Online Database of Complementary Currencies Worldwide

ACV/Compartienda
Community Barter System

Main Page | List Local Exchange Systems | Update Registration
Administrator Information
Name José Luis Gutiérrez Lozano
E-mail Address josgutie@aahora.org
Position / Job Title Chairman
First Language Spanish
Second Language English
Organization Fundación Ahora, AC
Organization Type Non-Government Organization (Registered)
URL Address www.aahora.org/
Exchange System Information
Status Operating
Year the System was Started 2004
Community Virtual interaction amomg various communities
City / Urban Area Aguascalientes (main office)
Country Mexico
E-mail Address aahora@aahora.org
URL Address www.aahora.org/compartiendas.php
Medium of Exchange Smart Card
Unit of Value Units of National Currency Equivalent
Valuation Convertible for Commodity or Resource
Cost-Recovery Mechanism
  1. FREE - No Charge
Source of Funding External Funding
Purpose for Establishing System All reasons
Size of Membership 80
Population of Area Served by System 750,000
Estimated Yearly Operating Budget Internal Currency: 15,000
National Currency: 50,000 MXN (4,646 USD)
Yearly Volume of Trade Internal Currency: 150,000
National Currency: 150,000 MXN (13,937 USD)
Main Goods and Services Traded
  1. Processed food
  2. shoes, clothes, artcrafts
  3. Other basic goods
Additional Information

The system was initiated as a trading excercise during the 3rd. National Solidarity Socioeconomics Workshop (ECOSOL) with the participation of 215 attendants representing various communities and organizations from all around the country, in june 2004.
All attendants received their personalized Smart Card with 300 value points pre-credited on the card's Chip. This credit, fiat money, was to be used during the workshop to barter among all attendants' communities and organizations. So we experienced with the exchange of organic coffee and other produce, arts and crafts, textiles, clothing and fabrics, from all over the country.
Originally, the supply and list of suppliers was posted in www.redesolidaria.br/mexico (now it is a part of the ACV system and is available only to members through the official site www.aahora.org)
So, we started to operate barter transactions over internet by debiting/crediting cards on line. The clearing process (between the buyers' and the sellers' cards) was made through a PC located in the market place.
In 2006 the system evolved to a Multi-Region Pilot Program in which several solidarian producers could find a way of selling/excahanging therir products through a chain of solidarity stores called "COMPARTIENDA". These stores, currently 7, have internet access to a web page to consult the supply and can buy from every producer using CC. These stores are located: 1 in urban area of the city of Aguascalientes, 1 in a semi-urban area in the same city, 4 in the urban area of Mexico City, and 1 in a semi urban area in the boundaries of Mexico City and the sate of Puebla. Each store serves a community of 10-15 producers and 500-2000 inhabitants. The farthest community stores lie ca.550 Km apart from each other, while the nearest, 10 Km. The name of the currency is given by every community in order to respect their cultural and bio-regional values. While for administrative purposes we use the name of ECOSOLES for the currency.
These stores have internet access to a web page to consult the supply (www.aahora.org/sistema_ahora.html) and can trade from every producer using CC.
The producers/suppliers can trade through the solidarity store "Compartienda" in their own neighbourhood, so all producers are given an account, but those unable to use it at home directly trust "Compartienda" to do it for them.

See the description and download the Power Point presentarion from:
www.aahora.org/compartiendas.php
Perhaps if you take a look into our Power Point presentation and the history and desscription, in PDF format, you can give us more useful ideas:
http://www.aahora.org/doctos/ComparTiendas.pps
http://www.aahora.org/doctos/ProyectoACVUPreis%202007_SP.pdf
(both in spanish)

PROJEKT ACV-COMPARTIENDAS Auf DEUTSCH:
http://www.aahora.org/doctos/ProjektACV_U_Preis2007.pdf

Other Documents:
Carta Compromiso ECOSOL:
http://www.aahora.org/doctos/CARTA_COMPROMISO_EcoSol-Agosto2006.pdf

Decálogo de la Economía Solidaria (Ten Commandments of the Solidarity Economics):
http://www.aahora.org/doctos/Decalogo_Economia_Solidaria.pdf

Propuesta Moneda Social Mundial (World Social Currency Proposal):
http://www.aahora.org/doctos/ACI-MonedaSociaMundial_FSM2005.pdf
Images Gallery
ACS and Barter Smart Cards-Mexico

ACS and Barter Smart Cards-Mexico
These are the new Smart Cards used in the ACS/Compartiendas Project since 2006. ACS stands for Articulación Comercial Virtual (Virtual Trade Articulation). This card is used to operate within the network of COMPARTIENDAS (community stores) in various locations in Mexico.
CC Compartiendas

CC Compartiendas
In order to trade and barter outside the Compartiendas, members of the network can "cash" the CC balance in their Smart Cards.
These cheques are signed in every transaction by both parties.
CC Compartiendas

CC Compartiendas
Ecosol is a generic name used by Fundación Ahora, the central administrator of the system. ECOSOL is the acronym of "Economía Solidaria México".
As the COMPARTIENDA network does not belong to a certain region, every local Compartienda and it´s members (producers, buyers and store administration) use the name they decide for their complementary currency according to the culture of their bio-region.
TCS Barter Smart Card-México

TCS Barter Smart Card-México
This were the first Barter Smart Cards used for the TCS (Tienda Celular Solidaria/Solidarity Cellular Store) Pilot Project in 2004 by the Red Solidaria de Trueque México

ACS Point-of-Sale

ACS Point-of-Sale
Every Compartienda can make off-line operations with Smart Cards as well as with ECOSOLES Cheques. In order to trade within the ACS system, every Compartienda has also internet access.
COMPARTIENDA Community Store - Aguascalientes, Mexico

COMPARTIENDA Community Store - Aguascalientes, Mexico

Compartienda Coyoacan, Mexico

Compartienda Coyoacan, Mexico
Compartienda in Coyoacan, as seen from outside. This is also a store specialized in organic and ecological products
Compartienda Iztapalapa, Mexico

Compartienda Iztapalapa, Mexico
Community store COMPARTIENDA in Iztapalapa, México. This store is run by the cooperative INPROARTE of Xochimilco-Iztapalapa
Compartienda Iztapalapa, Mexico -inside

Compartienda Iztapalapa, Mexico -inside
Inside the Compartienda in Iztapalapa, run by cooperativa Inproarte
Compartienda Tlalpan, Mexico

Compartienda Tlalpan, Mexico
Compartienda in Tlalpan, run by cooperatives in San Pedro Martir, Tlalpan
Compartienda Tlalpan, Mexico -Inside-

Compartienda Tlalpan, Mexico -Inside-
Inside of cooperative Compartienda in Tlalpan
Compartiendas Course

Compartiendas Course
Solidarian Producers learning how to use the on line barter system and CC Smart Cards in a public school in the city of Aguascalientes. Course given by Fundación Ahora's CEO José Luis Gutiérrez
Compartiendas Smart Cards-Mexico

Compartiendas Smart Cards-Mexico
To be used in the network of COMPARTIENDAS
Logo Compartienda/to use in every community store

Logo Compartienda/to use in every community store
This logo is meant to be an icon to be identified by everyone visiting a member store.

Products offered by Compartienda Aguascalientes CQ (1)

Products offered by Compartienda Aguascalientes CQ (1)
Honey and honey derivatives offered by Compartienda CasaQueso in Aguascalientes
Products offered by Compartienda Aguascalientes CQ (1)

Products offered by Compartienda Aguascalientes CQ (1)
Mayonnaise, pickeled vegetables and quail eggs offered by Compartienda CasaQueso in urban area of Aguascalientes. All products are made by artisan hands.
Products offered by Compartienda Aguascalientes El Llano (1)

Products offered by Compartienda Aguascalientes El Llano (1)
Making brooms and mops in El Llano, Aguascalientes
Products offered by Compartienda Inproarte (1)

Products offered by Compartienda Inproarte (1)
Natural and organic food ofered by Compartienda Inproarte. Olive oil, marmelades made of traditional fruits, honey, shampoo, soap, vinegar, quail eggs...
Products offered by Compartienda Macondo (1)

Products offered by Compartienda Macondo (1)
Bags and Shoes made by solidarity producers and offered by Macondo Compartienda.
Products offered by Compartienda Macondo (2)

Products offered by Compartienda Macondo (2)
Traditional candy made of amaranto, honey, and wheat.
Products offered by Compartienda Macondo (3)

Products offered by Compartienda Macondo (3)
Children's Clothes made of natural fabrics
Products offered by Compartienda Macondo (4)

Products offered by Compartienda Macondo (4)
Lamps and other different articles made of ixtle (natural fiber) and wood.
Compartienda Promotional Flyer

Compartienda Promotional Flyer
This is the promotional flyer printed by Fundacion Ahora to promote the Compartiendas. Several thousands were given away near the compartiendas in order to invite al types of customers to know the products and the concepts of barter and responsible consumption of natural, organic and artisan manufactured products offered by the Compartiendas.
Promotional Card-Compartiendas

Promotional Card-Compartiendas
In order to inform Compartiendas' customers about the system and how they can adhere to the network, we printed several of these postal size cards.
Similar Systems
Name of System Country Community Membership Matching
Mitrapaap Thailand Chatujak 20
unknown Japan unknown --
Circle of Gifts Sweden Internet users 25
Brod€inheit Germany Altenkirchen 47
Invercargill Barter & Exchange Systems New Zealand Southland 30
Solidário Portugal São Brás de Alportel --

Designed by Stephen DeMeulenaere of the Strohalm Foundation
and Programmed by Albert Fløde
Comments may be sent to stephen_dem@yahoo.com