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Educating Youth in Cocoa Sustainability
The project aims to contribute to the protection of the environment in cocoa-growing communities in Colombia by teaching kids to appreciate and protect their surrounding ecosystem.
It is taking place in the communities of Camarga, LecheMiel and Buenos Aires in the Casanare region of Colombia.
The forests and wetlands of Casanare are home to 45% of the mammal species found in Colombia, including the largest populations of chiguiros (capybaras) and deer.
Illegal hunting and climate change make these forests and wetlands the most threatened in Colombia and put the survival of these species at risk.
Location
Villanueva, Casanare
Villanueva is a municipality in the department of Casanare with a population of 31,727. Its main economic activities are palm farming, livestock, and oil. However, the armed conflict has affected this area, and oil extraction has decreased interest in agricultural work. The region also has high rates of gender-based violence.
Luker’s “El Paraiso” farm has been in this region since 2020. The farm has 3,800 hectares, 1,125 of which are of cocoa. We work with 12 producers through direct purchase and 25 producers through our Masters of Cocoa program. The farm produces 285 tons of dry cocoa annually.
Sustainable Cocoa Initiative: Youth Education and Community Participation
We are training children in biodiversity and communication skills and graduating them as ambassadors and guardians of their ecosystem.
Thus, they will spread the message, and we will strengthen the sense of belonging and respect for the environment amongst families in the region of Casanare.
KEY FACTS
20 children
Between 7 and 14
years old are attending
the sessions
19% of trnasformed
ecosystems in the
region
Make it one of the
most environmentally
degraded region in
the country
26% of the species of
birds
and 45% of species of
mammals of the
country are in this
region
OUR DREAMERS
OUR PARTNERS
