Vacation Day Enrichment

Compañía Agropromotora del Cotopaxi - (AGROCOEX S.A.) is a well-established Ecuadorian company specializing in floriculture, particularly the cultivation and export of fresh-cut flowers. Agrocoex S.A. p rimarily works with full-time agricultural workers employed directly on its flower farms, rather than independent or smallholder farmers. These farms employ over 250 full-time workers, many of whom are involved in greenhouse cultivation, harvesting, and post-harvest processing of roses. Agrocoex S.A. emphasizes environmentally responsible farming, including strict protocols for chemical use and greenhouse safety. To support their workers that have young and teenage children or grandchildren, the Fair Trade Committee invested $2,682 USD in providing vacation courses, or days of activity for 41 children to help keep them safe, supervised and enriched through socialization and movement. The alternative was a concern for parents and the company. It was important for the children avoid long days alone, lack of movement and excessive screen time. This project allowed the farm's workers to not have this worry and concern throughout the day of either having to miss work or their children's well-being. On a larger scale, project such as these also help build camaraderie, connection, trust within the workplace. It benefits all that there is a dedication to the next generation to keep them engaged and safe and also aware of their families' place of work.