A Taste of Social Enterprise is Costa Rica

Getting a lesson in the free trade, organic coffee production process, AKA shade growing on Monteverde Coffee Tour.

A Taste of Social Enterprise is Costa Rica A Taste of Social Enterprise is Costa Rica

Roasting coffee the traditional way

Roasting coffee the traditional way Roasting coffee the traditional way

A view of Rancho Margot high atop the mountain

A view of Rancho Margot high atop the mountain A view of Rancho Margot high atop the mountain

Owner of Rancho Margot, Juan Sostheim, explains his vision with the help of a friend.

Owner of Rancho Margot, Juan Sostheim, explains his vision with the help of a friend. Owner of Rancho Margot, Juan Sostheim, explains his vision with the help of a friend.

Free-range pigs enjoying their organic lunch and the view

Free-range pigs enjoying their organic lunch and the view Free-range pigs enjoying their organic lunch and the view

Two workers on Rancho Margot watching over their organic produce.

Two workers on Rancho Margot watching over their organic produce. Two workers on Rancho Margot watching over their organic produce.

A glimpse at social entrepreneurial initiatives in Costa Rica

Photos from Monteverde Coffee, a coffee plantation co-op in Monteverde, and Rancho Margot, a self-sustaining ranch and farm outside La Fortuna. Having recently announced plans to be the first carbon neutral country by 2021, it's no surprise that this small country boasts a significant number of sustainable initiatives with social entrepreneurs leading the way. Stay tuned for the August issue of SEE Change, where we will delve deeper into these inspirational stories, exploring the impact of social entrepreneurship and innovation worldwide.

 

Photographs by Elisa Birnbaum

Aboriginal Social Enterprise in Action

Aboriginal artists are creating new opportunities for themselves through a gallery opening in Vancouver in 2011. The Urban Aboriginal Art Gallery will enable artists to display and sell their works in a fair trade environment, while also providing a much-needed production space for those who may not have their own studio. The artists in this photo essay are part of the Looking Forward Looking Back initiative that helped make this gallery a reality. Though they come from different backgrounds and have different artistic styles, they all credit their art as a means of survival - both physical and spiritual.

 

Photographs by Nadine Morris
SEE Change Magazine: Multimedia