Proyecto Manacú

Proyecto Manacú

August 21, 2020 Planeterra Partners

Proyecto Manacú

Manaca Iznaga, Trinidad, Cuba

Impact

Proyecto Manacú is a women-led initiative that promotes textile art to youth and children in the community. Yanely Soris Quesada set up the small business to teach and run a training program for youth and children about textile making, art and dance. The initiative also sells handicrafts to the public. With help from a grant and a link to the travel market, which has brought travellers to Proyecto Manacú, the women-led initiative is able to make an income while continuing to keep local cultural traditions alive. This local business not only empowers the women who run and learn there, but also brings income to the area that will create ripple effects in the community.  

31
people directly impacted
93
community members indirectly benefitting

Critical Need

The community of Manaca Iznaga is a place known for its historical architecture, including the infamous Valle de los Ingenios (Valley of the Sugar Mills), which was once a slave watchtower over what used to be one of the largest sugar plantations in the Carribean. These historical buildings are now a large draw for tourists. However, many women and small businesses are struggling to gain access to the tourism market in the area. 

Our Involvement

Planeterra helped Proyecto Manacú to create a textiles centre, enabling local women to sell traditional textiles to travellers, and helping them gain access to the tourism market. This project has also been incorporated on travel itineraries which will allow travellers to learn and experience traditional handicraft making. Visitors will get to see first-hand the local embroidery techniques used to create garments and souvenirs, and learn how the local women’s organization has impacted the community and those who visit.  

Additionally, Planeterra has helped develop the experience by funding capacity building for the women involved in the program, while also providing guidance for setting up a formal microenterprise which has a licence in order to receive travellers and sell their products.

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Good Work Foundation
Moshi Mamas
Maasai Clean Cookstoves
Nyamirambo Community Tour
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Coope San Juan

August 21, 2020 Planeterra Partners

Coope San Juan

San Juan, Costa Rica

Impact

As a cooperative dedicated to providing travellers with community experiences and overnight accommodation, the Coope San Juan saw their community’s income coming increasingly from tourism instead of agriculture. This allowed families to have more income to improve their quality of life. Further, they were able to invest more into their agricultural initiatives.  This investment allows the community to keep their land and pay off their debts that they owed on their land. 

24
people directly impacted

Critical Need

Coope San Juan is a community cooperative dedicated to agriculture and natural forest preservation. Coope San Juan was established in 1985 by 12 families from the community of La Palmera and San Juan de Ciudad Quesada. The farm is 416 hectares (nearly 1000 acres), which is 62% of natural forest which the remaining land left to be cultivated by the families. 

Unfortunately, income from agriculture is limited.  The community was close to losing their land due to failed investments in agriculture, as their income was 95% agriculture leaving many families with just enough income to meet the basic needs of the families.

Our Involvement

With the tourism industry expanding in Costa Rica, Coope San Juan decided to start a homestay business. This tourism project is managed by the women of the community’s cooperative.

Planeterra funded 20 bicycles and related equipment, purchased at a discount from our generous local partners, Desafio, for the families to host travellers and provide cycling activities as part of the community experience. Planeterra also connected the cooperative with our travel industry partners to create a steady stream of income through group stays.

Related projects

Good Work Foundation
Moshi Mamas
Maasai Clean Cookstoves
Nyamirambo Community Tour
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2019 Update from Lusumpuko Women’s Club

May 13, 2020 Planeterra Meals, Our Projects, Partners, Stories from the Field, Women

2019 UPDATE FROM LUSUMPUKO WOMEN'S CLUB

Since serving their first meal to international travellers in April 2018, the ladies of Lusumpuko Women’s Club in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, have continued to grow and excel at their craft while also cementing their position as a community-based organization.

The Lusumpuko Women’s Club has catered to over 3,000 G Adventures travellers and due to their success, they have begun serving even more travellers as of January 2020. The members have improved their English skills, public speaking abilities, and continued to preserve traditional Zimbabwean cooking methods and dishes.

The group has brought in an additional 10 members and their operation has expanded from a tourism service to a popular local event caterer. The ladies are also giving back to their community by serving meals on a monthly basis at the local hospital and seniors’ home.

Lusumpuko has continued to break barriers in the industry by standing alone as one of the best locally-owned service providers in Victoria Falls and they have received critical acclaim from local media for their efforts.

This is only the beginning of a new and exciting journey for the Lusumpuko Women’s Club as they continue to take back their power through the growth of their cooperative.

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Two women stand outside homestay

PUESTA DEL SOL IS BACK

October 13, 2019 Planeterra Accommodation, Communities, Our Projects, Partners

PUESTA DEL SOL IS BACK

We are very excited to announce that operations are restarting at Puesta del Sol, our Planeterra project in Nicaragua in November of this year. In March 2018, G Adventures cancelled operations due to the political crisis in the country.

The Puesta del Sol Community Association was founded in 2005 by 17 families, largely influenced by the women in the community. The mission of the organization is to improve the quality of life for their families and the area.

They are located in Isla de Ometepe, Nicaragua, which is a beautiful island in the Nicaraguan Lake that has 2 mindblowing volcanoes. The main economic activities in this area are tourism and farming. Through the association, they have created different touristic initiatives. These new opportunities are resulting in families being able to stay together. In the past, due to the lack of jobs some members of the family had to leave to bring or send money home.

Tourism has become a meaningful source of economic development in Nicaragua, but because of the political crisis and social instability, this source of income was heavily affected. Puesta del Sol itself was impacted, they stopped receiving visitors, resulting  in job loss. Many had to leave for either safety or to be able to provide for their families.

Odalis the President of the Association, (her family founded the association) has been involved in every step of the development of the organization and is extremely proud. During my visit to Puesta del Sol in September, I stayed at her house or “homestay”, she showed me around and told me all of the exciting stories about her family and the association.  She is so happy to see how the country is recovering from the crisis, tourists are coming back and she is so thankful and happy to be welcoming G Adventures travellers into their houses.

G Adventures and Planeterra have been working with Puesta del Sol since 2012. Planeterra provided funds for the development of the tourism initiative and the related training. Travellers enjoy living the “Isleno” life for a couple of days through the homestay experience offered by Puesta del Sol, the families in the community are very welcoming, and they really make you feel at home!

The community is eager to welcome back all G Adventures groups!

Learn more about this project
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Canada Not-for-Profit Corporation Number: 793488-2, US 501 (c)(3) public charity, EIN 83-1619668