The Equilibrium Fund
| The Equilibrium Fund PO Box 2371 Crested Butte, CO 81224 |
Finding Balance Between People, Food and Forests
The Equilibrium Fund is a nonprofit 501(c)3 public charity founded in 2001.
Our mission is to alleviate poverty, malnutrition and deforestation by teaching rural and indigenous women about the nutrition, uses and processing of Maya Nut (Brosimum alicastrum) Maya Nut is a nutritious, delicious, versatile and easy to harvest rainforest tree which can provide free food and income for families in Central America and Mexico We work in Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras and Mexico. We teach women, communities, NGO's, governments, landowners and other stakeholders about the uses, recipes and processing of the Maya Nut. These trainings have immediate impact on community conservation of Maya Nut forests and motivate communities to reforest with Maya Nut trees. Since 2001 The Equilibrium Fund, our partners and our promoters have trained more than 10,000 women from more than 700 rural communities about Maya Nut for food and income. The communities we have trained have planted more than 800,000 Maya Nut trees for future food security, income and ecosystem services Starting in 2008 we are implementing a Maya Nut School Lunch Program called HEALTHY KIDS, HEALTHY FORESTS in Guatemala and Nicaragua. This program will improve the nutritional status of school-age children, educate people to protect Maya Nut forests, and provide a local market for Maya Nut products. Our vision is that one day soon, children throughout Central America will eat Maya Nut at school for lunch every day, thereby improving their health and nutrition and providing a dignified source of income for their families from the rainforest. The only company in the US with which we collaborate is Guayaki Traditional Rainforest Products. We do not collaborate with Teeccino or TJ Enterprises, these companies unfortunately do not purchase Maya Nut from women's cooperatives, instead choosing to purchase non-fair trade products from intermediaries. | |||||||||
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Our Mission: | |||||||||
The Equilibrium Fund mission is to improve
rainforest conservation, food security, women's income, status and self-esteem through production, consumption and sales of Maya Nut (Brosimum alicastrum). | |||||||||
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OUR STAFF: | |||||||||
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Erika Vohman, Executive Director
Anaite Lopez, Director, Guatemala Program Marlene Arias, Director, Honduras Program, Mosquitia and Northern region Alejandra Osorto, Director, Honduras Program Southern region Dr. Cecilia Sanchez Garduno, Director, Mexico Program Roberina Lozano, Advisor, El Salvador Program Nidia Lara, Director, El Salvador Program Xiomara Bello, Representative, Nicaragua Program Marilyn Mercado, Coordinator, Nicaragua Pacific Region Raquel Reyes, Coordinator BOSAWAS Region | |||||||||
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Erika Vohman, Executive Director | |||||||||
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Gladis Rodriguez, President, Alimentos Nutri-Naturales S.A. Guatemala | |||||||||
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Anaite Lopez, Director, Guatemala Program | |||||||||
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Marlene Arias, Program Director, Miskito Region of Honduras | |||||||||
That's Marlene in the blue scarf.
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Our Partners: | |||||||||
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Municipalities of Chinandega, Cinco Pinos and San Pedro del Norte, Nicaragua
Restaurante Ola Verde, Nicaragua United Nations Development Programme, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala Ministry of Forestry and Natural Resources, Nicaragua LIDER, Nicaragua University of Central America, Nicaragua Asociacion de Productoras "Flor de Ojoche", Nicaragua Asociacion de Productoras PROJOCHE Cinco Pinos y San Pedro Nicaragua Empresa Comunitaria Alimentos Nutri-Naturales, Flores, Peten, Guatemala Municipality of Flores, Peten, Guatemala Rainforest Alliance, Guatemala Ministry of Education, Guatemala Ministry of Agriculture, Guatemala BANRURAL, Guatemala FONAGRO, Guatemala CODEMUR, Guatemala Alimentos Nutri-Naturales, S.A. Guatemela Instituto Nacional de Bosques (INAB), Guatemala Ministry of the Economy, Guatemala (MINECO) National Park Service (CONAP) Embassy of the Republic of Germany Embassy of the Republic of Luxemburgh Rotary Club, Flores, Peten Arrocera los Corrales, Guatemala Programa Reverdecer, Guatemala Fundacion Rigoberta Menchu, Guatemala Ministry of Natural Resources, El Salvador Fundacion AGAPE, El Salvador CALMA, El Salvador Parque Nacional Plan de Amayo, El Salvador CATIE, El Salvador Fundacion Gaia, El Salvador FIAES, El Salvador World Neighbors, Honduras Heifer Project International, Honduras Proyecto Reserva Biosfera Rio Platano, Honduras Lancetilla Botanic Garden, Honduras Traditional Medicinals Teas Guayaki Sustainable Rainforest Products Agenda Forestal, Honduras Programa PESA, FAO, Honduras and Nicaragua | |||||||||
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