PROJECTS OF PROMISE

THE PROJECTS are the heart of Maya Global 2012. For without them there would be no goods to sell in the marketplace. It is the projects, and their success as thriving local businesses that make possible the economic and environmental gains that are so desperately needed. Maya Global strongly believes that sustainable progress in the often-futile fight against poverty and environmental degradation can be best achieved by supporting local entrepreneurs. Indigenous people usually know what needs to be done, but they rarely have the means to do it. That is where Maya Global and you come in.

Maya Global selects local initiatives that have already gained the support of the indigenous people. Maya Global then partners with them to create a new entity that meets the Maya Global Standards of Operation. The new companies must have social goals that are an integral part of their business plan. They must have employee ownership programs. They must offer meaningful participation to growers that supply their products. They must share profits with a community foundation that will fund regional projects such as health clinics and water systems.

The most common obstacle these companies face in gaining access to global markets is a lack of production facilities. For instance, there may be no coffee roasting plant that meets the standard required for exportation. There are usually no funds for expanding the grower base by providing young plants and seeds. They cannot borrow the money and even if they could, paying the interest would bankrupt them. Maya Global will fund these needed facilities and programs with grants through its non-profit foundation. The foundation will solicit small contributions from individuals like yourselves and large gifts from corporate sponsors.

Dr. Marchetti received a M. Phil., a M.A., and a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Development from Yale University. He was ordained in the Society of Jesus in 1978. He retired from the Society of Jesus in 2008.

Here is a more detailed look at some of the initiatives that Maya Global is currently considering working with:

	KUCHUB’AL This is a cooperative made up of 16 small Maya Associations in the southwestern part of Guatemala. 70% of its members are rural women. They produce a wide range of products from vegetable and chilies to medicinal ointments and soya flour. Founded in 2005, it promotes fair trade and solidarity while supporting its members’ production of honey, marmalades, shampoo, soap and textiles…more
	PEASANT COMMITTEE of the HIGH PLAINS This organization of 1,200 small coffee growers represents 3 Maya Lake communities in the mountainous volcano region surrounding Lake Atitlan. Most of the growers walk over two hours carrying sacks of hand picked beans on their backs to the nearest dirt road for truck pickup. They are forced by economic conditions to sell their crop to the local wholesalers, called coyotes, who mix their beans with industrial grade ones grown in the lowlands…more
	SAAQ’ ACH’OODI NIMLA K’ALEB’AL (SANK) This project benefits 33 indigenous communities in northern Alta Veraplaz. The Sechocho community association has 115 growers of Maya Red Cacao the key ingredient in award winning gourmet chocolate. The cacao price is set at the NYSE. Most farmers receive much less than this price though the red cacao is worth 50% more. This situation is typical for all of the growers in SANK’s network, not just those growing cacao.  While SANK is working to change this, an agreement with Maya Global would alter the entire equation by allowing the Maya to enter the retail marketplace and bypass the wholesalers…more
	OXWITIK CH”ORTI, INC. This community foundation owned company is based upon the successful New Useful Forest methods developed by founder, David Sedat, David is a renowned archeologist that led the University of Pennsylvania’s excavation of the large Maya ruins in Copan, Honduras. He and his wife Julia have revitalized ravaged hillsides by planting the fruit bearing Noni tree, whose roots hold the soil and retain water from running off. The enriched soil can then be used to grow a wide variety of other trees and crops…more
	SAKAPULAS BLACK SALT This Sakapulas community has been extracting salt from the lands along the river in a time honored way since at least 1560. The salt is actually drawn from the earth by spreading special soil and wetting it. On productive days the salt can be baked several times until black. The black salt is thought to be tastier and is famed for its medicinal qualities in treating stomach and eye problems. Maya global is working to uncover more of the original salinos. A wall is needed to protect them from flooding…more