Playa Viva starts its commitment to the community by placing 1% of Gross Revenues into a Trust for the Community. We are initially partnering with Ocean's Foundation in creating this Trust. The trust will provide funds for community based initiatives that increase the general health, economy and well being of members of the community of Juluchuca.

Playa Viva's commitment to the community has already started. We have already conducted several organic agriculture courses for local peasant farmers. The benefit of this program include providing the peasant farmers with an economic alternative to chemical dependant agriculture, it provides them with a healtheir means of farming and provides a healthier ecosystem by eliminating toxic fungazides and herbicides from entering into the water table. The benefits also include a healtheir biomass for farmers providing stronger soil for cultivation.

These courses were a success but these same peasant farmers outlined their concerns that learning to farm organic did not generate a market for these products. So, we started a CSA – Community Supported Agricultural co-operative whereby local homeowners, B&B and hotel operators would pay to join the co-op and farmers would provide organic produce. The program has already started and has several farmers providing a variety of produce. The co-op also has a waiting list of consumers wanting to join. Thus, our community efforts have provided both a supply and demand for organic produce. This will also provide organics for consumption at Playa Viva, healthier food and landscape for all.

In addition to supporting farmers, we have identified some of the small business in the area, such as the coconut candy factories and the salt cooperative. We are providing these small industries with economic assitance through business training, access to resources and access to markets to increase their profitability and business viability.

We have also identified trash and garbage disposal as a major environmental and health issue for the community and have begun to partner with larger corporations to provide recycling programs, recycling education in schools and an economic incentive to recycle and more responsible garbage management processes. The practice of burning garbage is common in Mexico. With the addition of plastics and PET bottles to the mix, burning garbage can contribute signicant dioxins to the grownd water and air pollutants. These recycling and education programs will significantly contribute to increase health and well being of the community and ecosystem.

All of these projects take time, resources and commitment. We invite you to join us in supporting these activities, identify new activities and create your own programs for engaging and supporing the local community. As you return to Playa Viva year after year, you will enjoy the growing connection to the people and land surrounding the Playa Viva community.