The reality of working poor in the Rio Doce region of Brazil is heartbreaking. Nearly 75% of people living in Aimorés earn minimum wage, which is equivalent to $175 per month. The average farmer earns approximately $270/year per hectare by grazing cattle. Instituto Terra is committed to reducing rural poverty through sustainable employment, education, and quality of life improvement projects in surrounding communities.

Sustainable Employment

At Instituto Terra, every single worker earns above minimum wage. The employees who earn less than $500/month receive a monthly Basket of Basics filled with rice, flour, cheese, bread.

In addition, the Institute encourages the development of small businesses and co-ops among community members who produce goods to sell for income.  One group of women who had been coming to the Institute to share their expertise on crocheting, making corn husk dolls, and other items developed the essential business and marketing skills to start a co-op.  They have since opened a store in Aimorés to sell their homemade goods.

Instituto Terra is developing partnerships with local landowners to reforest a portion of their land while still grazing cattle on the remaining land. By reforesting their land, local farmers can increase the productivity of their land and restore the water supply on their land.

Education

Instituto Terra is also committed to reducing rural poverty through numerous educational programs including the Advanced Center and the Terrinhas Project.

Instituto Terra also invites local school teachers to come for one week each month to learn how to incorporate environmental education into their classes.

Quality of Life

Waste Management

Local pride in Instituto Terra has in turn helped encourage Aimorés’ town council to change how it handles waste:  today, 98% of the town’s sewage water is treated and returned clean to the river, while 90% of its garbage is collected and treated.

Elementary School Children Influence Garbage Policy

A group of local Terrinhas children, after learning about the impact of litter and exposed garbage at Instituto Terra, had their entire elementary school classroom write a letter to their town Mayor asking him to address the garbage issue and related health concerns.  They included photos of garbage dumped on the edge of town.  As a result, the town has implemented new policies regarding waste management!