incubating rural companies

From the beginning, Kiej has been driven by a PASSION and FASCINATION for people and for the Earth. This has been the basis for articulating supply chains in which ecosystems are restored while at the same time generating local sources of income.

With respect to rural development, the role of Kiej de los Bosques is that of a RURAL BUSINESS INCUBATOR. Resources from international organizations or the prívate sector, make it possible to provide the support and the tools necessary so that communities living in extreme poverty can both produce goods or services and have access to national and international markets.

THE INCUBATION PROCESS

The incubation process has 3 basic steps:

1. COMMUNITIES’ DREAMS: in this first stage, the people of the communities identify their dreams, both personal and for the group. Based on these dreams, the role of Kiej is determined (when dreams have to do with generation of income) as well as a community action plan’.
   
2. WHERE ARE THEY NOW, WHERE DO THEY WANT TO GO: in this process, the groups analyze where their current capacities (production, organization, markets), and then visit other groups to open their minds to new alternatives (very important for rural groups, especially women’s’ groups). Based on their dreams and exposure to other businesses, the community groups then decide what path they are going to take to market access.
   
3. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING: this allows groups to implement the work plan, based on the technical skills necessary. This includes assistance in organization, product design and development, implementing production systems, and marketing.

In Kiej, we have realized there are two different levels of the incubation process: a technical level and a critically important emotional level. Once the emotional level is addressed, the groups can learn to identify their fears and learn to celebrate their successes. Celebrating success is very important for women to start believing there are no limits to what they can accomplish.

Initially Kiej incubated two industries: forestry and fiber. Each industry is now employing 250 people and generating income, while at the same time recovering ecosystems and respecting ancestral cultures.

Kiej is now incubating 40 groups of women from the rural areas of Guatemala (1,000 women total), in which most of them have become part of a new supply chain or market, at both the national and international levels.

INCUBATION SERVICES

Kiej provides three types of incubation services:

1. Complete incubation, product development, and market access programs.
   
2. Product design and development, and market access.
   
3. Individual workshops on the different topics.

At Kiej, we have seen that the incubation system is a very important tool. The system does not just generate income throughout the supply chain and incorporate new people into these prosperity cycles; it is also a very powerful tool for HUMAN TRANSFORMATION. The pride and hope that comes from being part of a supply chain or market reminds community members of the INTRINSIC POWER they have to DETERMINE THEIR OWN FUTURE.