"Mercadotecnia"

Today was a fairly relaxing day. We had a training the morning with Alcance Nicaragua, a non profit that’s run by local Nicaraguans and aims at providing stoves to rural Nicaraguans. The stoves are rather large and have a chimney, not meant for people who truly can’t afford stoves. For those neighborhoods, Brian and Nancy’s stoves might fill the payment gap better. The stoves are built from local materials and only the design is given to customers, who construct the stoves themselves in their house. Hence, the stoves are not moveable. Alcance Nicaragua then comes in and provides the uniquely designed combustion box that allows people to use fuel more efficiently and safely, while also reducing hugely the amount of smoke emitted and breathed in due to the chimney that they install. According to Brian and Nancy, 2 million women and children die per year from illnesses contracted from cooking smoke, and the gases emitted from stoves account for more global warming than automobiles. Holy smokes.

The training went a little over time, but overall it went well. I was touched when everyone at the end began asking questions of their own initiative (always an excellent sign), and voluntarily offered their opinions on the training. They seemed truly grateful for the information provided, saying that the business training really had helped them and codified information they were only employing out of intuition, but now had a solid grasp on. Within the presentation, we also included extensive information on payment plans, such as microcredit and microfinance, as well as the MCM (which I know now in Spanish is “microconsignación”). Other people also went over business analysis and cost benefit analysis, effectively. 

A skit done with all the clients

Now I’m sitting in Café Sonreisas, or Cafe Smiles, which is entirely run by deaf-mutes. The cafe also sells hammocks and bags, the latter of which I have bought and might have included in my blog. All proceeds go back into the Cafe to provide employment and empowerment for people who otherwise would not be able to fund their own livelihoods. I much prefer this to Euro Cafe. It’s less crowded, prettier, cooler in temperature, and there aren’t creepy people who keep trying to talk to me. The wait staff is also super friendly and helpful, and I get to attempt to learn the sign language painted on the walls. 

The "magic area of quiet, colorful and young atmosphere" of Cafe Sonreisa. Their grammar might not be great but the idea for the cafe is.