Tag Archives: Community Organizing

MU Mother’s Day Celebration and Technical Course Graduation

On Saturday June 4th, 2016 Mujeres Unidas celebrated Mother’s Day with music and bizcocho in front of Pica and Fany’s colmado in Los Platanitos. This was also graduation day for the 20 members of Mujeres Unidas who had completed a three-month training course on household cleaner production (“Curso de Producción de Detergentes”).

Members of Mujeres Unidas and the large Los Platanitos gather to celebrate Mother's Day and the awarding of certificates.
Members of Mujeres Unidas gather to celebrate Mother’s Day and the awarding of certificates.

Coordinated by CIAMF member Margarita Pinales and taught by Juana Milqueya Matos, the course has enabled Mujeres Unidas to produce household cleaners under their own label. The women sell the cleaning products sold door-to-door in Los Platanitos and neighboring communities, providing a new source of income for their families.

Project partner CIAMF awarded certificates of completion to all of the women who participated in the technical training course.
Project partner CIAMF awarded certificates of completion to all of the women who participated in the technical training course.
Mujeres Unidas member Wendy poses for a picture as she fills bottles with homemade detergent during one of the training courses.
Mujeres Unidas member Wendy poses for a picture as she fills bottles with homemade detergent during one of the training courses.
Samples of the final detergent product that will be sold to the product under the Mujeres Unidas label.
Samples of the final detergent product that will be sold to the product under the Mujeres Unidas label.

Mujeres Unidas Launches New Social Enterprise

In addition to the production and sale of organic compost, Mujeres Unidas has been working since January 2016 to consider other possible social enterprise activities to add to their organizational portfolio.

A community members examines a household cleaning product manufactured by Mujeres Unidas.
A community members examines a household cleaning product manufactured by Mujeres Unidas.

With the help of  project partner CIAMF, the women organized trainings to teach members of the organization how to manufacture household cleaning supplies which could then be sold.

In March, the women’s group launched its first day of sales of household cleaning supplies, selling out their supply. The women sold from a tract of land on a busy commercial avenue that has been loaned to them for the next two years. The group hopes to use the plot of land as a base for their expanded social enterprise activities.

A temporary display of Mujeres Unidas manufactured cleaning products on their first day of being offered to the public.
A temporary display of Mujeres Unidas manufactured cleaning products on their first day being offered to the public.

As part of their expanded enterprise activities, Mujeres Unidas is working with designers from the University of Texas to develop semi-permanent infrastructure on the commercial site including a green house, a composting area, and a sales area that would allow them to grow plants for sale, increase their compost production, and have a formal storefront.

FUMPLA Incorporates as Legally Registered Community Foundation

Fundación Los Platanitos, which was formed during the 2010 class project, was formally incorporated as a community-based association in July 2012. Students worked with the leadership of FUMPLA in 2010 to develop the administrative structure and goals of the organizations. FUMPLA set as its principal goal to address the solid waste problem in Los Platanitos in partnership with the City of Santo Domingo Norte and the non-governmental organization and project partner FUNDSAZURZA. Congratulations to Pedro Almonte, Jose Mercedes and Aquilino Cuevas for moving the organization forward!

Members of FUMPLA pose with Dr. Sletto during a fieldwork trip in 2012.
Members of FUMPLA pose with Dr. Sletto during a fieldwork trip in 2012.

2014 Holiday Celebration and Mujeres Unidas Officer Elections

On December 14, 2013, Mujeres Unidas held their first holiday party and elections for officer positions in the plaza in front of Pica’s colmado (convenience store). Members of Mujeres Unidas purchased food with proceeds from their sales of vermiculture products and the plaza was decorated for the holiday using recycled plastics. Fany Moises was elected coordinator and 9 other positions were filled.

 

Members of Mujeres Unidas pose for a photo at their 2014 holiday celebration and election meeting.
Members of Mujeres Unidas pose for a photo at their 2014 holiday celebration and election meeting.
Homemade decorations for the 2014 holiday celebration.
Homemade decorations for the 2014 holiday celebration.

Fundraising Effort to Support Capacity Building Course for FUMPLA

In May 2010, the students in the 2010 practicum course organized a fundraiser to support the newly established community organization Fundación Los Platanitos (FUMPLA). The students met their goal of raising $1500 to cover the cost of a capacity building course. The 12-week course was taught by community educators of Centro Juan Montalvo, now Centro Bonó, in Santo Domingo.

Centro Bonó works in four strategic areas: 1) to strengthen social movements, 2) to accompany vulnerable and excluded populations, 3) to build collective capacity and encourage critical thought, and 4) to strengthen organizations and institutional sustainability. Learn more about Centro Bonó here. 

See the detailed curriculum of the capacity building course here. 

Community leader Fany Moises with her certificate of completion for participating in the capacity building course.
Community leader Fany Moises with her certificate of completion for participating in the capacity building course.

Mujeres Unidas Visits Organic Products Fair

Mujeres Unidas had the opportunity to attend organic materials fair sponsored by the National Botanical Garden in Santo Domingo in April of 2015. Vendors at the fair showcased a variety of organic and recycled products. The fair was a chance for the members of Mujeres Unidas to network with other community organizations that work in the natural and organic products space. It was also a chance to gain ideas regarding how the organic fertilizer produced as a result of the community composting project in Los Platanitos could be marketed and sold more widely . The U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, James Brewster, also attended the fair, and members of Mujeres Unidas were able to take a picture with him.

A member of Mujeres Unidas presents the US Ambassador with a brochure detailing the organization's work.
A member of Mujeres Unidas presents the US Ambassador with a brochure detailing the organization’s work.