Economic Development & Business Consulting
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
GLED views the indigenous rural poor as our major area of focus. The rural poor are among Mexico’s most poverty stricken, but with emigration to the cities, they become the urban poor very quickly. The rural poor feed illegal immigration to the United States as well. Over the centuries, very little has changed for the poor in rural areas of Chiapas, and conditions are not improving. GLED believes in addressing the poverty of the rural poor as our second highest priority behind supporting church planting and leadership training.
The basis of GLED’s community economic development philosophy is an integrated approach of GLED training and business consulting programs in order to assist indigenous people groups in remote economically challenged communities. GLED recruits and trains local pastors and evangelists to implement micro business projects as village corn grinder mills, individual consumer vented stove systems and potable water system manufacturing and installations.
GLED believes that improvement in living conditions and providing economic changes within a community are essential in order for Church planters and evangelist to earn the right to share the Gospel message; GLED, therefore, provides economic development to promote the opportunity and individual initiative of local pastors and evangelists.
GLED empowers local indigenous leaders by assisting them to establish businesses to support their families while improving the living conditions of those in their community. This service is provided free of charge to these leaders. GLED will work directly with indigenous groups and will work closely with and provide products at cost to other non-government organizations (NGOs) who serve indigent communities in emerging global economies. This activity was begun in May 2006 with less than 1% of resources spent in this area. The activity is planned to expand and when fully realized, approximately 20% of GLED time and operating resources will be spent on this purpose. To support GLED’s initiatives, we have established an in country Non Government Organization for the purpose of building and delivering life enrichment products at cost to indigent communities.
GLED products will improve safety and provide a healthier living environment for indigenous people living in impoverished conditions.
GLED programs include:
• Creation of marketing outlets for the products of Chiapas.
• Development of humanitarian products such as stoves and water filtration systems to be manufactured within the Chiapas region.
• Distribution of these humanitarian products within the rural Chiapas region.
