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ACTIVITIES FOR 2007-2008
ECOTOURISM NICHE MARKET DEVELOPMENT.
With the support of a team of students from Babson College in Wellesley MA (www.babson.edu)
we developed a Marketing Plan to reach niche U.S. markets which might chose
Rio Blanco and other rainforest community based ecotourism sites as
destinations.
RAINFAMILY DARK CHOCOLATE TASTINGS & MARKET DEVELOPMENT.
We will continue to support Kallari’s U.S. market development efforts for
its RainFamily Dark Chocolate. We will host a series of tastings and tell
the story of the development of the rainforest chocolate. We will exhibit
at fairs and organizations offering opportunities to market the chocolate.
Anyone wishing to host a tasting or purchase chocolate should contact us at
madsen@alliancexchange.org. If you would like to join the RainFamily
Dark Chocolate Market Development Team, let us know. We are eager to
include new people.
CHOCOLATE JOURNEY TO ECUADOR SCHEDULED FOR 2008. A
Chocolate Tour, a journey following the road the Kallari RainFamily
Chocolate takes in moving through the development process from bean to bar
in early June. More than Chocolate, the group will have a chance to work
with the families and experience the full richness of their lives. There
will be stops at hot springs and indigenous open air markets and historic
cities. Led by Carol Madsen, AlliancExchange founder and president, and
Judy Logback, Kallari founder and development coordinator.
FUTURE
LEADER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.
We are expanding our scholarship program for secondary school
students in the rainforest in partnership with the Association of
Ecuadorians in New England. Our hope is that this will lead to every child
in the rainforest having an opportunity to attend and complete his or her
secondary education.
BUILD OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND OUR BASE.
This coming year will include a focus on building our base by
expanding our Board of Directors, our committed volunteers, enhancing our
promotional materials and our website. A strong base will allow us to more
effectively serve our projects and our partners.
CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR EXISTING PROJECTS.
We will
continue to purchase Ecuadorian products for resale. We will continue our
school supplies, scholarship and leadership development programs. We will
search out ways to support the Women Entrepreneurs of Cutuglagua. We will
continue to conduct programs and activities which foster cultural exchange
and support our projects in Ecuador. |
