This project will give 20 girls the startup funds they need to get their very own cafe business up and running. A student group helped to build a small Snack Shack on our property here at The Mariposa Center for Girls and as part of our experiential learning curriculum, 20 girls will run the business, earn income and learn how to independently manage their own money while gaining real life entrepreneurial experience.
In the town of Cabarete there are not many job opportunities, especially for women and girls. Girls are dropping out of school before 8th grade at alarming rates and are not acquiring the education and skills they need to be independent and support themselves. This project will teach 20 girls the ins and outs of running their very own business. From accounting to inventory management to marketing and customer service, these girls will gain real life experience and learn entrepreneurial skills.
At the Snack Shack, the girls will run a small roadside cafe at The Mariposa Center for Girls. They will sell fresh juices, smoothies, sandwiches and snacks. The money raised for this microproject will be used to fund the startup costs of the business including kitchen appliances, food supplies, signage and uniforms. The girls will run the business on their own under the watch of a dedicated staff member. They will each make a salary and learn how to manage their own money.
Investing in the education, health and empowerment of a girl today means that she will have the tools to make smart choices that will better the lives of her children in the future. This project will help 20 girls earn income and build the necessary skills to be independent.