BRICKS TO BREAD COSTA RICA PROJECTS
ROCÍO CHAVES MAYORGA – AGUA CALIENTE DE PALMIRA, GUANACASTE

THE COMMUNITY

Agua Caliente de Palmira is a small rural community in Cañas, Guanacaste, with about 170 residents. It is a peaceful, agriculture-based area surrounded by natural beauty. However, there are very few job opportunities for women and no nearby stores for daily goods. The community shares a church, a soccer field, and a communal space for traditional events.

THE FAMILY

Rocío Chaves Mayorga is a motivated and hardworking woman. She lives with her husband, Juan Gabriel, who works in agriculture, and their two children, Fátima and Juan Pablo. When Rocío visited the MAG offices to look for guidance on starting a small business, they introduced her to Bricks to Bread.

Rocío learned to bake from her mother, mother-in-law, and close friends. Today, she prepares a variety of products. Her baked goods are well-liked in her community, and she is expanding her offerings and improving quality with a Bricks to Bread oven.

LIVES CHANGED

Rocío’s bakery is a small business where she and her husband work together to offer fresh, traditional products that are currently hard to find in nearby communities. Consequently, they strengthen the community’s access to food and small-business opportunities. With a Bricks to Bread oven, Rocio can increase production, reach more customers, and provide artisan baked goods in an area with limited options.