What We’ve Accomplished
CGSGI is helping displaced women in Chocó, Colombia, turn their organic spice business, TANA, into a self-sustainable enterprise by introducing technological improvements and new market opportunities.
Since its establishment in 2007, CGSGI has been advancing sustainable development and alleviating poverty in economically distressed communities in Colombia and Peru. Specifically, CGSGI has:
- Provided medical treatment to more than 55,000 people in remote areas of Colombia through medical missions in partnership with La Fundación Angelitos de Luz (Angels of Light Foundation), improving the quality of life and general health of underserved rural areas.
- Helped TANA – an organic spice business in Chocó, Colombia – reach the break-even point, renew its domestic organic certification, and secure organic certification for the United States and Europe. CGSGI also funded improvements to TANA’s processing plant and two 1,000-liter rainwater collecting tanks that provide potable, clean water for the processing of the spices. These improvements enable TANA to maintain the hygiene standards expected by buyers and keep TANA on a path to sustainability.
- Scaled-up the successful Poverty Reduction and Alleviation (PRA) Program in the Ancash and Cajamarca regions of Peru. This expansion included the opening of two additional economic services centers (ESC) in Casma and Huari (Ancash), and one in Cajamarca. The ESCs, which provide technical assistance and consulting services, have helped approximately 3,600 producers to expand their businesses and access market information.
- Launched a program in Peru, in conjunction with its ministry of health and Fundación Carlos Slim, to deliver 50,000 cataract surgeries to the most underserved populations over the next four years. The first surgical campaign began in June 2009 in Iquitos, Peru.
