The Amazon
Giving back to the Amazon with Rudolph Care
At Rudolph Care, it is important for us to give back to the source of our core ingredient, the açai berry. That’s why we annually support the community in Nazarezinho do Meruú in the Amazon, where 150 families have been harvesting the berries for over 10 years.
Since 2019, Rudolph Care has donated at least 100,000 DKK from the sale of Açai Facial Oil 30 ml to projects in the area. On this page, you can find all the information you need about past and future projects.
Projects from 2019 to now
Over the years, we have initiated various projects in close collaboration with the local community in Nazarezinho do Meruú. Here, you can find a timeline of these initiatives, as well as an overview of the results from our latest Impact Report on the projects in the area.
2019
In 2019, we initiated the first sustainable project in Nazarezinho do Meruú. The project involved establishing a plant nursery and community garden connected to the local school EMEIF São Sebastião, aimed at improving nutrition at the school and teaching students composting and vegetable cultivation, with great respect for preserving traditional, local cultivation varieties and methods. When construction was set to begin in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic struck, putting the project on hold.
2020
In 2020, Rudolph Care donated DKK 150,000 in full from the sale of Açai Facial Oil to the Red Cross for their work in Brazil combating COVID-19. The support included emergency aid distribution, sanitation, rapid COVID-19 testing, and training a national team in psychosocial support and risk and disaster management.
2021 and 2022
2021 was still marked by COVID-19, and efforts were focused on planning the renovation of the local school, EMEIF São Sebastião. In spring 2022, when the rainy season ended, the village residents began work. The school's roof was repaired, eliminating rainy day closures so all 160 students can now attend school regardless of weather conditions. Installation of fans in classrooms reduced temperatures from approximately 36 degrees to 28 degrees Celsius. The renovation also included establishing a new preschool classroom, enrolling 28 children. Finally, the school is equipped with a water filtration tank providing clean, cold water for the children.
2023
The plant nursery and community garden project, paused in 2020 due to COVID-19, is being built near the local school, EMEIF São Sebastião, in June 2023. The garden has the capacity to produce up to 10,000 açaí seedlings and approximately 1,000 vegetables annually. Production of açaí seedlings will contribute to environmental restoration in areas where açaí is harvested. The kitchen garden is integrated into school activities, allowing children to plant vegetable seeds and açaí seedlings and learn about soil conservation. The produce from the kitchen garden is used as a supplement to school meals.
In 2023, we committed to allocating funds to finance the construction of a multi sports court, as requested by the local community. This will provide the population access to community events and health initiatives, as well as a venue for physical education classes. Due to the project's scope, construction will span multiple years.
2024
In 2024, the 100,000 DKK from the sales of Açai Facial Oil 30 ml will continue to fund the construction of the multi sports court, and we look forward to following the project's progress in the coming year. Additionally, Rudolph Care donates 4% of its profits to social projects – and in 2024, the majority of this amount will also go toward funding the multi sports court.
Impact Report 2023
In 2023, an Impact Report was created, mapping the effects of our first projects in the Amazon, namely the plant nursery and community garden project and the renovation of the local school.
Renovation of the local school:
- The local school, EMEIF São Sebastião, had approximately 20 closure days per year due to heavy rain. After the renovation of the school's roof, this problem has been solved, and our goal of no closure days due to rain has been realized.
- The average temperature for the school has decreased from 36 degrees Celsius to 28. This improvement is due to newly purchased fans and better air exchange.
- As a result of the renovation, the school has been able to establish a class for early childhood education for 28 children and ensure that they have all the necessary supplies, such as desks, notebooks, pencils, etc.
- A filtration system and drinking water fountain have been installed at the school to ensure clean drinking water for the children during school hours.
Plant nursery and community garden:
- Ensures fresh vegetables for the students' lunch.
- Has inspired five of the students' families to establish their own vegetable garden.
- Has built a capacity to produce 10,000 açaí seedlings annually.
- Has provided six people the opportunity to teach the children about the specific soil conditions in the Amazon and the challenges that come with cultivating the land.