Ecco International supports the building and start-up of income-generating units/camps in local communities. The camps are used as cultural classrooms, hosting international students of culture from universities worldwide, and by offering cultural modules led by traditional masters.

The Cultural camps are handed over to the local communities and a customer/host relationship is established between ECCO-students of culture and the local communities.This is securing a flow of resources both from the African continent to Europe and from Europe to Africa.

We base the development of a micro-economy on the resources of the people, as well as traditional democratic structures and dialogue between individuals and groups of people.

Through its student courses ECCO secures a flow of income to local partners based on economical principles of offer and demand, creating business opportunities based on cultural values.The demand from the camps nourishes local businesses like vegetable gardens, fisheries, bakeries, tailors, carpenters etc. Based on this, economic cycles are created that go beyond village level. Part of the money generated by the camp is invested in social infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, roads and other community-facilities.

The concept of the full community ownership is realised through dividing of the income. 50 percent goes to salaries to the camp staff, 25 percent goes to the upkeep of the camp and 25 percent goes to the Village Development Fund managed by the Village Development Committee.

Ecco has established three community-owned and operated camps in Berefet, Njawara and Tumanitenda.