Plenitud Iniciativas Ecoeducativas Inc

PLENITUD INICIATIVAS ECOEDUCATIVAS, INC. (PLENITUD) IS A NON-PROFIT EDUCATIONAL FARM AND TEACHING CENTER DEDICATED TO SERVICE, SUSTAINABILITY, AND COMMUNITY. THROUGH SERVICE, PLENTITUD FINDS THE GREATEST JOY BY GIVING EQUAL VALUE TO THE NEEDS OF OTHERS. THROUGH SUSTAINABILITY, PLENTITUD HELPS EACH OTHER BE MORE RESILIENT AND PREPARED FOR INCREASING GLOBAL CHALLENGES, WHILE MINIMIZING IMPACT ON MOTHER EARTH. AND THROUGH COMMUNITY, PLENTITUD SEES HOW MUCH STRONGER WE ARE TOGETHER, UNIFIED IN OUR SHARED PURPOSE. THROUGH PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES GROUNDED IN THIS MISSION, PLENTITUD FACILITATES THE SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND INSPIRATION TO ENCOURAGE INNER GROWTH AND TO LIVE IN HARMONY WITH OURSELVES, EACH OTHER, AND THE NATURAL WORLD.

CHILDREN AND YOUTH HOLISTIC PROGRAM PLENITUD'S CHILDREN AND YOUTH PROGRAM IS A PILLAR IN THE COMMUNITY OF LAS MARIAS WHERE SCHOOL RESOURCES AND EDUCATIONAL TOOLS ARE LIMITED. IN 2023, 519 CHILDREN AND YOUTH PARTICIPATED IN PLENITUD'S CHILDREN AND YOUTH PROGRAM, 85% OF THE 519 STUDENTS WERE BELOW THE POVERTY LINE. IN ADDITION, IN 2023 PLENITUD INVESTED 66% MORE HOURS COMPARED TO 2022 IN SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH. A TOTAL OF 1860 PLATES OF HEALTHY FOOD WERE SHARED WITH CHILDREN AND THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY. AND 5 SCHOOL GARDENS WERE BUILT AS ECO- EDUCATIONAL SPACES -YOUTH CLUB: PLENITUD FOUNDED A YOUTH CLUB, EXPLORERS OF NATURE, FOCUSSED ON MENTORSHIP FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. DURING THE CLUB, 30 EXPLORERS EXPLORED THEMES OF: AGROECOLOGY, ECOLOGICAL CONSTRUCTION, COOKING, ART,MENTAL HEALTH, AND EXPLORATION OF PROFESSIONAL CAREERS. THE YOUTH CLUB OFFERS STUDENTS IN 8TH TO 12TH GRADE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW AS ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS AND GAIN VALUABLE SKILLS AS AN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM. IN TOTAL, 20 ACTIVITIES WERE OFFERED IN 2023. -HEALTH DAY: PLENITUD STARTED THE INITIATIVE HEALTH DAY, WHERE PLENITUD STAFF AND TEACHERS COOK HEALTHY RECIPES WITH THE CHILDREN. THESE DAYS SEEK TO HELP FOSTER BETTER EATING HABITS AND A LOVE FOR COOKING WITH STUDENTS. DURING THIS MONTHLY ACTIVITY, 90-100 STUDENTS LEARN A HEALTHY RECIPE AND GET TO TRY THEIR HAND AT MAKING THE RECIPE. IN ADDITION, A HEALTHY MEAL IS SHARED WITH STUDENTS AND TEACHERS. OVER 400 PLATES OF HEALTHY FOOD WERE COOKED WITH CHILDREN AND YOUTH TO PROMOTE HEALTH AND WELLNESS. IN ADDITION, PLENITUD MANAGED A WEEKLY PARTNERSHIP WITH 4 PARTNER SCHOOLS SERVING 519 STUDENTS THAT OFFERED: - EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES LIKE TOURS OF THE PLENITUD PR EDUCATIONAL FARM. -WEEKLY HOLISTIC EDUCATION CLASSES AT OUR PARTNER SCHOOLS FOR STUDENTS FROM KINDERGARTEN TO 8TH GRADE. -DISTRIBUTION OF 280 BAGS OF FRESH PRODUCE HARVESTED FROM OUR SCHOOL GARDENS. THE CHILDREN AND YOUTH PROGRAM IS 100% FEMALE RUN BY 4 FULL AND PART TIME LOCAL, PUERTO RICAN STAFF

-OVER 1500 INDIVIDUALS WERE RECEIVED ON THE PLENITUD PR TEACHING CENTER AND FARM TO LEARN, TOUR AND HAVE A PLENITUD PR EXPERIENCE, THE MAJORITY ENJOYED A FARM TO TABLE MEAL DURING THE VISIT FEATURING FOOD FROM THE FARM. -65 VOLUNTEERS WERE RECRUITED AND MANAGED ACROSS VARIOUS AREAS OF THE ORGANIZATION -PLENITUD PR'S FUNDRAISING TEAM MAINTAINED A THRIVING "PLENITUD SUSTAINERS" PROGRAM, AT 100 SUSTAINERS IN 2023. PLENITUD SUSTAINERS DONATE TO THE ORGANIZATION MONTHLY, PROVIDING A STABLE DONATION BASE. IN RETURN, THEY RECEIVE MONTHLY BENEFITS SUCH AS RECEIVING BEHIND THE SCENES TOURS, MONTHLY OFFERINGS AND FIRST LOOKS AT PROGRAM UPDATES. -25 STAFF AND OVER 90 PROFESSIONAL SERVICES LOCAL PUERTO RICANS RECEIVED FULL AND PART TIME EMPLOYMENT THROUGH PLENITUD PR'S PROGRAMS AND OPERATIONS. IN ADDITION, PLENITUD BENEFITED FROM THE SERVICES OF 5 FULL TIME VISTA MEMBERS AND 11 AMERICORPS STATE AND NATIONAL PROGRAM MEMBERS. -500 SIEMBRA BORICUA MANUALES SOLD AND DISTRIBUTED. IN TOTAL SINCE 2020 OVER 7000 COPIES HAVE BEEN SOLD AND DISTRIBUTED. -THE AGRICULTURE MENTEE AND INCUBATOR PROGRAM THRIVED WITH 5 INCUBATEE'S RECEIVING INTENSIVE TRAINING, HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE AND FUNDING TO SUPPORT FARMERS STARTING THEIR OWN SMALL FARM. INCUBATEE'S RECEIVED OVER 20,000 IN COMPENSATION FOR PROJECTS ON THEIR FARMS THROUGH PLENITUD PR'S GRANTS. -OVER 100 INDIVIDUALS ATTENDED WORKSHOPS HELD BY PLENITUD PR ON COMPOST, HOME GARDENS AND WORM COMPOSTING. -4 PARTNER CHILDREN AND YOUTH SCHOOLS MANAGING SCHOOL GARDENS AND HOLISTIC GARDENING, AGRICULTURE, MINDFULNESS, AND YOGA CURRICULUM. 519 STUDENTS IMPACTED THROUGH THE PROGRAM. -OVER 500 STUDENTS VISITED THE FARM FOR 1 DAY IMMERSIVE WORKSHOPS ON AGRICULTURE, BOMBA (MUSIC), THEATER, AND MORE. -LAUNCHED "HEALTHY THURSDAYS" AT THE PARTNER SCHOOLS TO SHARE HEALTHY FOOD OPTIONS AND INSPIRE CREATIVE USE OF FRESH PRODUCE. -SIGNIFICANT WORK CONTINUED TO SECURE AND CREATE AN OFFICIAL PERMITTING PROCESS FOR SUPERADOBE CONSTRUCTION IN PUERTO RICO. -COMPLETED 3 MODEL BUILDING INCORPORATING NON-CONVESTIONAL MATERIALS LIKE BAMBOO, SUPERADOBE AND EARTHEN PLASTERS. THIS INCLUDED THE COMPLETION OF THE BIOCONSTRUCTION 2 SINGLE AND 1 DOUBLE APARTMENTS. -MENTORED 3 LOCAL BUILDERS IN THESE ALTERNATIVE TECHNIQUES. -11 RAINWATER MENTORES WERE TRAINED THROUGH A 6 WEEK LONG COURSE ON RAINWATER HARVESTING AND FILTRATION. THESE COMMUNITY LEADERS WENT ON TO INSTALL AND LEAD WORKSHOPS IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. --PLENITUD HOSTED 5 UNIVERSITY GROUPS FOR SERVICE LEARNING EXPERIENCES IMPACTING OVER 71 STUDENTS IN INTENSIVE WEEKLY LONG ON-FARM STAYS WHERE THE STUDENTS LEARNED THROUGH HANDS ON EXPERIENCES ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY, WATER SECURITY, LOCAL FARMING TECHNIQUES, COMMUNITY, LOCAL PUERTO RICAN CULTURE AND MORE. --25 GRADUATES OF OUR WELLNESS PROGRAM CONTINUED TO GROW TOGETHER THROUGH MEETINGS EVERY OTHER MONTH TO SHARE NUTRITIOUS VEGETARIAN RECIPES, BREATHING EXERCISES, SELF-CARE AND OTHER HOLISTIC PRACTICES. -PLENITUD CONTINUED TO RUN LA CANCHA SANA, A COMMUNITY CENTER AND RESILIENCY HUB THAT SERVES A WIDE POPULATION OF INDIVIDUAL IN WESTERN PUERTO RICO ESPECIALLY IN TIMES OF EMERGENCY. THIS CENTER USED 100% SOLAR ENERGY AND STORES OF 4,000 GALLONS OF RAIN WATER FOR LOCAL USE DURING THE NEXT EMERGENCY. -ON THE PLENITUD DEMONSTRATION FARM AND TEACHING CENTER,THE FARM CONTINUED TO SERVE AS A MODEL FOR SUSTAINABILITY IN PUERTO RICO AND BEYOND. IT IS HOME TO 12 TEAM MEMBERS AS WELL. THE FARM IS A LIVING CLASSROOM WHERE DEMONSTRATION THE APPLICATOIN OF SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT PRACTICES IN AGRICULTURE, BUILDING, WATER MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY LIVING. ON THE FARM WE RECEIVED 75% OF THE ENERGY FROM SOLAR, STORED 10.5K GALLONS OF RAIN WATER, PLANTED 107 TREES IN 2023 AND INCREASE HOUSING CAPACITY BY 44%. -PLENITUD PRIORITIED WATER SECURITY FOR ELDERS IN THE SENIOR CARE PROGRAM. IN ADDITION WE DEVELOPED A PILOT COURSE IN COLLABORATION WITH DREXEL UNIVERSITY TO TRAIN LOCAL LEADERS IN GIVING WATER SECURITY AND RAIN WATER WORKSHOPS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. IN TOTAL, 11 RAIN WATER SYSTEMS WERE INSTALLED WITH OVER 5,000 GALLONS OF WATER STORAGE POTENTIAL AND 66 WATER FILTERING KITS WERE DISTRIBUTE TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS. -5 AMERICORP VISTA SERVICE MEMBERS RECEIVED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND MENTORING WHILE SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREAS OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD & KITCHEN SYSTEMS, ARCHITECTURE, DESIGN, AND SERVICE LEARNING. -4,420 HOT VEGETARIAN MEALS WERE DELIVERED TO VULNERABLE ELDERS IN THE LAS MARIAS COMMUNITY. -25 LOCAL INDIVIDUALS FROM PUERTO RICO WERE OFFERED STABLE, REWARDING EMPLOYMENT AT PLENITUD -250 BOXES OF LOCAL FRESH VEGETABLES AND FRUITS WERE DELIVERED TO ELDERS VALUED AT 40-70/BOX. -HOSTED 6 MONTHLY AGRO-TOURISM TOURS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. THIS INCLUDES A FULL TOUR OF THE DEMONSTRATION FARM, A FARM TO TABLE MEAL AND RIVER VISIT.

AGROECOLOGICAL AGRICULTURE, EDUCATION + INCUBATOR PROGRAM AGRICULTURE IS THE OLDEST AND MOST ESTABLISHED PROGRAM AT PLENITUD PR. IN 2023, THE PROGRAM ACHIEVED SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS AND OUTCOMES IN THE AREAS OF FOOD SECURITY, EDUCATION, AND SUPPORT FOR LOCAL FARMERS THROUGH OUR INCUBATOR PROGRAM. IN ADDITION, OVER 1000 INDIVIDUALS DIRECTLY BENEFITED FROM THE AGRICULTURE PROGRAM. FOOD SECURITY: THE AGRICULTURE TEAM INCREASED ON FARM FOOD AND WATER SECURITY THROUGH TWO MAIN PROJECTS: -INCREASING THE QUANTITY OF FOOD PRODUCTION THROUGH INTENSIVE FARMING TECHNIQUES AND INCREASING THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF VEGETABLE SALES FOR LOCAL FARMERS. 2021 = 4,000 LBS OF LOCAL VEGETABLES GROWN 2023= 8,000 POUNDS LOCAL FOOD PRODUCED ON A LITTLE OVER 1 ACRE OF LAND -PLANTED 107 LEGUMINOUS AND FRUIT BEARING TREES -THROUGH THE SALES OF THE PRODUCE, 90 LOCAL FAMILIES WEEKLY RECEIVED FRESH, LOCAL PRODUCE IN A FOOD DESERT WHERE FRESH PRODUCE IS DIFFICULT TO ACCESS. FARM DEVELOPMENT: -AS CLIMATE CHANGE CONTINUES TO CHANGE THE CONSISTENCY OF RAIN DURING BOTH THE RAINY AND DRY SEASONS, WATER SECURITY IS MORE ESSENTIAL THAN EVER FOR FARMERS. THROUGH THE INSTALLATION OF A RIVER IRRIGATION SYSTEM, ON FARM WATER SECURITY WAS INCREASED GREATLY. INSTALLING THE RIVER IRRIGATION SYSTEM WAS A COMPLEX AND COMPREHENSIVE PROCESS POSSIBLE THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF MANY EXPERTS AND RESOURCES, AND IN EARLY 2023, THE FIRST WATER ARRIVED FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE FARM TO THE TOP OF THE FARM VIA THE NEW IRRIGATION SYSTEM. IN ADDITION, THE TEAM DEVELOPED 1 POND FOR IRRIGATION AND WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE ALMOST 100% AUTOMATED IRRIGATION ACROSS THE ENTIRE FARM. -ROTATIONAL PASTURES WERE INSTALLED ON ABOUT 40% OF THE PLENITUD DEMONSTRATION FARM PLENITUD INCUBATOR PROGRAM / FARMER OUTREACH ACCOMPLISHED: -PLENITUD INCUBATED 5 FARMERS SUPPORTING INFRASTRUCTURE AND MENTORSHIP AND SUPPORTED IN THEIR MARKETING AND SALES THROUGH OUR ONLINE FOOD HUB (PLACITAAGRICOLA.COM). THESE LOCAL FARMERS UTILIZED THE PLENITUD SALES, MARKETING, DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL TO SELL PRODUCE WEEKLY AND INCREASE THEIR ECONOMIC VIABILITY AS FARMERS. IN ADDITION MANY PRODUCTION, SALES, MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION TOOLS WERE CREATED, ENHANCED, AND SHARED WITH THE LOCAL FARMER ALLIANCE. INCUBATOR PARTNERS RECEIVED OVER 20,000 IN INCUBATOR FUNDS TO SUPPORT THEIR FARM THROUGH PLENITUD PR GRANTS -PLENITUD CONTINUED TO DEVELOP ITS EDUCATIONAL MODEL AND FORMALIZE THE COURSES, WORKSHOPS AND CONTENT INTO A AGRICULTURE EDUCATIONAL LIBRARY FOR BEGINNING AND ADVANCED FARMERS AND INDIVIDUALS: -OFFERING A 5 MONTH COURSE TO 25 BEGINNER FARMERS IN COLLABORATION WITH JOSCO BRAVO. -CREATED 9 FARM PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT TOOLS -CREATED 20 EDUCATIONAL INFO SHEETS THAT ARE A RESOURCE FOR INCUBATOR FARMERS, -WROTE 5 EDUCATIONAL BLOGS -OFFERED 6 AGROTOURISM TOURS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC -GREW THE AGRICULTURE TEAM TO 6 FULL TIME LOCAL PUERTO RICAN STAFF AND VISTA MEMBERS -OFFERED REGULAR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TEAM BUILDING FOR ALL STAFF -REGULAR ENGAGEMENT IN SOCIAL MEDIA AND SHARING OF EDUCATIONAL CONTENT TO OVER 20,000 FOLLOWERS ON A WEEKLY BASIS. . -OVER 600 SIEMBRA BORICUA MANUALES SOLD OF THE NEWLY LAUNCHED SECOND ADDITION WHICH INCLUDES A CHAPTER ON SOIL HEALTH AND WATER MANAGEMENT. THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE 7000 COPIES SOLD SINCE SALES BEGAN IN 2020.

AMO MIS ABUS SENIOR CARE PROGRAM THIS YEAR, THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF BANCO DE ALIMENTOS, FUNDACION TRIPLE S, AND PLENITUD SUSTAINERS, PLENITUD PR WAS ABLE TO NOT ONLY CONTINUE SERVING BETWEEN 50-60 VULNERABLE ELDERS IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY BUT ALSO INCREASED THE FREQUENCY AND DEPTH OF SERVICES PROVIDED. PLENITUD DOUBLED THE DELIVERY OF FARM TO TABLE 3 COURSE MEALS TO 2 TIMES A WEEK. IN ADDITION, PLENITUD LAUNCHED REGULAR COMPANIONSHIP VISITS TO ELDERS MEMBERS HOMES AND OFFERED REGULAR WORKSHOPS. AS THE RURAL POPULATION IN LAS MARIAS CONTINUES TO AGE AND THE EPIDEMIC OF LONELINESS RISES, THESE SERVICES ARE MORE AND MORE ESSENTIAL. IN 2023, PLENITUD PR: -DOUBLED OUR SENIOR CARE WEEKLY FARM-TO-TABLE MEAL DELIVERIES AND INTRODUCED "COMPANIONSHIP VISITS" TO EACH OF OUR SENIORS, BRINGING LOVING CARE TO THEM IN THEIR HOMES. -THIS SERVICE IS OFFERED TO 50-60 ELDERS WEEKLY PREPARATION AND DELIVERY OF HEALTHY MEALS PREPARED FROM SCRATCH AND MADE WITH ALMOST ALL LOCAL INGREDIENTS THAT WERE SOURCED FROM AGRO-ECOLOGICAL FARMERS FROM THE WESTERN REGION OF PUERTO RICO AS WELL AS FROM OUR TEACHING AND PRODUCTION FARM. -PLENITUD OFFERED COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS ON ART, MEDICINAL PLANTS, MUSIC AND INTERGENERATIONAL ACTIVITIES LIKE TREE PLANTING. -IN TOTAL 4,420 MEALS WERE SHARED WITH ELDERS, OVER 400 HOURS OF COMPANIONSHIP WITH LOCAL ELDERS, AND 150,000 INVESTED IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE PURCHASE OF HEALTHY INGREDIENTS AND LOCAL STAFF SALARIES. -SOURCE, PREP AND DELIVER 210 BOXES OF FRESH VEGETABLES, ROOT CROPS AND LOCAL PRODUCTS FOR 50-60 VULNERABLE ELDERS EACH VALUED IN AN AVERAGE OF 40-70. - ASSURED THAT 95% OF ELDERS HAVE WATER SECURITY THROUGH RAINWATER CISTERNS, INCLUDING THE INSTALLATION OF 11 ADDITIONAL CISTERNS AT ELDERS HOMES. -THE (4) CHEFS AND SENIOR CARE STAFF OF THE PROGRAM WERE TRAINED WITH NUTRITIONAL AND HEALTHY COOKING KNOWLEDGE FROM EXPERTS IN THE FIELD. THEY WERE ALSO OFFERED TRAINING IN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND ELDER CARE.