Community Evolution

06/20/2025

🎣 Community-Driven Fisheries. Indigenous-Led Innovation.

Across British Columbia, Indigenous communities are leading a growing movement to build strong, sustainable fisheries rooted in local knowledge and tradition.

With support from Community Evolution, Authentic Indigenous Seafood (formerly the River Select Fisheries Co-operative) managed to connect more than fifty Indigenous communities through shared values, smart business models, and a deep connection to their waters. Together, they are:

💪🏽 Strengthening community-based fishing enterprises across BC and beyond

🪄Creating new seafood brands like Tsu-ma-uss Seafoods, Seafoam Seafoods, Talok Fisheries, and Gitanyow Fisheries

📈 Supporting shared infrastructure, training, and data tools for long-term growth

🙏🏼 Building inclusive, transparent business models that reflect community priorities

🐟 Bringing high-quality, sustainably harvested seafood to broader markets

At its heart, their story is about economic self-determination - communities working together to shape their economic futures - in this case, by blending tradition with innovation to support local food systems, livelihoods, and ecosystems.

05/20/2025

CE is BOOTS ON THE GROUND

Some action shots of Community Evolution founder Paul Zysman visiting the El ultimo Inca production facility in rural 🇪🇨 🇪🇨

CE is proud to reach across continents, providing training, seed funding, and other support to help communities unlock their economic self-determination 💪🏾

03/31/2025

🌱 From Solidarity to Self-Sufficiency: A Tale of Two Communities 🤝

In the high-altitude regions of 🇧🇴 🇧🇴, two Indigenous women-led cooperatives — AFLOPHA in Achocalla and AIMPACHA in Chacoma — have forged more than just a partnership. They've built a relationship rooted in mutual trust, shared learning, and a collective vision of economic independence.

CE provided support — including embedded facilitation, infrastructure seed funding, and focused training — to two nearby communities in rural Bolivia, and these investments sparked a partnership across distance - these communities have become powerful mirrors for one another.

🌿 AFLOPHA is an association of Aymara women in Achocalla who run a thriving greenhouse vegetable operation. With CE’s support, they built four greenhouses and a workshop, dramatically boosting productivity and local livelihoods.

🥚 AIMPACHA, based in Chacoma, focuses on growing vegetables and producing eggs. CE’s investment helped them build greenhouses, improve pest control, and expand into egg production, enhancing both nutrition and income for their members.

📈 The results speak volumes:

• Profitable every year of operations
• Created deep bonds of collaboration between two communities
• Generated 167 local sources of employment

These aren’t just numbers, they are lives - lives of families in the region, forever improved thanks to the co-operative model.

CE’s is proud of the work of these communities, and together, we invest in inter-community relationships, in women’s leadership, and in the right of communities to decide their economic destinies.

When empowered communities rise, they rise together. 🚀

03/19/2025

🎃 From Harvest to Innovation: The Rise of Surcos del Sol 🎃

In the heart of Sigchos, 🇪🇨 🇪🇨, a group of dedicated farmers turned challenge into opportunity. What began as a struggle against low market prices for pumpkins has now blossomed into a thriving community-led agro-industrial enterprise, thanks to the determination of the Surcos del Sol Association and the support of Community Evolution!

🔹 From Market Struggles to Innovation

Founded in 2019, just months before the global pandemic, Surcos del Sol started with 12 members determined to improve their livelihoods. With CE’s guidance, they saw a new path forward—not just selling pumpkins, but transforming them into high-value products.

🔸 Growth Through Community Collaboration

Through a CE-supported training program in 2021, the association expanded to 23 active members, learning to develop processed pumpkin derivatives and diversify their production with dried grains.

🌍 A Vision for 2030

With a mission to become a nationally recognized, socially and environmentally responsible company, Surcos del Sol is now working toward establishing its own agro-industrial plant, ensuring food safety, quality, and long-term economic stability for community members.

This is what community empowerment can look like thanks to the power of the cooperative model! Surcos del Sol is not just producing food—they are pioneering community-driven development in Ecuador, proving that collaboration, education, and innovation can and does transform local economies.

Empowering communities in Bolivia, Canada, Ecuador, and Nepal

02/18/2025

🍷 From 1,000 to 300,000 Bottles: Quinticusig’s Unstoppable Growth 🍷

Eight years ago, the people of Quinticusig, Ecuador set out on a dream - one that would transform their community, their economy, and their future. Thanks to their dedication and hard work, the support of Community Evolution (CE), and key partnerships, that dream has become a thriving reality.

🔹 A Legacy of Growth�

The production of wine in Quinticusig has skyrocketed from just 1,000 bottles per year to an incredible 300,000+ bottles annually. With the community’s unwavering determination, this once-small venture has blossomed into a powerhouse of local industry, proving the impact of cooperative enterprise.

Now, the entire community is uniting to build a stronger tourism economy, ensuring that everyone involved shares in the prosperity. As a testament to the community’s success, a second winery, La Perla de Los Andes, has been created by the remaining two-thirds of the Quinticusig community that hadn’t participated in the original winery project.

✨ This is what community-driven change looks like. We are beyond proud of what Quinticusig has accomplished, and we can’t wait to see what’s next!

Empowering communities in Bolivia, Canada, Ecuador, and Nepal

02/06/2025

📸 Community Evolution Founder Paul Zysman being welcomed by the community of Sigchos in beautiful 🇪🇨 🇪🇨 during a recent site visit.

🚀 CE’s small investment of $36,000 helped this community unlock their economic potential!

📈 One of CE's partners in Sigchos is the El ultimo Inca wines and preserves co-operative, which has seen a meteoric rise from humble beginnings to its industrial facility, now $2.4M in total sales, a $500,000 Green Prize win, and a community forever transformed for the better.

This new economic activity is fueling:

🍇 The expansion of the winery to a larger, state-of-the-art production facility.

🏨 A new tourist hotel and restaurant, which will bring more visitors and economic opportunities to the region.

We couldn't be more proud of our colleagues and partners in Sigchos!

Together, we can help communities unlock their full potential through the development of co-ops. 💪🏾💪🏾

01/25/2025

01/25/2025

01/25/2025

01/21/2025

🌍 Community Evolution: A Year of Impact in 2024 🌍

As 2025 gets into full swing, we at Community Evolution (CE) reflect on a year of remarkable achievements, made possible by the dedication of communities and the generosity of our supporters.

Across the globe, CE has worked hand-in-hand with local leaders to build resilient enterprises, empower individuals, and strengthen communities.

🔹 Empowering Women and Entrepreneurs:

• DIDI Loan program in Nepal had a great year, with women-led enterprises being supported through microloans! This enables entrepreneurs to expand their businesses and achieve financial independence. With a 100% repayment rate for matured loans, the initiative is a shining example of economic empowerment and a responsible investment.

• The Craft House in Bolivia: Artisans flourished with new training programs and innovative product launches, bridging local creativity with global markets.

🔸 Advancing Agriculture and Food Security:

• The Choritora Project in Bolivia: Farmers gained access to organic farming workshops and modern storage facilities, transforming their ability to grow and sell leafy vegetables.

• Pumpkin Processing in Ecuador: Local farmers harnessed CE’s support to process pumpkins into value-added products like flours and juices, boosting incomes and creating jobs.

🔹 Sustainable Practices and Environmental Impact:

• Communities in Bolivia and Ecuador embraced eco-friendly farming methods, integrating techniques like Bocashi composting and pest management to cultivate healthier crops and protect natural resources.

• Collaborative initiatives ensured reforestation and biodiversity conservation while creating economic opportunities for local residents.

🔸 Fostering Economic Growth:

• By supporting communities to organize around their shared economic goals, folks are able gain access to new markets, generate steady income streams, and make the most of their situations.

🌱 Looking Ahead:�As we step into 2025, CE is committed to deepening its impact and expanding its support to more communities worldwide.
Together, we’re building a brighter, more cooperative future.

Empowering communities in Bolivia, Canada, Ecuador, and Nepal

01/05/2025

💰 Empowering Local Entrepreneurs: The DIDI Loan Success Story 💰

Community Evolution (CE) is proud to highlight the incredible impact of the The Didi Foundation's soft loans initiative, which has been transforming lives and fueling dreams in . By providing small, accessible loans to entrepreneurs, particularly female business owners, this project is empowering communities and creating lasting change.

💪🏾 Empowering Entrepreneurs:�
DIDI Loans has supported numerous local businesses, from hardware and grocery stores to sewing ventures and dairy shops. Each entrepreneur has received the resources they need to invest in their dreams and achieve financial independence.

• One recipient used her loan to expand her hardware business. Despite being overlooked by traditional lending institutions, she consistently met her payments on time.

• Another recipient successfully repaid her loan early, demonstrating the initiative's tangible success in empowering her sewing business.

📈 Remarkable Results:
• Over a dozen loans issued to date, totaling millions in Nepali Rupees.
• 100% repayment rates for loans that have matured in 2022 and 2023, showcasing the trust and dedication of borrowers.
• Projects funded include grocery stores, clothing businesses, and even a liquor shop, reflecting the diverse needs of the community.

🌱 Driving Local Growth:
�The DIDI Loans initiative is more than just financial support—it’s about fostering community resilience and enabling women to unlock their entrepreneurial potential!

Through CE’s guidance and funding, local entrepreneurs are overcoming challenges and building brighter futures.

Empowering communities in Bolivia, Canada, Ecuador, and Nepal