About

Aux 4 Coins du Monde is an international solidarity association (ASI) focused on Latin America since 1984.

It celebrated 40 years of activity in 2024.

Its statutory purpose rests essentially on two pillars:

– fair trade with Latin American partners;

– funding, monitoring and implementing development programmes in the Andean countries (Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador).

Registered office and administrative and technical premises: 10 rue du Montcel, 42350 La Talaudière. Tel.: +33 4 77 33 69 66.

Contact: contact@a4cmonde.org

– 81 Grande Rue de la Croix-Rousse, Lyon 4th arr. – rue de l’Église, La Talaudière (new shop in 2024) – 31 rue Gambetta, Saint-Étienne – online shop: www.a4cm.org

As an association carrying out economic activity, A4CM is subject to all business taxes. It is part of the social and solidarity economy (SSE).

Its accounts are certified by the Exco-Loire firm in Saint-Étienne, which produces the final income statement and balance sheet.

A4CM has around 120 members: volunteers, donors and full members. It is governed by a board of 13 to 15 members, renewed every three years.

Chair: Mr Jean-Paul Bostbarge Treasurer: Mr Jean-Pierre Rival Secretary: Ms Delphine Durantel, Latin America mission officer Director general: Mr François Durantel

Board members: Ms Brigitte Blanc, Mr Michel Blanc, Ms Marie-Pierre Familiare, Ms Marie-Jo Vourzay, Ms Monique Vavre, Ms Roselyne Marrion-Vasseur, Mr Patrick Vasseur, Ms Stéphanie Navarro, Mr Gilbert Liagre.

Photo: a general meeting of Aux 4 Coins du Monde in front of the La Talaudière premises.

These are – either multi-year programmes (such as the “Sicaya dykes” from 1993 to 2011) that commit substantial resources over time and span several areas of intervention (construction, farmer training, education, etc.) – or short programmes or micro-projects focused on specific initiatives.

For several years, A4CM has supported pupils and teachers in various schools and colleges on the Bolivian altiplano, one of the poorest regions of Bolivia: school and teaching materials, clothing, backpacks, etc.

For example,

in 2016, A4CM supported 14 educational units bringing together 417 pupils (320 at initial and primary level, and 97 at secondary level) in the Arque region.

Programmes are monitored and coordinated by our permanent representative in Bolivia, Juan Ordoñez, who is responsible for managing projects and specific actions such as farmer training.

Each general meeting allocates the surplus (after tax), with the balance devoted to development programmes. In addition, the full amount of monthly contributions from « socios » and all one-off donations contribute to this funding.

– rehabilitation of sheep herds in the high-altitude Pongo region of Bolivia (introduction of breeding rams, construction of corrals, herd vaccination, etc.) – Sicaya dykes in the department of Cochabamba (Bolivia) until 2013: • Construction of dykes and recovery of farmland • Development of recovered land and management of harvests • Technical, economic and legal training for farmers • This programme involved 13 cooperatives in the Arque river valley and 329 families, i.e. 1,845 people. For the K’ara K’ara cooperative alone, 95 hectares were recovered and cultivated. • 30 October 2005: inauguration of the Cuatro Rincones training centre in K’ara K’ara.

Short programmes or micro-projects: – Qosko Maki bakery in Cusco, Peru (training and protection of young people) – improvements to the play area around the library in the « los Jasmines » shantytown in Lima, Peru – economic and social autonomy for women (urbanised Aymara women, Amparampi association / El Alto).

In Peru: – in Lima, organisation of three distributions of 25,000 to 50,000 new garments donated by Mikava, plus two radioscopy units and medicines to fight the cholera epidemic. – installation of water reservoirs in southern Lima, in San Juan de la Libertad and San Juan de Miraflores. – construction of a large library and a community canteen in the Comas district of Lima.

In Bolivia: – collaboration with ORSTOM and CRIN (immuno-nutritional rehabilitation centre for severely malnourished children — third degree). – financial support for CRIN’s material operations: children’s stay, food, medical tests, medicines and part of salaries for the Bolivian team (children’s hospital in Cochabamba / Bolivia). – construction and equipping of the « Caousou » health post in Lekepampa + training of indigenous nurses by the Bolivian Red Cross, – creation of the school in Lekepampa (Bolivia) – construction or renovation of seven other schools and two colleges on the Bolivian Altiplano, plus facilities and provision of school equipment (furniture, supplies, maps, sports equipment, etc.).

This work is based on the criteria defined by the French Fair Trade Platform (PFCE), in essence:

– improving producers’ living and working conditions;

– partnership founded on dialogue, transparency and respect, seeking fairer trading relationships;

– protection of fundamental human rights (food, housing, health, education) and informing consumers.

Drawing on decades of experience and knowledge of Latin America, A4CM has built its own supply chains over the years with no intermediary between its supplier partners and the consumer.

– independent folk artisans and artists – family workshops – cooperatives – social reintegration workshops

– clay and pottery: Chulucanas, Ayacucho – wool: alpaca, llama, sheep – cotton: summer clothing – painted wood: furniture, chests – glass: reverse painting — trays, mirrors – leather: bags, paintings on hide – jewellery: Alvaro’s creations, costume jewellery with natural stones – Panama hats from Cuenca (Ecuador) – musical instruments: flutes, sikus, tarkas, charango, etc.

– countries: Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Colombia, Chile – territories: • popular urban areas, pueblos jóvenes, • rural areas, valley or high-altitude villages

– 50% deposit on order (so workshops can buy raw materials and meet day-to-day needs during production) – remaining 50% on delivery: every item delivered is paid for (A4CM bears commercial risk, transport and packaging) – responsibility: each artisan packs their own products and is paid accordingly – sustainability: fair trade work is long-term

– quality control carried out in the country of origin – creativity: materials, themes, new designs – honouring contracts: matching orders and deliveries, meeting deadlines – improving living conditions and working methods

Workshops are visited at least once a year by the President of A4CM, who leads missions in Latin America. She is often joined by association members who report back on their experience, including at general meetings.