Local Partner: I Hagan Famalao’an Guåhan (IHFG), Inc.
Project aims to strengthen CHamoru women’s economic capacity by empowering them to engage entrepreneurial projects to reduce poverty. The project has three objectives: (1) create a virtual marketplace as a cooperative that will sell CHamoru women’s products under the I Hagan Famalao’an Guåhan (IHFG) brand/label; (2) create a virtual, non-cash/bartering site for the exchange of goods and services fashioned after traditional chenchule’ (reciprocity) practices; and (3) provide microlending start-up loans to CHamoru women whose products are rooted in traditional livelihood practices. The Fund will support initiatives to preserve and develop sacred landscapes, traditional crafts and practices, and improve legal instruments for indigenous people’s development.
Completion of a functional, organizational website with general information about the organization and membership, the virtual marketplace, and a tab for the non-cash barteringof goods and services.Ten signed contracts with CHamoru women indicating the pricing for the fair-trade purchase of their sustainable goods to be sold on the IHFG virtual marketplace. Six women were contracted directly and nearly 10 more were included books written by various CHamoru women. Media posts on traditional media interviews or news stories; and five contacts with USA-based CHamoru groups. Eight media links are itemized in the reportfolder. Ten target marketing efforts to include reaching out to the farmer’s cooperative, the Guam Council on the Arts and Humanities Agency, and the CHamoru Land Trust residentFive loan recipients will register with the Guam SBDC and sign-up for one-on-one consultations and workshop sessions.
