BRICKS TO BREAD COSTA RICA PROJECTS

BARRIO EL CEMENTERIO – GUACIMO

THE COMMUNITY

El Barrio Cementerio is a rural community just outside of the city of Guacimo, an agricultural area where jobs are scarce and resources are limited. Many of the women are unemployed, doing the best they can by selling bread and empanadas, tamales, pastries, and other baked goods to their neighbors. Some women are fortunate to work long hours in packaging facilities for yucca, pineapple and bananas, but this too is challenging as it takes them away from their families and household responsibilities.

THE OVEN

Esmeralda Sánchez Campos and her husband, Miguel, offered their land, support, and leadership for a community oven in order to empower the women in their area who struggle daily to escape poverty. This oven is a small baking facility where women gather in a healthy environment to talk, learn, and share experiences while working to obtain sustainable incomes for their families and communities. 

LIVES CHANGED

A natural leader, baker, instructor, and entrepreneur, Doña Esmeralda coaches and empowers the women in her community to bake and sell a variety of breads, cakes, pastries, and other food items.