COLLIR FUTUR

PROJECT COLLIR FUTUR:  A MODEL OF PRODUCTIVE SOCIAL WORK
WITH VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN MANIZALES, COLOMBIA

ACULCO and Project Collir Futur – project activities in Manizales – Caldas, Colombia.

The Sociocultural Association and Cooperation to the Development for Colombia and Iberoamerica (ACULCO) is a national and international non-governmental organisation whose main functions are the social, labour and cultural support of the immigrants in Spain, the generation of projects of intercultural awareness and accompanying immigrants; and the creation and management of development and co-development cooperation projects.  The organisation was founded in Spain and became involved in various social development projects in Madrid, Valencia, Barcelona, Alicante, Zaragoza, Bilbao, London, Florence, Santiago de Chile, Bogotá, Valle del Cauca and Manizales.  It promotes a culture of peace, respect and tolerance - contributing to progress in so-called developing countries.

In accordance with its organizational purposes, ACULCO organizes projects to generate employment opportunities.  One such project is "COLLIR FUTUR" - Reaping the future, set up in Manizales, Colombia and Alicante, Spain during 2005.  The project offers personal education and technical training to 160 vulnerable single mothers resident in the city of Manizales in order to facilitate their return to paid employment. It also provides income and develops fair trade, therefore contributing to the social development of their families.

As a result of Project COLLIR FUTUR, a linked Women’s Association was set up in 2008.  Its membership comprises women micro-entrepreneurs, beneficiaries of the project’s different areas of production such as bakery, women’s clothing, cosmetics and beauty, artisan workshop and agribusiness units.  These areas of production are guided by access to knowledge resources, training, assistance and technological achievement.  With the aim of providing greater opportunities for women in general, Project Collir Futur makes a children’s classroom available for the education of beneficiaries’ children while their mother attends classes or works on production activities. 

Products and services offered

Each productive unit specializes in manufacturing the following clothing, craft or food products:

Jams / Antipastos

Jams (Mora, mango, passion fruit, sour guava, has, UVA, tree tomato, pineapple).  Antipastos (tuna, chicken, mixed)

Baked food: We offer a wide range of products for cafes, enterprises and institutions in general (pandebonos, pandequesos, cookies, pies, empanadas cambray, croissants, breads.) In addition, we provide for social and business events, including breakfast and snacks.  

Apparel: All types of clothing - personal, industrial, commercial - textile advertising on garments: embroidered and stamped, Maquilado clothing and design.  

Artisan workshop: Costume jewellery, handbags of sisal, scarves, wool, fibre and accessories.

Point of sale "Tierra Solidaria"

There is a point of sale named ‘Tierra Solidaria’ in Manizales which markets the products manufactured by the mothers who are heads of small family businesses.  Here, a wide variety of products can be found in addition to the obvious other advantages of Fair Trade. 

Continuity leads to new achievements

The Collir Futur project has generated broader socio-economic benefits to families, and continues with training for self-employment and entrepreneurship in addition to strengthening and consolidating business units.  We have helped to equip businesses with computers, materials and supplies coupled with the required technical training or professional resources to support their production activities.  Apart from manufactured products from the production units, Fair Trade activities are further displayed and marketed at the "Tierra Solidaria" point of sale for finished products.

A recurrent project need is for resources to expand the distribution channels of these products and so enable socio-economic development for women. 

Project staff continuously try to find work for current beneficiaries, in addition to including women from other communes to increase the positive social impact. 

International Impact

A level of co-development with Project Collir Futur is having a significant social impact on the Spanish provinces where it concentrates on international cooperation, social inequalities, sustainable production and fair trade. 

ACULCO has actively attended meetings and exhibitions in many intercultural forums, thematic festivals and delegations in Madrid, Zaragoza, Alicante and Valencia.  Undoubtedly, the greatest achievement of Collir Futur in Spain is the opening of two points of sale for Fair Trade products - one in Madrid and the other in Alicante. Both branches sell products made by the Association of Women Cosechando Future (ASMUCOFU), who as mentioned are direct beneficiaries of the project. 

Project ‘Collir Futur’ is generating a network of fair trade with other organisations such as ‘Alternativa 3’, ‘Ideas’ and ‘Equimercado’ amongst others.  The main organizers are female heads of households of Manizales, Colombia: ASMUCOFU, and all those whose products are sold through other ACULCO groups. 

ACULCO is also currently organizing the opening of a new branch in Valencia where the ‘Tierra Solidaria’ brand will also feature, as it does in Madrid.  In particular, the Valencia point of sale will include:

Solidarity cafeteria: featuring "fairness and solidarity" products.

Products (as listed above) manufactured by the various productive units in Manizales.

Products exported from other underdeveloped countries in cooperatives.

Art Gallery: exhibition and sale of works of emerging artists.

Library: books, magazines, brochures and articles aimed at raising awareness on various topics, and more specifically fair trade and Project ‘Collir Futur’.