CICE promotes its work through community participation, volunteers and community leaders. We focus our work on the methods and techniques that can help us achieve a real sustainable development. Our work is based on the respect and strengthening of our indigenous culture and consideration of the environment and its improvement. We believe that education, information, hands-on experience and thorough analysis of our society, economy and environment could direct us towards active participation

CICE has developed training programs to skill and employ workers. These training programs are based in the strengthening of indigenous traditions and values and contribute to economic self-sufficiency. CICE has also created a network of support among community projects and other non-profit organizations. These projects offer great possibilities for self-sufficiency and empowerment for groups of the rural sector that have been most negatively impacted by the current process of international investment in Mexico.

In 1998 CICE gathers all its human resources and materials to consolidate and strengthen the creation of an institution that could integrate the experience and philosophy of its participants in terms of collective participation and education in community work. CICE decided to develop concrete educational and holistic programs that could help support and strengthen the work of community projects

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CICE supports the Health Committee for Women, created in 1992. CICE also coordinated Environmental Health and Traditional Medicine Workshops with the participation of Traditional Healers of the area, health workers and environmental educators, including Estela Roman, Romulo Vera Orozco, Ofelia Hernandez, Erasto Provisor y Tomas Villanueva. Estela Roman, Director of CICE had been participating with this group long before and helped raised funds for them in the amount of $5000.00 USD

CICE established an alliance with Cooperativa "Surcos del Maiz" a tortilleria factory project. in 1997. This cooperative began in 1992. CICE developed a plan to raise funds to complete the project. In 1998 CICE raised $3000 USD for the cooperative. This funding was insufficient due to our lack of experience about both fundraising and grant writing. Finally in 1999 CICE raised enough funds to complete the electrical equipment needed for the tortilleria factory. Electrical equipment not completed until November 2000 due to obstacles faced by elevation of prices. During 2000 the cooperative "Surcos del Maiz" received environmental education and administrative training from CICE. The cooperative decided to be part of the National Network of tortillas free from Genetically Modified Maize. A plan of work has been developed and the tortillaria factory will start producing in the middle of January 2001. The first profits raised will be used for further training and community efforts. In the long run, the cooperative intends to produce home grown vegetables, chicken and corn products.

In 1998, CICE also initiated support for the cooperative "El nuevo Sol". CICE reviewed evaluated and helped develop a deer farming holistic project proposed by the cooperative. We also elaborated a proposal and initiated a fundraising campaign for the project. CICE achieved funding for initiation of the project. CICE channeled 11,000 USD. With these funds, the cooperative acquired 20 deer to begin production. Before and after obtaining the deer in July, 2000, the cooperative prepared the land and, in coordination with CICE, developed a plan of work and a market evaluation. They took basic training sessions on Internet, computers, and basic writing skills. The cooperative also networked with other rural organizations, and established alliance of support with DIAC A.C. (Equipo Pueblo, Cuernavaca, an active NGO that supports rural projects). When the cooperative initiated its first test production of Native and organic Corn, Equipo Pueblo provided the organic Fertilizer. The coordinator of the coooperative took also further training on organic production, selection of native seeds and networked with other indigenous groups that advocate land rights.

• Workshop on International Policy and Sustainable Development. This workshop gathered 24 participants from different rural and indigenous communities. Workshop focused on the experience that Estela and Erasto gathered from their participation at the CSD-8.

In Novembr 1999 CICE established and alliance with the Rethinking Tourism Project (RTP). . Through this alliance, we have learned more about the issue of Tourism at the international level and participated in an International Training Program sponsor by RTP. CICE has also learned more about fundraising, RTP helped raised $35,000 USD. CICE and RTP sponsored their first reality tour in Cuernavaca Morelos. RTP worked in the promotion and administration of the program. CICE coordinated and led the visits. Members from CICE, RTP and other participants engaged in a series of visits where we learned about issues of community life, traditions and environmental movements. Visites included: Communites of Cuentepec and Andres de la Cal and a recognized non-profit community organization.

While CICE continues providing training and consulting to both cooperatives. CICE developed, applied and participated in educational and cultural programs at the national and international level:

• January 2000 First International Forum "Las Hijas e Hijos del Maiz" 79 participants from different parts of Mexico and the US.

Coordinated by CICE

• January 2000Training Program in Tourism and Indigenous People
• April 2000 First Reality Tour in coordination with RTP
• May-June 2000 " Experiential Learning Program" In coordination with The Center For Social Concerns from the University of Notre Dame in Indiana US. Coordinated by CICE.
• June 4th-19th Culture and Social Services
• International Training Program. Sponsored by RTP. Erasto and Estela participated in the CSD-8 meeting in New York
• Traditional Medicine Program, with six participants. This program coordinated by CICE also helped provide financial support for elders of the community.
• Participation in International Conferences: Dora Diaz Garcia and Romulo Vera participated as Speakers in the an International conference for Traditional Medicine in Canada. Estela also participated at the World Conference on Museums Heritage and Cultural Tourism in Bolivia.

Our donors

MEDORA WOODS $35,000 USD

CANDACE CORSON $6,000 USD

Maize Forum 1,500 USD

Experiential Learning Program contributed wit 1,500 USD

Culture and Social Services for Phoenix participants 1,500 USD

Traditions Medicine 600 USD

Others individual programs and donors $1,250 00USD

TOTAL $47,350 USD

Administrative assistance part time $ 200 month $2,500

Coordinator for Corn Conference (two months) $ 1,200

Volunteer work for Corn Conference (three students) $ 300

Projects coordinator (part time for 10 months) $ 5,000 Computer and printer $ 2,000

Computer assistant $ 4,000.

TOTAL 15,000

Tortilleria Factory Project $12, 500 USD

COOPERATIVA EL NUEVO SOL $11,000 USD

Travel expenses to 7 lecturers $200 each $1,400

Translation and equipment for Corn conference $600

Other expenses, water, coffee, snacks, stipends $1000

Printing of Poster for Corn conference $ 300

(travel expenses to Oaxaca for three people and meals during 8 days)

50% scholarship for project director 12 months $5000

Part time administrative assistance for 10 months $2,500 Rent $5,000

Telephone (two lines) $2,500

Pago de Internet $1,300

Office materials $ 500

Electricity and wather $ 700

Computer $ 600

Web page and publicity materials $ 300

TOTAL $47,350

We want to thank our donors, participants of our programs, volunteers and interns, who believed in the educational and social project that CICE represents, for all their support in all forms.

This year CICE is engaged in new challenges while continuing to build up a network of support with other projects already developed and in need of training and education on sustainable development.

In order for CICE to continue to provide support and follow up for community projects and professional training, and continue with our educational programs, we still need financial support. CICE will also develop a fundraising plan for years to come and will carry out its programs, while supporting community projects and striving to achieve sustainability. Another objective is to participate actively in policy making for indigenous rights and culture.

An estimated budged for year 2001 is as follows:

Part time Programs director $9,000 USD

Part time community project coordinator

and consultant $ 7,000

Part time Conference and other events

Coordinator $7,000

Full time administrative assistant with

Computer skills $9,000

Internet $1,000

Transportation from and to communities for educational and training programs $4,000

Educational Materials $2,000

Newsletter publication and design of other materials $2,500

Total $44,000