WHOLE FOODS MARKET TEAM MEMBER VOLUNTEER PROGRAM · 2019-04-11 · Machu Picchu and sightseeing in...
Transcript of WHOLE FOODS MARKET TEAM MEMBER VOLUNTEER PROGRAM · 2019-04-11 · Machu Picchu and sightseeing in...
WHOLE FOODS MARKET®
TEAM MEMBER VOLUNTEER PROGRAM2014 PERU SUMMARY & IMPACT REPORT
Whole Planet Foundation® (WPF) funds microlending
programs in Peru through Pro Mujer where Alter Eco
sources cacao for chocolate which is sold in Whole
Foods Market® (WFM) stores. Crafted Peru also
sources ornaments which are made from gourds in
Lima for sale in WFM stores. WPF is a WFM non-profit
whose mission is to alleviate poverty by funding
microlending programs where WFM sources products
as a way to alleviate poverty and give back to our
global communities.
Through the WFM Team Member Volunteer Program,
WFM gives Team Members the unique opportunity to
travel abroad with WPF to learn about WPF and meet
microcredit clients, see where and how WFM products
are grown, provide community service, experience and
learn from other cultures and challenge themselves by
exploring exciting countries around the globe.
WHOLE FOODS MARKET®TEAM MEMBER VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
WFM TEAM MEMBER VOLUNTEER PROGRAM TRAVEL IN PERU
WFM supplier partner Alter Eco and community
service project in Pucallpillo
WFM supplier partner Crafted Peru and sightseeing
in Lima
Machu Picchu and sightseeing
in Cusco
11 WFM Team Member Volunteers traveled to Peru to volunteer in two communities where Alter Eco sources cacao used to make products sold in Whole Foods Market stores. They worked with members
of the community, harvesting cacao and reforesting in Peru’s Amazon basin by helping to plant 615 trees. They visited with microcredit clients of WPF microlending partner Pro Mujer in Cusco and learned about ornaments that Crafted Peru makes with gourds and sells in WFM stores. Team
Members learned about Peruvian culture, food and traditions and visited Machu Picchu.
TEAM 2 WEEKS October 11-25, 2014
Brian Garlock (Global Office)
Ashley Nicholes (Mid-Atlantic, Plymouth Meeting store)
Julia Haviland (Midwest, Madison store)
Dave Hollingsworth (Northeast, Union Square store)
Gabriel Pierna (Northeast, Columbus Circle store)
Melissa Garvey (Northeast, Brooklyn store)
Darin Grasmick (Rocky Mountain, Fort Collins store)
Lesley Sifford (South, Ponce de Leon store)
Candice Shearman (Southern Pacific, Jamboree store)
Raymund Santos (Pacific Northwest, Cambie store)
Perry Fink (Southwest, Fairview store)
2014 PERU SUMMARY
GROUP COORDINATOR
Jeremy Bookman
PERU GUIDE
Guadalupe Rojas
PROJECT COORDINATOR
Stephanie Mack
WFM TEAM MEMBER
VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
MANAGER
Genie Bolduc
ITINERARY- 2 WEEKS
Day 1 / Saturday, October 11- Arrive Lima (late evening)
Day 2 / Sunday, October 12 - Lima -Tarapoto mid-day flight, dinner
Day 3 / Monday, October 13 - Juanjui Visit Coops & Pur Project office
Day 4 / Tuesday, October 14 - Amazon boat to communities
Day 5 / Wednesday October 15 -Visit primary forest of Martin Sagrado and waterfalls
Day 6 / Thursday October 16 - Community service
Day 7 / Friday October 17 - Community service
Day 8 / Saturday October 18 - Community service
Day 9 / Sunday, October 19 - Community service
Day 10 / Monday, October 20 - Community service
Day 11 / Tuesday, October 21 - Return to Tarapoto
Day 12 / Wednesday, October 22 - Tarapoto to Cusco travel and in Cusco, visit with WPF microlending partner Pro Mujer
Day 13 / Thursday, October 23 - Cusco to Aguas Calientes
Day 14 / Friday, October 24 - Machu Picchu day trip
Day 15 / Saturday, October 25 - Cusco to Lima, visit Crafted Peru, departure
2014 PERU ITINERARY OCTOBER 11 - 25
THE EXPERIENCEMeeting microcredit clients of Pro Mujer
Planting and naming treesTraveling on the Alto Huayabamba Hiking
Swimming at waterfallsVisiting Machu PicchuEating meals with the community
Team Members were
introduced to fruits and
vegetables eaten in rural
communities along the
Amazon and ate in and
with the local community
daily. They learned to cook
Peruvian dishes with their
hosts and were even
treated to a lunch of cuy
(guinea pig), a very special
and traditional meal in
Peruvian culture, which
was prepared for them by a
microcredit client.
Peru has deep history,
the Incas, Machu Picchu,
Cusco, consuming chichi
(a fermented corn drink)
and guinea pig, and
indigenous people
wearing vibrant
traditional clothing. It is
a fascinating place to
visit to experience a new
and different culture.
Peruvian tradition and
culture are very strong,
especially in the Andes.
FOOD
CULTURE
TRADITION
WHOLE PLANET FOUNDATION MICROLENDING PARTNER
PRO MUJER
FEMALE CLIENTS
96% 91.14%
REPAYMENT RATE
8,291
WPF SUPPORTED CLIENTS AS OF 9/30/2014
Total clients as of June 2014: 59,795
History:
Pro Mujer in Peru began operations in 1999 in Puno, on the
shores of Lake Titicaca by building upon the knowledge and
lessons learned in Bolivia and Nicaragua. Pro Mujer began
offering clients credit in April of 2000 and achieved self-
sustainability by the end of 2002. Since then Pro Mujer in
Peru has continued to grow and serve and empower poor
women currently with 39 branches throughout the country.
WPF Partnership:
Whole Planet Foundation began funding Pro Mujer in Peru
began in 2009 with a grant of $300,000 to the Mollendo
branch to reach 3,339 new clients over three years.
WPF support was expanded in 2011 with $500,000 of
additional funding approved to support growth of 5,594 new
families in and around Cuzco.
Pro Mujer Peru is one of the most successful of the Pro
Mujer countries with strong growth and profitability while
maintaining portfolio quality. • Clients at the start of the WPF Partnership: 50,000 • Total WPF Authorized Grants: $800,000 • Total WPF Funds Disbursed to Peru: $800,000
The Pro Mujer Approach to Poverty Alleviation:
Pro Mujer is dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty by
providing women in Latin America with financing via
Grameen style group lending along with financial literacy
programs. They also differentiate themselves from the
competition by providing health screenings and medical
consultations at their in-branch clinics and at group meetings;
often the only medical care many of their borrowers receive.
In the 5 countries where Whole Planet Foundation supports
Pro Mujer, the foundation has authorized $3.7 million and has
disbursed $3.28 million so far.
Pro Mujer
FORTUNADA Fotunada is a microcredit client who has a guinea
pig (cuy) farm on the outskirts of Cusco. She used
to raise the guinea pigs in her bedroom, but has
grown her farm with the loan she received through
Pro Mujer and now has 250 guinea pigs. She made
lunch for the volunteers.
PRO MUJER Team Member volunteers visited with four different
microcredit clients where they do business in Cusco
and the surrounding area.
CENTER MEETINGS The volunteers attended center meetings
where they learned that there are at least
eight women in a solidarity group and they
meet once a month to make payments,
gain education and support each other.
LIVIA The teams met several different clients with various
businesses so that they could better understand the
diversity of microentrepreneurial activities. Livia is a
client of Pro Mujer who knits sweaters and caps, and
several Team Members bought goods from her.
BUTCHER Team Member volunteers visited with four
different microcredit clients including a
butcher.
BRICK MAKER One of the microentrepreneurs
they met is a brick and tile
maker.
CRAFTED PERU WHOLE FOODS MARKET SUPPLIER PARTNER
Crafted Peru
From the founder:
The inspiration for this company was to reconnect the
modern age and new cultures to the creativity and
expression of the native peoples of Peru, the Incas.
I invite you to explore the range of creative arts and
goods that are emblematic of the indigenous peoples of
the Andes. From gourds to jewelry and beyond, many
items have been inspired and handcrafted by expert
artisans using techniques passed down for thousands of
years.
We work directly with the artisans and they get paid
directly by us. We do not use a third party so as to make
sure all of the monies get directly to the artisans
themselves,
We exist to connect you to this ancient culture. We invite
you now to be inspired by Peru.
Enrique Arias R.
ARTISAN EDUCATION Artisans showed the volunteers how they craft the beautiful baskets and other brightly colored woven objects with a weaving demonstration.
VISIT TO CRAFTED PERU Team Members got to meet artisans and learn how the gourd ornaments sold in WFM stores are made.
SOUVENIRS Team Members watched the gourd ornaments being made freehand, were each presented with a gourd ornament that had Whole Planet
Foundation etched into it and were offered the opportunity to purchase souvenirs.
ALTER ECOWHOLE FOODS MARKET SUPPLIER PARTNER
A letter from Alter Eco co-founders, Edouard and
Mathieu:
Dear loyal customers,
Alter Eco is based on the premise that food is
fundamental to life – and whole, healthy, delicious food
can make life better for people all over the world. By
working directly with the small-scale farmers who grow
our quinoa, rice, sugar and cacao, helping them institute
Fair Trade and Organic practices and assisting them in
improving both quality of food and quality of life, we’re
creating a system that benefits everyone involved. Our
values extend to the flora, fauna and fields – we work
with our co-op partners to preserve heirloom grains,
replenish and reforest the land. And as a GHG Protocol 3
Carbon Zero business, we offset more carbon than we
emit.
But the achievement we’re most proud of is the family
we’ve created. Together with our farmers, employees,
investors and customers, we’re taking an adventure
through food, and creating a vision of the future that’s fair,
prosperous, healthy and mouth-watering. Though we
can’t all break bread at the same table, we like to think
that every time we crack open a bag or bar of Alter Eco
here in the states, we’re sharing a lively meal with
Gustavo in Bolivia, Sompoi in Thailand, Grover in
Ecuador – and you.
B the Change,
Edouard Rollet, Co-Founder and COO
Mathieu Senard, Co-Founder and CEO
Alter Eco
Team Members learned about cacao
trees, pods, fruit, fermentation and
drying of the cacao. They helped the
community to harvest and observed
the process from beginning to end.
The volunteers lived in the community
with the cacao cooperative members
and worked, cooked and shared
meals together.
The Team Members visited the
primary forest of Martin Sagrado,
riding in boats on the river to hike up
to one of the most beautiful waterfalls
in the world.
CACAO COMMUNITY AMAZON BASIN
When Team Member volunteers visited Peru they were welcomed into
the communities where Alter Eco has built relationships through their
cacao cooperative. This provided the volunteers with the opportunity
for total immersion, living, eating and working with members of the
cooperative and communities where Alter Eco works. They learned
about the growing, harvesting, fermentation and drying of cacao for
the making of Alter Eco chocolates, as well as agroforestry and
conservation as they explored primary forest and waterfalls.
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS
ALTER ECO AND THE CACAO COOPERATIVE The volunteers were hosted by Alter Eco and visited cooperatives where Alter Eco sources cacao in Peru Amazon Basin. They learned
about the different steps that go into producing the cacao and the varieties of chocolate that Alter Eco produces with that cacao.
CACAO - FROM HARVEST TO SHIPPING Team Members participated in all the stages of cacao harvesting including harvesting, removing the cacao fruit, seeing fermentation,
spreading the cacao for drying, visiting the warehouse, tasting cacao nibs and learning about the process of rating the cacao to establish
price. They even got to make dye to label the cacao bags.
The region was predominantly cultivating coca used for cocaine, which was harmful to the environment and to the farmers, until the
1990s when a United Nations program helped to transition all farmers over to cacao instead.
More info:
http://fairtradeusa.org/producer-profiles/acopagro-cooperativa-agraria-cacaotera-acopagro-ltda
MARTIN SAGRADO PRIMARY FOREST Alter Eco offsets their CO2 by preserving hectares of the primary rainforest of Martin Sagrado, where the volunteers visited the El Breo waterfall.
CONSERVATION AND ORGANIC AGRICULTURE Before the Team Members hiked in the primary forest, they were taught about conservation and the importance of the forest. After a
hike, they learned about the importance of conservation and organic agriculture from Oswaldo, a major force in promoting it in the
region.
HIKING Team Members were treated to a beautiful boat ride and hike into the primary forest where they visited the El Breo waterfall.
More info:
http://www.alterecofoods.com/environmentally-responsible/#commitment
http://www.purprojet.com/en/insetting-definition
PLANTING TREES Alter Eco offsets 100% of its carbon emissions by planting trees with Pur Projet in this region, along the Alto Huayabamba, in Santa Rosa,
Pucallpillo, and other communities. This process is called ‘insetting’, planting within a company’s own supply chain. Mathieu Senard, Co-
CEO of Alter Eco is pictured on the right..
TREES Team Member volunteers planted the first trees of the Whole Foods Market Forest in this region. They planted medicinal plants and had the
opportunity to dedicate a tree that they planted in order to perhaps come back and check on its progress in the future.
More info:
http://www.alterecofoods.com/environmentally-responsible/#commitment
http://www.purprojet.com/en/insetting-definition
COMMUNITY More important than the community service that the Team Members performed are the lifelong relationships that they established with
members of the community that will continue to enrich all of their lives into the future.
MACHU PICCHU What an amazing cultural experience it is to get to visit Machu Picchu to learn about ancient Incan culture and walk the
Incan trail!
“I really enjoyed spending several days in the jungle, staying with a family and learning
all about cacao farming. It was great to be able to spend some extended time with
them, really learn about the product, help them out and see more of their lifestyle. I
also really enjoyed getting to meet WPF loan recipients and attend some of the
meetings. It was also really nice that we had a guide who took great care of us, and
we didn’t have to worry about much at all. And Machu Picchu was amazing, of
course!”
LESLEY
“I loved my group. 11 completely unique
and lovely folks. My favorite was our time
in the villages was priceless and what I
most like to visit with folks about. I wish
every long term TM could experience a trip
like this!”
LINDA
“Living with the cacao farmers for 5 days was the best. The whole point of travel is
to learn about how other people live, not just stay in your comfort zone in a resort,
and this was the real deal. The family we stayed with in Santa Rosa was great.
They were happy to have us, we learned so much from them and they fed us
amazing meals. And just walking through a cacao farm is pretty magical.”
PERRY
CANDICE
“The human connection with the cocoa
farmers, our supplier partners, our tour
guide, relationships with Team Members
from all over the company, with
microcredit clients. The trip was
wonderful!”
“The overall experience is definitely a unique and undefinable moment in which I
don’t think I'll ever be able to recreate. There was something so amazing about
going to a new place with new people, yet somehow all the people and all the
places shared a common connection. I had an amazing experience and loved
every moment of it!”
ANONYMOUS
DARIN
“WOW! This was a 110! I am so inspired
and filled with gratitude. Truly showed us
that we are changing the world positively by
doing what we do! So amazing to dive so
deeply in a culture! So, amazing to see
where our products come from. What an
amazing opportunity this was and so
thankful for where I work!”
DAVE MELISSA
“This trip was AMAZING! I am SO GRATEFUL
to WFM for allowing me to have this
experience. The 11 people went with were a
wonderful group. We all got along so well. I
learned so much about our vendors, our
products, Peru, the difference WPF
microcredit loans make, got to meet loan
recipients and the farmers who grow cacao
for WPF products. They now feel like
friends.”
GABRIEL
“It was an amazing experience! We all felt like family would love to re-visit the
community and see the progress. My favorite part was the villages!!! Didn't mind
the separation of the group since we still had activities planned and got to see
each other during the day – It also gave us the opportunity to fully immerse our
selfs in the farmers daily living. when it came to us leaving I was saddened by
the thought because we were saying goodbye to what I felt were long time
friends and family. Hopefully we'll get to see them again.”
2014 PERU WFM TMVP IMPACT
250 NATIVE TREES
PLANTED
2 QUINTALS OF CACAO BEANS HARVESTED
250 SQ FEET OF LAND FOR TREE
PLANTATION CLEARED
11 MEDICINAL SEEDLINGS IN
BOTANICAL GARDEN PLANTED
75 CACAO TREES PRUNED
20 GRAFTED SEEDLINGS PREPARED
16 MICROCREDIT CLIENTS MET
11 TEAM MEMBERS