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Cooperative Estrella Polar

In 2013 we visited the Cooperative Estrella Polar for the first time as representatives of the UGK Foundation, shortly after the group was affiliated with Fedecocagua R.L. Knowing that during the armed conflict the army had massacred 96 men in the village church, grandparents, parents and children, we asked if they could tell us what had happened on that fatal day, March 23, 1982. It was shocking to hear the mothers and wives of the victims and see the place where, by order of the soldiers, the farmers of a nearby farm had to bury the dead, like animals.
 
On the other hand, we were impressed with how much encouragement the 32 members of the pre-cooperative were preparing the legal registration of their group and with how much confidence they spoke to us about a better future thanks to the services of Fedecocagua, with more members and more production. They explained to us that two groups formed the Cooperative, one from the Estrella Polar village and the other from the Mirador village, located 6.5 kilometers away. We learned that they had to bring the bags of coffee with mules, as there was only one path in very poor condition.

In the years that followed, various outside sponsors became interested in the history of the Polar Star Cooperative and wanted to help these people out. This allowed us to execute various projects with associates. In 2014, with the support of the mayor of Chajul, we facilitated the construction of a classroom for toddlers and improved the municipal laundry. In 2015 all the members got a water tank - something very important in towns where water is sometimes lacking. Finally, in 2017 the winery with an office, a visitor's room, bathrooms and a shower could be inaugurated: the Cooperative had realized its dream: to have a headquarters, a home.

In all these years the membership grew. While in 2013 the 32 members delivered 300 quintals of organic parchment coffee to Fedecocagua, in 2019 140 associates delivered 4,227 quintals to their Federation, always of organic parchment coffee. Several producers expanded and renovated their plantations, the administration also modernized ... but the problem of access to the Mirador village remained.

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