The Associação de Credito Popular (ACP) is an institution of micro-financing, that initiated its activities in 1999 and have been active with renewable energy projects since 2002, in partnership with Winrock International. Since 2005 Project Gaia has conducted pilot studies where various families make use of a small alcohol stove, called the CleanCook stove, replacing firewood stoves. The Associação de Credito Popular finances the social development of the population in diverse agricultural regions in the State of Minas Gerais. In this project ACP would be the financial organization backing the families in need of CleanCook stove.
Contact Information
The Associação de Credito Popular works with rural families throughout the state of Minas Gerias, in Brazil. The communities are all agricultural and the families make their living off the land. Their standard of living and unstable income are both very low. Our project is currently state wide, working with communities in northern, southern, and central regions of the state, but the communities are very small and intimate.
Our Experience And Interest In The Four PCIA Central Focus Areas
We offer financing for families in order to give them a better standard of living and a chance to lead productive lives.
Through our efforts, the families will have more financial stability along with more free time to take part in more wage earning ventures. We offer small loans to both individuals and small groups. Our clients include productive workers who have a low income, and low professional qualifications, who have a productive, personal activity to pursue. Clients can use the loans as capital to make improvements to their business, get equipment such as the CleanCook stove, and make repairs. All of our clients are also required to take a Business Management course where they can learn how to make decisions and face business challenges.
Working in conjunction with Project Gaia, we offer the families an opportunity to live beyond the world of non-renewable, polluting fuel for cooking needs.
The health benefits of using pure burning ethanol over firewood are well known. Respiratory problems and death caused from indoor air pollution will no longer be an issue.
Relevant Publications or Studies
None noted
Our Contribution to the Partnership
As a PCIA partner in Brazil, ACP would offer support in the battle against indoor air pollution. We conduct research into the sources and solutions of IAP, run workshops, and attend seminars, spreading the awareness of problems associated with indoor air pollution.
