Ironically, the project was a collection of “new” things: new carts, crisp uniforms, and a brand-new ambition. The idea of an established cooperative with a shared roof, a legal identity, and a seat at the table was still a dream the recyclers carried in those carts. 

Three years later, that dream has an address. 

This month, the Estação Reciclar Cooperative officially opened its headquarters in the Estação neighborhood, marking a turning point for the recyclers and a historic milestone for both the neighborhood and entire municipality of Montenegro. The new headquarters will be crucial not only for strengthening the cooperative but also for improving solid waste management in the municipality. 

The Estação Reciclar headquarters is the result of a partnership that began with a shared vision for long-term stability in the Estação neighborhood. We recognized that with the right training and support, the recyclers who lived there could formalize their expertise, moving from informal labor toward a structured, member-governed social enterprise. 

What started as informal brainstorming sessions in borrowed spaces has transformed into a community-run powerhouse. Today, the impact of the cooperative reaches well beyond its members, benefiting more than 1,100 local residents, schools, and businesses through organized door-to-door collection. 

What is a cooperative? 
Cooperatives are member-owned organizations that operate for the benefit of their members. They’re built on seven core principles: democratic governance, member participation, autonomy, education, cooperation among co-ops, equity, and community concern. They help people build wealth collectively, share risks and resources, strengthen social safety nets, and build community leadership, especially for women, young people, and entrepreneurs. Learn more about our deep roots in the cooperative movement. 

The Strength of a Shared Safety Net 

For families like the Tavareses, the specialized knowledge required to sort and rescue materials remains the heart of their work, but their daily life has been transformed by the formalization of the cooperative. In the past, they raced to beat garbage trucks in the pre-dawn shadows; today, thanks to organized door-to-door collection, they work during the day with materials already separated for them by a supportive community. 

The most significant change, however, is the safety net that now surrounds these families. With the establishment of the new headquarters, their work has moved out of cramped backyards and into a professional infrastructure built to manage 780 tons of material every year. Beyond the new equipment, the project has transformed a once-solitary and informal struggle into a structured collective, backed by a R$ 6.5 million ($1.24 million USD) investment that provides 28 member families — with room for up to 60 — the formal standing and resources they need to thrive together. 

Montenegro has seen firsthand how environmental instability can upend a community, and this cooperative is a practical answer to that threat. By managing waste through a professional system and integrating the cooperative work into the circular economy, the city is ensuring that its most essential workers are no longer vulnerable, and the municipality is safer and more secure. 

The Next Chapter 

As the name implies, Projeto Reciclar is about the act of recycling, but it represents the validation of work that oftentimes goes unseen or underappreciated. None of this could be accomplished without the support of a coalition of partners like the John Deere Foundation, Sicredi Ouro Banco, Banco de Brasil Foundation, Baskrem and the Municipality of Montenegro.  

The opening of the Estação Reciclar headquarters is both a finish line and a starting point. As we move into 2026, the focus now shifts to scaling this model, securing new machinery, and ensuring that the cooperative remains a permanent engine for growth. 

Tomorrow morning, the carts will roll out again. Eloi will still prepare the vests, Florentina will still stir the coffee, and Daniel will still walk beside them. But this time, they aren’t rolling into the unknown, they are reporting to a headquarters of their own, backed by a cooperative strong enough to carry the weight of a brighter future. 

The post From Carts to a Cooperative: A Home for Montenegro’s Essential Workers  appeared first on Global Communities.

Growing Food Locally & Sustainably

We help small farmers and cooperatives grow more food in ways that protect the land and adapt to changing weather. From planting seeds to harvesting crops, we support climate-smart agriculture so families can put healthy meals on the table

Opening Doors to Business Growth and Market Opportunities

We connect farmers, including women and young people, to fair markets so they can sell their harvests, earn reliable incomes, and support their families. By backing small businesses and cooperatives, we create jobs, expand opportunities, and build stronger local economies.

Nourishing Children Through School Meals

We partner with governments and communities to deliver daily, nutritious school meals that help children learn and thrive. By sourcing foods locally and including education, water and sanitation, and nutrition into the program, we strengthen schools and set the foundation for long-term progress.

Building Resilience Through Local Leadership

We make food security part of a bigger picture — connecting it with savings groups, emergency planning, access to finance, and good local leadership. This helps communities stay strong during hard times and keep building toward a better future.

Connecting Food with Water, Health, Education & Finance

When children are nourished, they learn better. When families have secure food systems, local economies grow. That’s why our work connects farming with nutrition, clean water, literacy and school attendance, and income opportunities — creating holistic solutions that last.

Featured Program

Nourishing Futures Through School Meals

Every day, millions of children arrive at school too hungry to learn. Global Communities partners with governments, donors, and communities to change that—designing sustainable, locally sourced school meals programs that do more than fill plates.

These programs fuel learning, strengthen families, and transform local food systems by connecting farmers, teachers, and parents in a shared mission to nourish the next generation.

From climate-smart school gardens and fuel-efficient cookstoves to women-led savings groups and classroom nutrition lessons, our holistic approach ensures every meal contributes to healthier children, stronger communities, and more resilient food systems.

Learn More

The Language of Home: How UNIDOS Supports Classroom Success in Guatemala

January 23, 2026

Teaching someone how to read is rarely simple. Helping them want to read takes something even more. At the Yulchén JV elementary school in Guatemala’s Western Highlands, Marta noticed that her first- and second-grade students rarely reached for books on their own. Many of the stories available to them were not written in the languages…

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How One Community School is Raising the Bar in Southern Madagascar

December 22, 2025

Passing Madagascar’s national primary school exit exam (CEPE) is a major milestone for students across the country. For 13-year-old Yves Rosalin, it became a point of pride for his entire community. His high score earned him the title of laureate award winner, distinguishing him as the top student in Beloha district. Yves Rosalin’s achievement reflects…

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Five Reasons Why School Meals Matter

March 12, 2025

School meals are more than just a plate of food; they are the cornerstone of nurturing the next generation in places around the world where children face hunger. That’s why Global Communities is proud to implement integrated school feeding projects that help deliver essential nutrition, education and health services to over 435,000 pre- and primary…

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Throughout our trajectory, we have positively impacted the lives of more 115,000 people through programs and projects that cover Corporate Social Responsibility, Volunteering and Environment, Social and Governance (ESG), Food Security, Socioeconomic Development, Climate Resilience, and Education for Youth and Children. In addition, we carry out consulting projects for social diagnostics, helping organizations define their social strategies.

Global Communities Brazil also leads projects in Argentina and provides technical assistance to other projects from our headquarters, consolidating our presence and impact in the Global South.

Throughout our journey, we have faced many challenges, but thanks to our network of partnerships, we have achieved significant milestones over the last decade. Therefore, we recognize the importance of celebrating the trajectory of positive impact that we are building together with our staff, partners and supporters.

Join us in celebrating this trajectory of social change and learn about the key moments that marked our history of positive social impact in Brazil.

our history

Ten years, ten stories of social change

To celebrate our 10 years of operation in Brazil, we invited 10 people to share their stories of change. These narratives highlight how our paths crossed and brought us to this point, reflecting on the essence of our work.

Each year of our history is represented by a testimonial, totaling 10 inspiring accounts from staff, volunteers, community leaders, clients and partners. These stories are a tribute to everyone who has been and continues to be part of our journey.

Our sincere thanks to everyone who is part of this journey with Global Communities Brazil. Let’s continue building a more just, prosperous and equitable future together!

The post Celebrating 10 Years of Positive Impact in Brazil appeared first on Global Communities.

An estimated 800,000 trash recyclers collect 90% of Brazil’s recyclables every day. Many Brazilian cities lack formal recycling programs, so catadores (recyclers) offer a crucial public service and play an important role in protecting the environment. Still, they remain largely undervalued in their communities.

Forming a recycling cooperative is no longer a dream for 26 families in the Estação neighborhood of Montenegro. The Estação Reciclar cooperative was established to bring opportunities for a stable income and dignified livelihood for this community. 

But with the realization of their dream comes many responsibilities, one of which is establishing communication systems on behalf of the cooperative. The young people of the neighborhood have embraced this challenge and, in June 2023, participated in a workshop aimed at strengthening their skills in marketing and social media usage. The workshop was held by Global Communities Brazil with support from the John Deere Foundation to strengthen the cooperative and its brand. 

This social media project shows what their work is for the community and for the world. People are always discarding, and it’s very sad to see the lack of awareness around this subject.”

Nicole, communications workshop participant

During the series of trainings, the youth learned about various forms of communication, the importance of building a communications strategy, how to execute a communications plan and the importance of social media for advancing their brand. Staff worked with the group to learn about their main interests, existing knowledge and doubts about social networks and communication. Subsequently, through practical individual and group exercises, the group started to divide and align tasks according to their main skills and abilities, always with a view to maintaining fluid teamwork.

“Now, the recyclers’ voices are being heard, and they have more visibility. Before the Instagram profile, their work was happening but was only visible to those who already knew about it,” said Taissa, one of the workshop participants and young people who is supporting communications efforts for the Estação Reciclar cooperative. “With social media, they have more visibility and their work is valued. Normally, there’s a lot of prejudice about being a recycler. … There’s no such thing as ‘putting something away.'”

According to Maria Janete Bernardes Francisco, president of the cooperative, workshops like these are a way to open new horizons and promote skills and confidence among young people.  

“It is possible to see how much they identified with the activity; also, they began to see the potential they have. They arrived one way and left another,” reports Janete, who says that after the training, the young people immediately started to mobilize. “You can see the sparkle in their eyes, the drive and the will to continue and work on social networks.”

The future of the Estação Reciclar cooperative is bright, and their dreams are even bigger than before. They hope to establish their own headquarters and are working on a plan to seek out new partners, while continuing to build community awareness around the proper disposal of recyclable waste. They also believe in the importance of creating socio-environmental awareness in schools and offering more support for young people in the neighborhood. 

Global Communities will continue to support the execution of the cooperative’s communication plan through community mobilization and remote supervision to ensure sustainability of the group. This project is just one example of the many ways that cooperatives are making a difference in the world. By bringing people together, cooperatives can create a more prosperous and equitable future for everyone. 

Projeto Reciclar began in October 2021 to improve recyclers’ living and working conditions in the Estação district of the city of Montenegro in a partnership between Global Communities Brazil and the John Deere Brazil Foundation, as well as supporting organizations SICREDI, Poker, Biociturs, Tanac and Montenegro City Hall.

The post Recycling Cooperative in Brazil Gets a Boost from Young People’s Communication Skills appeared first on Global Communities.

In Brazil, some low-income families make ends meet through recycling. However, the process is not as simple as sorting trash into neatly labeled green bins. Rather, ‘catadores de materiais recicláveis’ are informal waste pickers who spend long, back-breaking hours scouring the streets of their urban communities for discarded materials they can turn in for a profit.

“I raised my children by collecting,” says Pedra, who has worked as a waste picker, or recycler, for the past 20 years. “I was able to send my daughter to be trained as a chemical engineer with the money I made.” 

Most municipalities in Brazil do not have official waste collection systems for recyclables, so catadores carry out a crucial public service for their communities. Even so, their labor remains largely unrecognized and undervalued. An estimated 800,000 trash recyclers collect 90 percent of Brazil’s recycled materials. 

As members of the informal economy, recyclers work independently, without any organization or structure. What they gather often ends up being stored in their houses’ courtyards, putting the health of children and adults at risk. The hours are unforgiving, and the labor is difficult. 

“Many people don’t have enough to eat and go out to collect,” says Pedra, who starts her day at 4 a.m. and returns home around 3 p.m. Carts used to carry found materials can weigh up to 600 pounds. 

In October 2021, to improve recyclers’ living and working conditions in the city of Montenegro in Rio Grande do Sul, the John Deere Brazil Foundation, Biocitrus, Poker and Tanac companies teamed up to support Projeto Reciclar (“The Recycle Project”). Global Communities designed the project in partnership with community members and is responsible for its coordination and implementation. 

“We are partners in Projeto Reciclar because we believe that we can support these families to have a more dignified life through their work,” says Alessandra Zalamena, Senior Internal Marketing Analyst at the Tanac company. “Recyclers do so much for our community that supporting this project is a way of giving back.”  

Approximately 30 families that depend on recycling to survive are participating in Projeto Reciclar, which aims to support the socioeconomic development of trash recyclers while also addressing solid waste management and the circular economy in Montenegro. 

Over the course of three phases, Global Communities and its partners are focused on organizing and training the recyclers to formally establish a cooperative they can eventually manage and sustain with public and private resources. Ultimately, the goal is to help professionalize their work and teach the recyclers how to operate in ways that will improve their health, safety and quality of life. 

As part of phase one, Global Communities engaged recyclers, partners and the community to revitalize a green space in a neighborhood where many project participants live. More than 100 residents and volunteers from partner organizations, the local school and government worked together to collect 200 bags of garbage, plant 85 tree saplings and convert 20 used tires into flower gardens. 

“Now, we all must take care of that space. What was made today is not meant to last just a day or a just a month, but rather, it is meant to last a lifetime, because it was an action for the community.”

Pedra, Projeto Reciclar participant and recycler

Since the event, the community has continued to take care of the green space by watering trees and flowers that were planted and encouraging residents to throw away their trash. Recyclers have a vested interest in maintaining it, because they were involved in mapping, planning and executing the neighborhood improvement project from the beginning. 

More recently, in partnership with the National Association of Trash Recyclers (ANCAT), the Projeto Reciclar team completed research on the production chain of recyclable materials in Montenegro. The main objective was to map where trash ends up in the city and if it is feasible to undertake a local recycling cooperative.  

As part of the study, ANCAT researchers also held a focus group with recyclers to understand what their aspirations, desires and perspectives are regarding participation in a local cooperative. The results of the research will be used to plan future workshops with the recyclers. 

Project participants also had an opportunity to visit the COOVIR cooperative in Viamão city, which serves as a model of success for trash recyclers in the region. This experience allowed them to see a structured cooperative in action and directly learn from its workers about the benefits and challenges of participating in a cooperative. Projeto Reciclar participants went back to their neighborhood full of ideas, plans and hopes for their future. 

Seu Di has worked several different jobs but always seems to find his way back to collecting recyclable waste as a livelihood.  

“I’m proud of what I do, because by collecting, I can support my family and it gives me the opportunity to keep my neighborhood, city and planet clean,” Seu Di says.  

While Seu Di is proud of his work, he knows it is still stigmatized in his community and the improvements that have already been made through the project are giving him newfound motivation.  

“Participating in Projeto Reciclar is giving new meaning to our work,” he says. “The project is providing the neighborhood’s collectors with an opportunity to change our lives for the better. I have hope our collective will succeed.”

This content is part of Future Forward, a thought leadership and storytelling series on how Global Communities is driving change to save lives, advance equity and secure strong futures. To learn more, visit globalcommunities.org/futureforward.

The post Indispensable: Recognizing & Rebranding the Work of Brazil’s Trash Recyclers appeared first on Global Communities.

Sri Lanka’s SCORE Program 

In partnership with the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) SCORE program, Global Communities is working with the governments of Sri Lanka and Maldives to strengthen Sri Lankan efforts to advance social cohesion and reconciliation.  

At the start of the pandemic, SCORE quickly began working on stand-alone programming to address the impacts of COVID-19 on Sri Lankan communities. By May 2021, SCORE had shifted their approach in response to new variants to focus on integrating efforts into specific initiatives such as supporting frontline healthcare workers, mobilizing youth to ramp up COVID-19 vaccines and improving PRC testing capacity in in Jaffna. Additionally, SCORE partnered with the Sri Lankan Red Cross Society, with help from 180 volunteers, SCORE supported government-led awareness campaigns encouraging vaccinations and adherence to social distancing guidelines while visiting health facilities.  

Egypt’s CHF Team Update

Sowing Futures’ Argentina and Brazil Programming  

Sowing Futures COVID-19 response impact in 2020: 

The John Deere Sowing Futures program supports home communities in Argentina and Brazil, working in partnership with communities to develop capacities to lead their own development.

In 2020, the pandemic brought the world to a halt, including community participation and socialization in Argentina and Brazil. Circumstances caused by the pandemic could have caused program activity to pause or even end, but instead, they served as fuel to adapt, mobilize and coordinate an overwhelming response and show of solidarity for helping those with the greatest needs.  

In Brazil, for example, Sowing Futures staff with support from the John Deere Foundation coordinated the delivery of donated food baskets to home communities. The team mobilized the program’s network of community leaders and partner organizations and coordinated with municipal governments to deliver 3,836 food baskets to 2,000 families. Sowing Futures and community volunteers logged over 1,300 hours (about 2 months) to support the organization of and delivery of food aid to those impacted most by the pandemic.  

Meanwhile, Global Communities Argentina developed a network of local partners that included John Deere Foundation, municipal governments, neighborhood groups and community-based organizations to repurpose their program activity budgets to purchase and deliver food supplies to families in need.  

Community leaders and John Deere Foundation volunteers engaged and committed to their communities during the pandemic. From April through October 2020, Sowing Futures delivered 129,728 food rations and 2,930 hygiene kits to approximately 1,146 families across Granadero Baigorria and Las Rosas. The program provided medical equipment and supplies to the Las Rosas health clinic.  

Read More:

PCI India and ‘JEEViKA Mobile Vaani’ Answer Call for Action against COVID-19 

Controlling the Spread of COVID-19 Misinformation in Guatemala  

Protecting Botswanan Girls’ Dreams in the Time of COVID-19 

Leading, Learning and Lending during COVID-19 

Expecting during the Unexpected: Pregnancy and Birth in the Time of COVID-19  

Global Communities and PCI Respond to COVID-19 

The post Reflections on Programming Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic appeared first on Global Communities.

Strengthening local health care

so it truly serves the community by putting people first, especially women, children, and those most at risk.

Enhancing the systems behind health

from clinics and supply chains to trained providers — so they can serve their communities, adapt to crisis and change, all while building the foundation for lasting well-being

Supporting frontline health workers

Ensuring frontline health workers like nurses, midwives, and community health workers have access to the skills, resources, and support they need to serve their communities with compassion and confidence.

Using open-source digital tools

real-time data and analytical approaches to support the people at the center of our health systems

Improve health policy

Linking with innovative partners, corporations, regional and local governments, and communities to improve health policy, accountability and seamless care built around individuals and families

Featured Program

INSPiRE: Integrated Health Services in West Africa

In West Africa, limited access to quality care puts women and newborns at high risk during pregnancy and the first months of life. Through the INSPiRE project — implemented with IntraHealth International and funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation — Global Communities is helping transform that reality.

The INSPiRE model integrates essential services for mothers, infants, and young children into a single visit, covering prenatal care, safe delivery, postpartum follow-up, immunizations, nutrition, and family planning. This streamlined approach reduces missed opportunities and makes care more accessible for women in remote areas.

Now active in more than 14,000 health facilities across eight countries, INSPiRE has already led to dramatic gains in family planning and well-baby visits. 

Learn More

Global Communities and Partners Launch Familia Imara to Combat Violence and Support Child Development

March 4, 2026

In a major step toward scaling evidence-based solutions for domestic safety, Global Communities officially soft-launched the Familia Imara project in Dar es Salaam in February. This transformative initiative, part of the global “What Works to Prevent Violence: Impact at Scale” (What Works 2) program, convened civil society leaders, researchers, and stakeholders to align on strategies for protecting…

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The Language of Home: How UNIDOS Supports Classroom Success in Guatemala

January 23, 2026

Teaching someone how to read is rarely simple. Helping them want to read takes something even more. At the Yulchén JV elementary school in Guatemala’s Western Highlands, Marta noticed that her first- and second-grade students rarely reached for books on their own. Many of the stories available to them were not written in the languages…

Read More about The Language of Home: How UNIDOS Supports Classroom Success in Guatemala

Digitizing Health Payments: A New Era for Community Health in Tanzania

December 8, 2025

Driving Community Health Systems Resilience Through Financial Inclusion and Smart Coordination In Tanzania, community health workers (CHWs) are often the first point of contact for care, particularly in underserved and hard-to-reach communities — monitoring child growth, preventing the spread of disease, delivering critical health education, and connecting people to lifesaving services. Their support is also…

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Context-Driven Financial Solutions

We tailor financial tools to local market realities — from cash transfers and vouchers in fragile settings to microloans and business grants in growing economies.

Economic Mobility Through Financial Inclusion

Our Financial Inclusion model supports people at every stage of their financial journey, helping them move from informal markets to formal economies.

Empowerment Through Inclusive Access

We prioritize equity by integrating savings, lending, and leadership development—especially for women, youth, and marginalized groups.

Sustainable Growth Through Market Connection

We connect businesses to financial institutions, co-create loan products, and strengthen market systems to ensure lasting, inclusive development.

Featured Program

Empowering Women, Strengthening Communities

In countries like Ethiopia, Guatemala, and Madagascar, WE groups are not only saving and lending money—they’re building resilience. Members are using their platforms to promote maternal and child health, improve sanitation, and even construct classrooms.

In Ethiopia, over 3,140 groups have been formed, with members opening bank accounts and transitioning to digital savings. In Guatemala, WE members are leading efforts to recover livelihoods through cash transfers and mentorship, while also supporting nutrition and hygiene programs for mothers and children. 

WE’s impact is both broad and deep. In Honduras, the program has supported households affected by disasters such as flooding and displacement by providing seed capital for small businesses. In Madagascar, WE groups have tackled sanitation challenges and initiated literacy training, demonstrating how women can lead community development when given the right support.

Across all regions, Global Communities has reached more than 400,000 people in over 18,700 WE groups, fostering a sense of ownership and self-reliance, encouraging women to take charge of their financial and social futures well beyond the time of our work with them.   

Learn More

From Carts to a Cooperative: A Home for Montenegro’s Essential Workers 

February 23, 2026

In 2022, the story of Projeto Reciclar sounded like the rhythmic “clack-clack” of cart wheels on pavement before dawn. We walked those streets with Eloi and Florentina Tavares, and their son, Daniel, watching them navigate the shadows of Montenegro to find what the rest of the city had cast aside. The family is part of an estimated 800,000 trash recyclers who collect 90% of Brazil’s used and…

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Inspiring Women’s Leadership and Resilience in Guatemala

March 8, 2025

What began as a small pilot project in Guatemala has flourished into a national movement, driving women’s leadership and social and economic participation through community-based savings groups.

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How Oral Information Management Tools Boost Women’s Financial Literacy and Savings in Ethiopia

December 6, 2024

By Jessica Ayala, Sr. Manager for Digital Communications Savings groups—often referred to as informal community banks—are small groups of people who save together and lend to each other from their pooled funds. Globally, as many as 500 million people belong to savings groups. Approximately 80% of members are women, and many savings groups programs are…

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Read more:
Pandemic response in Granadero Baigorria Leads to Strong Bonds and Cooperative Efforts
The team has also worked in the past months to digitize resource materials and create online video training tutorials for each of the following John Deere at School volunteer projects:
Youth Leadership
Youth Mentoring
5S Workplace Organization
Youth “Talent”
Career Guidance
Deere Brazil volunteers, with support from the Foundation and Volunteer Committees, will now be able to access the training tutorials and resource materials online. The team has also provided a number “training of trainers” to volunteer leaders to carry out these projects in coordination with the Volunteer Committees. The Indaiatuba Volunteer Committee held its first “virtual/online” session of the “Career Guidance” workshop for 16 high school students at a partner school.

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