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STRO - Social Trade Organisation
Social Trade Organisation, STRO ( in
Dutch STROhalm), is a Research & Development network working in the
field of micro-credit, development of small and medium enterprises and
strengthening of local economies through complementary circuits of
exchange.
How does it work? The basic tool of STRO's
methodologies is a circuit of exchange between producers and consumers.
A part of the flow of money that enters a community through the
purchasing power of these consumers, or connected governmental
agencies, is circulating several times through the exchange circuit
before it leaves the area, to bring as much unused capacities as
possible back into productivity. Some of our projects are focussing on
the very first step towards entrepreneurship, others are more
elaborated tools to optimise the outreach of the existing economic
actors. All projects result in more employment, income and
opportunities for local communities to improve their living conditions.
Where
are these innovative projects executed? Most of the pilot-projects are
concentrated in Brazil, Central-America, Asia and the Netherlands.
Why do we do this? The monetary system favours the
output in major economies. All too often it is not adapted to or even
working against development, creating unnecessary poverty. The
Information Technology is changing the nature of money, which offers
new ways to step around these contradictions and create complementary
trading systems. We visualize in the longer run worldwide, linked
networks of local exchange circuits that might offer new chances on a
decent living for everyone.
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