BRICKS TO BREAD COSTA RICA PROJECTS
MANA COMMUNITY BAKERY – FILA PINAR DE COTO BRUS

THE COMMUNITY

Fila Pinar was established in 1966 by 25 families. Located approximately 20 miles from the Panama border, this mountainous region is still dependent upon coffee cultivation for its economy. The community progressively developed infrastructure, including the construction of the first school in 1974, the introduction of roads in 1979, and the arrival of electricity and a water aqueduct in the mid-1980s to mid-1990s. Today, job options for women are extremely limited, with no permanent positions available. The primary employment opportunity is seasonal work during the coffee harvest from September to January, and the majority of these jobs go to the men. Without available work, women have no way of improving their quality life. They cannot afford healthy food, necessary medications, and education for themselves and their children.

THE WOMEN

Fourteen women in the village of Fila Pinar have come together to operate a bakery to improve the lives of their families and their community. Located on-site at the Dios de Pactos Christian church in the center of town, their Bricks to Bread oven will be a gathering place for residents of all ages as well as tourists passing through the area.

They named their bakery MANA (in reference to the Biblical story in which God provided manna, like bread, from Heaven). MANA stands for Mujer Admirable Nacida Autentica. In English, this translates to Admirable Woman Born Authentic. The women of MANA bring entrepreneurial experience to their project that ranges from food handling and customer service, to secretarial and accounting, to small business management and, of course, baking.

LIVES CHANGED

The MANA community oven and bakery generates revenue through product sales, while also attracting tourism to Fila Pinar. The project is designed to facilitate social gatherings for women and families in collaboration with the church and community. With its central location, the oven and its owners cater to a range of functions including school meetings; club gatherings; and personal celebrations like birthdays, weddings, and funerals; as well as sports events and activities of various age groups. With the wide range of foods that can be produced in the oven, these women will be the main supplier of fresh, healthy baked goods in the area.