The Beginning
The Association of Women Environmentalists located in barrio Boris-Vega of
Estelí, Nicaragua it was born in 1996. They were a group of women deeply
concerned for the health and safety of their children. Lying in the
lowest part of the valley was a stretch of vacant land used as an
illegal dumping ground by locals, who dumped everything, including dead
animals in a festering heap. Trash filled the creek and chemicals
leached into the stream that winds the around edge of the property.
Detesting this, the women began to take measures to clean up the three
acre lot to make it safe for their children once again. Along the way
someone suggested that they separate the garbage and recycle it.
Once the land was cleaned and cleared they turned to recycling paper and the
organization was born. The original group of about fifteen women drifted
apart and ceased to function. Later a smaller group re-initiated the
project in a more focused direction. Through a government grant the city
of Estelí built the buildings and and provided the equipment to begin
the recycling of scrap paper.
Las Mujeres Ambientalistas, as it is called, is located on the banks of
El Zapote Creek in the south west part of the city of Estelí, with 1,300
people comprising 280 households. Most were unemployed or underemployed
as street-vendors, housekeepers, tortilla makers and bricklayers, among
other services.
What are some of the things they they have done?
The women have reprocessed organic waste, using traditional and
vermi-composting methods. They created an ornamental and forest
plant nursery.
The central core of their work is recycling paper mixed with plant-based
waste such as banana stalks, corn husks and coconut shells that they
artfully craft into beautiful greeting cards which they sell in their
own store and in cafés around town.
What else?
They initiated activities that improved environmental
conditions in their neighborhood. They promoted among the local population
both the use of their ecologically sustainable products and the habit of
separating household trash. They shared their experience with other
local and national initiatives, directing educational campaigns and
implementing small environmental projects in conjunction with several
non-governmental organizations. These include, Casa del Tercer Mundo,
SINSLANI, POSAF-Marena, Grodema, the Environmentalist Group of
Barcelona, and NOV-Barris, their sister neighborhood in Barcelona, Spain.
Until recently the project was made up of five women were able to
develop their abilities taking on important roles and responsibilities
in their small enterprise. In recent years they had promoted
environmental education by hosting training sessions and by organizing a
club of young ecologists called Eco-Kids, made up of children from
theirs and other neighborhoods.
These women were well known for their project and its important work.
Not all was well.
In the last 8 years there has been an erosion of workers in the project due to one
women taking control of the project and essentially driving the other women away
though unscrupulous practices.
A New Beginning
So a new project has arisen out of the ashes of the old, most women being forced
out against their will.
The new location and organization is called "Recycled Paper Products".
Their new brand name is "EnvironCards". They have had to buy or build new
machines and to find a different place to house re-start our their efforts.
It is still the primary means of support and survival of a couple of families and is
wholly based on the sale of their ecological products, such as:
* recycled paper products
* hand-made greeting cards
* hand-made journals
* hand-made bookmarks
* hand-made gift bags
Please encourage us with your support by buying our envirnmental products and
telling others about your experiences with us.
If you would like to volunteer with us for a time you are welcome to join us.
The Association of Women Environmentalists located in barrio Boris-Vega of
Estelí, Nicaragua it was born in 1996. They were a group of women deeply
concerned for the health and safety of their children. Lying in the
lowest part of the valley was a stretch of vacant land used as an
illegal dumping ground by locals, who dumped everything, including dead
animals in a festering heap. Trash filled the creek and chemicals
leached into the stream that winds the around edge of the property.
Detesting this, the women began to take measures to clean up the three
acre lot to make it safe for their children once again. Along the way
someone suggested that they separate the garbage and recycle it.
Once the land was cleaned and cleared they turned to recycling paper and the
organization was born. The original group of about fifteen women drifted
apart and ceased to function. Later a smaller group re-initiated the
project in a more focused direction. Through a government grant the city
of Estelí built the buildings and and provided the equipment to begin
the recycling of scrap paper.
Las Mujeres Ambientalistas, as it is called, is located on the banks of
El Zapote Creek in the south west part of the city of Estelí, with 1,300
people comprising 280 households. Most were unemployed or underemployed
as street-vendors, housekeepers, tortilla makers and bricklayers, among
other services.
What are some of the things they they have done?
The women have reprocessed organic waste, using traditional and
vermi-composting methods. They created an ornamental and forest
plant nursery.
The central core of their work is recycling paper mixed with plant-based
waste such as banana stalks, corn husks and coconut shells that they
artfully craft into beautiful greeting cards which they sell in their
own store and in cafés around town.
What else?
They initiated activities that improved environmental
conditions in their neighborhood. They promoted among the local population
both the use of their ecologically sustainable products and the habit of
separating household trash. They shared their experience with other
local and national initiatives, directing educational campaigns and
implementing small environmental projects in conjunction with several
non-governmental organizations. These include, Casa del Tercer Mundo,
SINSLANI, POSAF-Marena, Grodema, the Environmentalist Group of
Barcelona, and NOV-Barris, their sister neighborhood in Barcelona, Spain.
Until recently the project was made up of five women were able to
develop their abilities taking on important roles and responsibilities
in their small enterprise. In recent years they had promoted
environmental education by hosting training sessions and by organizing a
club of young ecologists called Eco-Kids, made up of children from
theirs and other neighborhoods.
These women were well known for their project and its important work.
Not all was well.
In the last 8 years there has been an erosion of workers in the project due to one
women taking control of the project and essentially driving the other women away
though unscrupulous practices.
A New Beginning
So a new project has arisen out of the ashes of the old, most women being forced
out against their will.
The new location and organization is called "Recycled Paper Products".
Their new brand name is "EnvironCards". They have had to buy or build new
machines and to find a different place to house re-start our their efforts.
It is still the primary means of support and survival of a couple of families and is
wholly based on the sale of their ecological products, such as:
* recycled paper products
* hand-made greeting cards
* hand-made journals
* hand-made bookmarks
* hand-made gift bags
Please encourage us with your support by buying our envirnmental products and
telling others about your experiences with us.
If you would like to volunteer with us for a time you are welcome to join us.