In the Summer of 2009, two SFU graduate students spent three months in Bolivia to conduct research related to CED.
Luis Moncayo (Latin American Studies) worked with the Centro de Estudios Bolivianos Multidisciplinarios (CEBEM) in La Paz, researching the obstacles and opportunities for re-introducing native grains into the food consumption of Aymara children in the city of El Alto. Below an abstract of his research:
“The sale of locally produced and nutritious food in the educational community of El Alto: an action towards Community Economic Development (CED).” Dec. 2009
The Bolivian Center for Research and Educative Action (CEBIAE) through the project ¨Reestablishing the Consumption of Native Food in El Alto, La Paz¨- HEIFER International seeks to support the improvement of the quality of education in Bolivia. The incorporation of Food and Nutritional Education in alternative and formal education is an objective that contributes to prevent hunger, malnutrition and inadequate diets. Alongside this objective, the project aims to incentivize public policies that enhance the supply of nutritious food for local markets.
This document is a case study that proposes the sale of native and nutritious food in the educative community of El Alto as a contribution to Community Economic Development (CED). The results advance the discussion and debate on the current sale of food products to students inside and outside the educational units – food products which are currently detrimental for the health of the students. The case study presents the limitations and opportunities to introduce the sale of native and nutritious food in the educational community of El Alto.
> Click here to read a LETTER to home written by Luis from Bolivia
Kiki (Catherine) Tegelberg (International Studies) worked with CEPAC to evaluate their program to develop viable coffee production value chains in the municipalities of El Torno and Yapacani, near the city of Santa Cruz. Below an abstract of her research:
“Cultivating Coffee in the Community: A Case Study of CEPAC’s Nature-Friendly Coffee Value-chain Project” Dec. 2009.
This case study presents the “Nature-Friendly Coffee” Project, managed by CEPAC, a rural economic development NGO based in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. The project aims to foment economic growth in rural communities in the ANMIA region of eastern Bolivia through introducing coffee production. The study examines the project precedents, context, strengths and challenges.
