How Can Buying Ayacucho Help To Change The World?
You may have heard of Ayacucho, a range of clothing and kit that’s exclusive to our stores in the UK, but did you know that when you buy anything from the Ayacucho range, your money is helping to improve the lives of some of the most disadvantaged people in Peru?
We’re really proud that we’re part of the incredible work that not-for-profit organisation Solid International are doing in the Ayacucho region of Peru, and you should be too. With your continued support, we are making a real difference to the lives of the people of Ayacucho, as well as further afield. Read on to find out more about the amazing work that Solid International do.
How do Cotswold Outdoor work with Solid International?
First introduced in 2009, the Ayacucho collection is a collaboration between Solid International and our parent company, A.S Adventure, inspired by the people of the Ayacucho region. It started with a range of rucksacks and packs, and has now grown into a full range of outdoor clothing and kit.
A portion of all profits generated from our Ayacucho range goes toward helping with the important work that Solid International are doing in Peru, Kenya, India and Nepal. We’re also working hard to organise working trips to Ayacucho in the near future, so that we can meet the people of the region, help out in the community, and share more information with you about how your money is helping.
Who are Solid International?
Solid International are a not-for-profit organisation who are based in Belgium. Founded in 2000, their goal is to help underprivileged people all around the world, putting them on track to take their lives in their own hands and to make help unnecessary. Solid strongly believes in the combination of two strategies, to empower people in the long term: responsible commercial entities that provide employment and social organisations that accompany the most vulnerable. Profits generated by the commercial activities, are reinvested, in social activities for these communities, with specific attention to personal development and awareness of one's own strength. In 2004, Solid International decided to focus their efforts on the Ayacucho region of Peru.
Where is Ayacucho?
Ayacucho is a region in the heart of the Andes Mountains, Peru. It’s one of the poorest areas in the whole of the country.
What are Solid International trying to achieve in Peru, and how?
Solid International have a simple goal: to try to improve the living conditions of the people of Ayacucho. By combining social and commercial projects, and focussing on sustainable long-term development, they hope to eventually leave Ayacucho, knowing that they have helped the people to achieve sustainable financial autonomy. By means of creating opportunities and offering training schemes, Solid encourages farmers, workmen, micro-entrepreneurs and their families to improve their destiny by their own efforts. The organisation invests in socially responsible entrepreneurship to stimulate employment, in order to contribute to the sustainable development in these impoverished regions.
What projects are Solid International currently working on in Peru?
The work that Solid International do in Ayacucho is split into two divisions: Solid Diamanta and Solid Rural. These divisions are then split into smaller projects, which are tailored to the needs of the communities.
What does Solid Rural do?
Solid Rural supports local agriculture and entrepreneurship through three smaller projects. Most of the work that Solid Rural do is designed to generate profit, some of which helps to fund social projects in the region.
1. Solid Rural SAC
Solid Rural SAC provides facilities and support to local farmers and small farmers, helping them to grow organic indigenous crops like quinoa, and supporting the process from cultivation to commercialisation and selling the crops.
2. Avelac SAC
The Avelac SAC Project has initiated two smaller projects in the local area: Avelac and Montefino, a model dairy farm and a cheese factory. In order to avoid competing with other farmers in the local area, the dairy farmers working with Avelac don’t produce traditional Peruvian cheese. Instead, they produce cheeses like Gouda, Edam and Mozzarella that are new to the area.
3. Solid OPD
Solid OPD is the social aspect of Solid Rural. This project doesn’t generate much income, and focusses instead on teaching through two initiatives: Familias Saludables and Jovem. Familias Saludables (healthy families) helps the poorest families in Ayacucho to improve their living conditions, and Jovem works in collaboration with the local college to teach young people agricultural entrepreneurship. To date the project has helped support over 1268 vulnerable families.
What does Solid Diamanta do?
Solid Diamanta is more focussed on social development in Ayacucho, helping the women and children of the region to gain more independence, stability and freedom. Like Solid Rural, Diamanta is made up of three projects.
1. Dia
Dia is formed of four smaller projects: EMMA, CAR, Independización Grupal and CDA. These projects work with teenage girls and children to provide counsel and shelter through residential care, health care, supporting young mothers, and social work in schools. So far the project has provided counselling for over 900 teenage mothers and childcare for 268 children.
2. Manta
Manta is the only profit-generating project within Diamanta. It’s a knitting workshop where some of the hats and scarves in the Ayacucho collection are made by local women. The women who work with Manta receive full-time employment and a fair wage, as well as support like child-care to enable them to work.
3. Wiñay
Project Wiñay supports the women and children of the area further through a playgroup, school, social work and a young person’s development programme. Initiatives like the school and playground are important, as they enable the women to participate in projects like Manta to generate income for themselves.
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Ayacucho
Ayacucho clothing and kit is designed for generations. Inspired by the people who live in the Ayacucho region of Peru, Ayacucho are all about responsible sourcing and technical advancement, so that you can get the most out of every day.
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