Entrants's Name: Helene Vilbert

Country: Argentina

Field: Economic Development

Innovation - idea: Creating skills enhancing jobs for rural and urban women thereby protecting and teaching the use of native medicinal and aromatic plants sustainably.

Innovation - why it is pioneering: The project has a dual purpose: saving endangered species and creating sustainable jobs. At present there are 20 endangered species. Scientists are investigating these plants. It is pioneering as we are manufacturing soaps and essences utilising herbs and medicinal plants. Rural and urban women utilize medicinal plants daily in their homes, however they harvest these plants by uprooting them.

Strategy - how it achieves impact: Together with the infra-structure of the Botanical Garden J Culaciati, we are creating a high-quality product at fair trade prices for the women who are working on the project as well assisting the Botanical Garden which is part of the BGCI www.bgci.org www.bgci.org , Investing in Nature Programme, www.hsbc.com . We have contacts in Spain, the USA and nationally to sell the product. We collect species and teach how to manufacture soaps, as well as the marketing and sales processes. Together with a group of scientists of the University of Buenos Aires, The Factulty of Agronomy who are investigating these plants.

Strategy - growth plans: We have a work area which is approximately 200 square Kilometres. This implies that we will be able to offer women in distant areas to give courses and implement the project in their areas. Thus we have to replicate the project and create an umbrella organisation which will take care of the needs and utilize the strengths and weaknesses of these women.

Impact to date: Our product has been chosen by the Government of Córdoba to represent our district at an international fair to be held from the 1st March - 4th March 2006. This gives us prestige and the opportunity to market the soaps and make contact with possible customers.

Future impact: The project would have entrenched the need to protect the endangered species, creating a product which is sustainable in all aspects. The co-creators of the product will be capable of continuing the project and become self-sufficient. The project will be duplicated in as many rual communities as possible.

Sustainability - resource base: We do not have financial resources, what we do have is the initiative of a group of women who have contributed individual donations and support to the project. We have the assistance and support of the Botanical Garden, and the scientists at the Faculty of Agronomy who support the project. We have sold the product well and have reinvested the sales into the project. There is a Spanish NGO who is interested in importing our product however they need huge quantities of soap and that would mean the purchase of large quantities of material.

Major challenge for the field: The major obstacle is how to get people to work together with a futuristic vision of a better tomorrow and that it is on-going. The majority of Argentians are individualists. The government gives a monthly hand-out of 150.00 pesos which makes the unemployed population lethargic to empower themselves. It is often difficult to over-come official red-tape which hampers and is often disheartening.

Contact Information:

Name: Helene Vilbert
Country: Argentina
Website: www.argentinapeopleandnature.org