In 1999, Dr.
Marcela Benitez founded RESPONDE, an organization dedicated to promoting social
and economic opportunities in rural communities in crisis. Based in Argentina, RESPONDE aims to take
advantage of existing resources within villages to help them develop their
entrepreneurial spirit.
“During the nineties, when I was an academic researcher; I travelled throughout Argentina and visited over 100 rural villages. I found that people in these rural areas were migrating from their hometowns looking for a better future,” explained Marcela. “Unfortunately, when they migrate, they are often marginalized, because cities are not prepared to receive the constant flow of new people. “
Isolation and lack of access to social and
economic opportunities, has challenged many rural communities in Argentina over
the last 40 years. The lack of basic infrastructure, education and technology
are all problems that impede their development. In addition, rural villagers struggle
with how to transform their natural resources into economic projects and appreciate
the importance of preserving nature.
The result is that they remain in poverty and their ecosystem is in a
constant process of degradation.
“Responde promotes
the social and economic development of rural villages in Argentina, with its
sights set on the country's territorial imbalances,” explains Marcela. “We conduct research and generate new
information, drive projects that utilize their existing resources and reveal to
the world their unknown natural and cultural potential. “
In the first 10
years, between 2000 and 2010 Responde helped 70 villages through a variety of
programmes including:
“Self-Sustaining Villages”
promotes the self-provision and proper food-supply of small rural communities
based on the natural resources that they already have. It also encourages the
production of food required by the market that generates some profit, allowing
the growers to overcome starvation and poverty.
“Tourism in Rural Villages” promotes local economic development, favoring the participation of
village residents in activities such bed and breakfast and home stays,
restaurants, tourism, sightseeing and the sale of local artisan products.
“WINGS” focuses on the
creation of Socio-Economic-Cultural Extension Centers that include libraries, museums,
virtual classrooms, cultural, economic and social activity areas and cafés.
“Teaching our Skills”
promotes the meeting in rural villages between those who are eager to share
their knowledge and those who need it.
At the end of 2010
Responde decided to focus on closing the Argentinian government´s existing gap
of information regarding the situation, resources and sustainability of rural
villages in Argentina.
“The lack of detailed information about rural villages is a frequent problem
common to the majority of Latin American countries,” says Marcela. “How can
governments set up a public land policy to benefit regional and local economies
if they don’t have any idea about the existing natural and human resources that
the communities already have?”
As a result in 2011 Responde launched a new
project called “The Argentina that
Appears” which consists of mapping rural villages in order to generate a
social, economic and environmental report that would help the government implement
public policies. In addition, to help leverage the work taking place in small
towns and their communities, RESPONDE is building an online portal of villages,
where each rural village can showcase its history, culture, infrastructure,
natural resources, handcrafts, products, services, touristic attractions,
statistical information, obstacles for its development and potential for
growth.
“This new project has allowed us to reach 28
villages in 18 months,” explains Marcela. “The portal provides a platform for
these villages to connect with government, corporations and educators allowing them
to take into account the progress that has been made. Hopefully from there a
positive and productive process will begin.”
RESPONDE plans to
scale the project to 500 rural villages by 2021.
For more
information on RESPONDE please visit www.responde.org.ar
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