Stitching towards sustainability

One of the biggest causes of deforestation is poverty. So, it’s no surprise that Cool Earth’s priority is to diversify income streams community-wide. Working with people to recognise the variety of existing skill sets within their community gives alternative options to selling their forest.

By building skills to create sustainable incomes, money goes directly to communities and trees stay exactly where they should be.

This year, we’ve had some exciting new developments from our Peru team in the Asháninka. Following last year’s knowledge exchange trip, two new members and a plethora of new skills honed, the Jeto cooperative in the Asháninka is going from strength to strength.

The group will be collaborating with Lima-based designer, CHINCHE to produce a bag collection. Ten members of the group took part in a series of workshops to discuss production. From development, costing and pricing, to deciding individual roles in the making process, all aspects of these workshops will be invaluable when offers of trade start to come through.

This news has a triple benefit; it empowers women, generates sustainable income for the community and raises awareness of the Jeto brand. And with leading members involved like Adelaida, Maria or Chabuca, inspiring others, the cooperative is bound to be a success.

“I love learning how to make interesting, new products and I think finance training improves how we deal with market traders,” – Maria, Cutivireni.

“We look to the forest as the place where you can get dyes for the cotton and the threads for the crafts and cushmas,” – Bety Roca Sandoval, Camantavish

Rainforest can be used in an eclectic number of ways and we’re proud of the incredibly inventive ideas that communities are using to keep their trees standing.