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Support local, self-regulated and integrated fisheries businesses led by First Nations communities

The River Select Fisheries Cooperative was incorporated in 2014 to provide market access to sustainable Indigenous salmon fisheries. The Cooperative’s members are not just as fishers, but fishing communities. Their fisheries respect measures around selective fishing and quality control and by doing so, place the needs of rivers and the life they hold first.

What we do

Community Evolution (CE) nurtures and empowers communities to own their own businesses. These community-owned businesses help drive their community’s development.

CE partners with local communities to facilitate them in developing and sustaining their businesses. We thus strengthen their capacity-building in the domains of governance, organization and operations, community cohesiveness and identity, work-related skill sets, culture and environment.

We are an inclusive, participatory charity organization that presently operates in Canada, Nepal, Bolivia and Ecuador.

To manifest our vision of a world transformed by communities that achieve their full potential, we provide funding for:

1. A local community facilitator
2. Education that supports the community’s learning needs
3. Seed capital for their business

Community Evolution has already supported eight community-owned and -operated organizations in Canada, Bolivia and Ecuador with more than 370 members.

We are a volunteer-managed and -operated charity. 100% of the funds we raise are funneled directly into the communities we assist. Donor dollars do not go to our own administration.

Learn more

Where we work

Bolivia

In Bolivia, we partner with community enterprises in the area of sustainable food production. The majority of the associations’ members are indigenous women working the land to grow mostly vegetables.

Canada

Our partners in Canada dedicate their attention to growing food that is safe and healthy. Besides working to protect the land, they create income-generating opportunities for local communities.

Ecuador

In Ecuador, our partners are involved in both sustainable food production and community tourism. This approach diversifies their source of income and improves livelihoods and economic prosperity.

Nepal

In Nepal, we partner with The Didi Foundation.
Their community development work with women empowers the women through education and through micro-finance. Stronger women create stronger communities.

How to get involved

There are several ways to help Community Evolution support all these incredible community enterprises.

What’s new

Female farmers and entrepreneurs provide diverse food baskets for delivery around La Paz, Bolivia
Female farmers and entrepreneurs provide diverse food baskets for delivery around La Paz, Bolivia

During the pandemic, Community Evolution’s partner AFLOPHA in Bolivia is providing food and income for their community. AFLOPHA receives orders and provides delivery of fresh vegetables from their greenhouses directly and safely to customers in La Paz via WhatsApp. The group has also partnered with other producers to sell and deliver diverse and nutritious food baskets.

The community that makes up the Cowichan Valley Co-operative Marketplace
The community that makes up the Cowichan Valley Co-operative Marketplace

The Cow-Op is made up of local farmers, food processors and community partners. This non-profit farmer and food processor co-operative brings together members and consumers through an online marketplace of locally grown and harvested food, featuring a variety of produce, meats, eggs, fruit, baking and more all grown or produced throughout the Cowichan Region.

Meet Caroline Fric, a farmer braving the pandemic
Meet Caroline Fric, a farmer braving the pandemic

Growing food is an act of love. That’s what we notice when we hear Caroline Fric describe her work. Caroline is the co-owner of Golden Greens Farm, a two-acre land in the Cowichan Valley. Growing...