Ilo Center for Education, Organization, and Promotion of Development

Ilo Center for Education, Organization, and Promotion of Development (CEOPIlo) is a multifaceted social development effort begun in 1976 by the Society of Jesus in Ilo, Peru.

History

After the 1950s the port city of Ilo saw a surge in migrants due to the growth of Southern Peru Copper Corporation in the area, whose operations caused critical ecological problems. CEOP Ilo was founded in 1976 in cooperation with the ministry of education as a Jesuit technical school, especially for the migrants drawn by the copper mining. The incentive for founding the school was the Jesuit preferential option for the poor.

In the 1980s two key civil organizations, Labor and CEOP Ilo, began working with urban marginalized communities encouraging local participation in the form of popular assemblies and neighborhood committees and, in concert with the municipal government, a Sustainable Development Plan (PDS). Institutional reform was needed, which led to assisting labor unions, forming leaders, and protecting the environment especially from the devastation wrought by the mining industry. With the return to democracy in the 1980s the need to form leaders at all levels had become even more urgent. Also self-employment and credit unions gave more opportunities to the poor.

In 1994 the need was perceived to offer more formal education so that the poor could participate as citizens in their own, integral development, especially through popular organizations. Activities increased throughout the 1990s with even greater popular participation in government and, by 1999, CEOP Ilo was included in innovative participatory budgeting discussions (PB) as well as in discussions on infrastructure and in negotiations with the copper company. By 2005, AbOUT 90% of the investment budget was subject to PB discussion. As an early example of PB in Peru, CEOP's efforts "became a model for the New Organic Municipality Laws of Peru for the implementation of PB", with noted improvement in governance and in the environment of Ilo. CEOP has also been signatory to international conventions on the environment.

CEOP was involved from the start of Regional Participatory Education Councils (COPARE) in Peru, which provide for citizen input into public education policy. It has helped prepare civil society leaders to implement public policy for the benefit of the common people. It is credited with fostering inclusive public policy to provide safe and supportive schools in the region of Moquegua. It has also participated in the modernization of small businesses.

Activities

Programs and projects (with termination days for program completion)

•  Strengthening associative initiatives and their insertion in the regional market: 2018, talks and publications.
•  Young promoters of peace and citizen participation: 2019, activities that train youth to be agents of peace.
•  Project to promote value chains in tourism: 2017, assisted small artisans who appeal to tourists.
•  Promotion and competitiveness of mypes: 2016, workshop for area-specific local micro enterprises.
•  Validation of the DEL plan: 2015, educate on comparative advantage in economic development efforts.
•  Student mediation: 2016, train students who would be mediators to forestall violence in their schools.
•  Educators network: ongoing, use of meetings and materials to promote good educational practices.
•  Renewable energy: ongoing, for students & teachers; conferences & essay contests on renewable energy.
•  Education and citizenship: 2015, in-service program for teachers focused on gender equality.

Services and Finances: talks and workshops are held to initiate people into these programs.

•  Training in business management: focuses on issues of budgeting and savings in a financial culture.
•  Solidarity credits for women entrepreneurs: explains low interest loans to street vendors.
•  Individual credits for microenterprise: these are up to 3-year loans to found fixed businesses.
•  Credits for women in situations of risk: these assist women who are in more difficult situations.
•  Credits for associative projects: this helps subsidize larger projects for those with past business experience.

Networks and alliances

CEOP ILO collaborates with Jesuit social centers internationally, and with the following groups in Peru.

Apostolic Jesuit Regional Platform (COURAGE): this joins together eight Jesuit institutions in the Tacna and Moquegua regions, for education and social promotion.

Network of Social Centers of the Society of Jesus (SEPSI): this joins six Jesuit centers of social justice research, training, and action throughout the country.

Governance, Decentralization, and Regional Development Consortium: this unites the efforts of CEOP ILO with Jesus the Worker Agro-industrial Training Center (CCAIJO)

Savings and Credit Strengthening Cooperative: this associates 39 entities for the development of small and micro-enterprises (EDPYMES) and microcredit NGOs throughout the country. 

Studies and reports

CEOP ILO regularly publishes studies and reports in the areas of education, economic development, good governance, and renewable energy.