COOPERATIVA MÚLTIPLA FONTES DE ENGOMADEIRA

Adress: Rua São Tomé, Travessa J. Sampaio, 03, Engomadeira, Salvador-Ba
Zip Code: 41.200-219
Phone: (71) 257-7990 (Sede) Phone/fax: (71) 387-5920 (Incubadora)
CNPJ: 03.904.603/0001 - 06
E-mail: coofe@bol.com.br

MANAGEMENT TEAM:
Iraci Carvalho Bonfim - Finances
Juviniana de Sousa Nunes - Comercial
Maria da Conceição S. Bonfim - Administration

The State University of Bahia has a campus in Cabula, a neighbourhood on the outskirts of Salvador. Among the approximately 43 thousand inhabitants one finds a good sample of all the talent potencial and acute unbalances of the Brazilian IDH (Human Development Index).

Telebahia´s headquarters are located in Cabula, one of the neighbourhoods of Salvador. The telecommunication company, before the Brazilian state cos. had their investing capabilities dropping considerably, appeared as one of the communications technology leaders in the country. A Telebahia customer could when leaving home register the phone number where he was going to be that evening and the incoming calls would be diverted. Such device at the time was not available in other Brazilian regions. But another Cabula reality is that in this area reside tens of thousands of badly nourished, badly fed and badly housed people.

The ITCP - Popular Cooperatives´ Technological Incubators, under the Deanship of Extension of UNEB- Bahia State University, refusing to give in to such unbalances in society, went after measures that would increase the citizen´s income. It should, in the case of women, not be under one minimum wage.

In 1999 Uneb invited 120 residents of Cabula, mostly women, for the Cooperativism Formation Course. From it Coofe - Multiplous Cooperative of Engomadeira was born in Feb2000.

Everyone buys bread everyday, there is no market problem for Coofe. However,It was soon found out that things arent always that easy, the margins on everyday bread are thin. In spite of the hardships and thanks to the tenacity of the Engomadeira girls, Coofe has been going on for the past four years on its own feet.

Help coming from IAAF will allow replacement of "masseira", two bread distribution trolleys and a small budget to cover for prospection of new markets. Receptions and school lunches are potencial opportunities to look into.

See also:

Ampliação da Capacidade de Produção e Comercialização da COOFE.

PS.: Please request full text in English if necessary.