Alma is a young, indigenous mother. She has worked with Puente, a non-profit dedicated to improving the lives of rural Oaxacan families through amaranth, for seven years. In this picture she carries her young daughter during an amaranth cooking workshop.

Amaranth is a unique grain with the potential to spark resilience and growth in poverty stricken rural areas. This highly nutritious grain was eradicated during the Spanish conquest due to its religious significance for indigenous peoples.

By reclaiming amaranth, mothers like Alma can improve their children’s nutrition and strengthen their family economy. Alma now runs a microenterprise making products with amaranth, generating additional income for her family. Puente puts rural communities first, recognizing that an integral approach will help families and communities reach their fullest potential.

During 2014, Puente facilitated a participatory strategic planning process to define our goals and vision for the next five years. During the process we asked participants what their vision for the future looked like. Alma said, “In five years, I imagine that the microenterprise would be bigger and we could even hire employees. People here would be really happy to have the option to work without leaving the village. We believe we can progress to the day when we’ll be able to offer work to other women here… and maybe even men!”

Here's how your gift will make a difference in helping Puente and Oaxacan communities to reach our new five-year goals:

-$25 Monthly training for three local promoters to strengthen local leadership and deepen our community work.

-$50 Technical workshop for two farmers to increase the production of amaranth to 1,800 acres.

-$100 Summer nutrition camp for three children to achieve the goal of 100% of participants replace processed grains with amaranth in their diet and eat amaranth 2-3 times a week.

-$600 (or $50/month) Hands on training to support a microenterprise group, similar to Yukunama, to increase the number of microenterprises (like Alma’s) from 12 to 38 groups.

In order to thrive, we need grassroots support, and are asking families to help us raise $25,000 by January 31st for the Amaranth: Seeds of Change Campaign to support these five-year goals.

Help us kickstart this campaign today by raising $1,000 on #GivingTuesday!

PUENTE A LA SALUD COMUNITARIA

Puente a la Salud Comunitaria contributes to food sovereignty and advances the health and well-being of rural communities in Mexico by promoting the cultivation, consumption, and commercialization of amaranth.

Fundraising Campaigns

Stronger Together - Más Fuertes Juntos

Amaranth: Seeds of Change