Fundazucar: Development goes further than the sugar mill

In 1995, the industry reached production levels which meant 29 million quintals, last year, more than the whole Central American region itself, according to sources of the sugar producing sector.

More than 60 thousand Guatemalans work in the sugar industry. Nevertheless, projects developed by its so called social branch intend to make it possible for the whole population of the South Coast, and not only for the sectors workers, to take advantage of these programs in order to improve there living standards.

The efforts of community development and internal changes in Pantaleón and Concepción sugar mills, the two biggest ones of the industry, served as an example for Fundazucar. A fund raised by all mills made it possible for the organization to start operation.

While Fundazucar had only four persons in its payroll and financed four projects at a cost of 4.8 million quetzals in 1995, under an administration of 87 people, it coordinated 27 projects at a cost of 9.3 million quetzals (about 1.5 million dollars).

"Fundazucar works from the door out", Maria Silvia de Sajché says, when explaining that while each mill makes internal efforts, the Foundation intends to bring back to the population part of the wealth the South Coast's rich soil has brought to the whole sector, without thinking about this contribution as simple welfare.

Fundazucar bases its philosophy in five principles: solidarity, subsidiary actions, decentralization, deconcentration and participation. All projects backed by the organization must include them. Nevertheless, the Foundation doesn't intend to propose projects which only satisfy temporary needs, but supports permanent products for the future.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL

"To provoke changes that make it possible for the population to share equal opportunities to make a living" is what Fundazucar is looking forward to through strategic planning. To stop soliciting and instead offering a hand to work" is the attitude each program manager expects for the people.

To become an efficient development role model that can be copied by other productive sectors is the mission and vision of Fundazucar. Its projects have covered five main action areas: education, health, housing, municipal development and community support in the area.

THE STRATEGY: A SOLID GUILD

Sugar agro-industry is, according to Fundazucar's assistant director, one of the best organized sectors in the country. The producers guild of one of the most important consumer products has had the need to create scale economy and look for more representatives abroad, in order to be competitive world wide.