CESMACH launched its food security project to diversify production and improve the standard of living for the members’ families and for the community in general. It provides technical assistance and biological material to start vegetable gardens and backyard gardens. Volunteers can participate in activities such as growing coffee, vegetables or on family farms.

Date of start Spring March 28th through April the 9th 2010 Summer June 11th through 23th 2010 Volunteers needed 6 Duration Minumum 2 weeks Prices (In US dollars) 2 Weeks $ 1,200 Additional week $ 600 Book online    Other projects Biomonitoring at El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve Teach English and inistitutional development

 

Detailed information

Campesinos Ecológicos de la Sierra Madre de Chiapas (CESMACH) is an organic coffee cooperative that was established with the support of the management from REBITRI and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). CESMACH currently comprises more than 350 farmers in 24 communities, situated in 4 municipalites.

El Triunfo Conservation Fund (FONCET) is a trust established in 2002 to collect money to finance conservation actions in El Triunfo. An important part of the fees that volunteers pay to partake in this project is deposited in the FONCET to be assigned to REBITRI’s biological monitoring projects.

El Triunfo Ecobiosphere S.C. was set up to collaborate with conservation efforts in El Triunfo by providing technical assistance and managing a visitor’s program to the reserve. Its experience in organizing transport, food, accommodation and tour guide services is crucial for arranging the services that the volunteers require.