Fundación Maquita Cushunchic (MCCH) (EN)

Since 1985, the Maquita Foundation has worked on fair trade and the social and solidarity economy to achieve a more equitable society. It originated from the grassroots ecclesial communities in southern Quito, promoting barter and trade without intermediaries by creating direct channels between the Coast and the Highlands to the southern neighborhoods of Quito. Initially, it was named Maquita Cushunchic Comercializando como Hermanos (MCCH). Its purpose is to generate sustainable changes that improve lives. It comprises 177 enterprises in the Fair Trade Network (Maquita Cushunchic, n.d.). Maquita works with 256 grassroots organizations in 15 zones and 3 regions of the country, reaching a total of 67,956 low-income individuals. Women producers: 11,288. Part of the production of the groups working with MCCH is for export (mainly cocoa, coffee, sugar, and preserves), and part is for the Ecuadorian domestic market (PROYDE, n.d.).