The household snail is helping to transform the lives of members of one of the poorest neighbourhoods of Chile’s capital, Santiago. A group in one of World Vision’s long-term development programmes has begun a new snail-growing business that is helping to improve the incomes of people in the area.

World Vision sponsor Luis Verdugo, himself a snail-grower, gave the community the idea for the business, and provided them with all the necessary export contacts. Twelve members of the development programme then formed a committee. Together with 15 female volunteers who undertook a special snail-growing training programme, the group went into business.

The aim is to grow the common garden snail (helix aspersa) for export to Spain. Snails have all the nutritional requirements for a healthy meal: no fat, low calories, no cholesterol, and protein. For centuries snails have been considered a delicacy in France but demand for them is now growing on the international market. In addition, they are increasingly being used in cosmetic products and natural medicines. The market is expanding and this offers the Chilean snail growers the chance to expand too.

One of the volunteers, a smiling middle-aged woman says: “We love the snails. We talk to them while we wash them and take care of them. When they don’t behave, we scold them.”

As the snails are considered something of a plague by Chilean gardeners, the group is now purchasing snails brought to them by neighbours, which helps to boost stock levels for the business and filters a little money out into the local community.