Bricks to Bread (Costa Rica)
Bricks to Bread International is a non-profit organisation that helps to build brick ovens for Costa Rican families in need of a sustainable source of income. Brick ovens not only help to provide a family with an income, but they also bring communities together, as the ovens often become a focal point and gathering place in the town, encouraging comradery by welcoming everyone to participate in the build.
In 2019/2020, support from the Eurofins Foundation allowed Bricks to Bread to complete a community project and empower the lives of eight women entrepreneurs in the rural Costa Rican community. 18 volunteers were involved in the project, and the end result meant that the community at large had new access to freshly baked goods. The women developed skills in business ownership and leadership, serving as role models within their communities: other girls and young women could aspire likewise towards entrepreneurship, and young men learn to respect women professionally and work with them in a more collaborative way.
In 2021/2022, the Eurofins Foundation provided a grant to support the Empowering Women Entrepreneurs Project, to help a group of women launch four new businesses over 12 months, providing a means of financial stability and living above the national poverty level (USD 155/month) to the women involved. These four new businesses will give an additional 1,500+ community members access to freshly baked goods.
The Eurofins Foundation’ support covered direct costs associated with launching three new brick-oven bakery businesses, including the first in Honduras. Funds also offset costs for the first Empowering Women Entrepreneurs Leadership Conference, focusing on business skills, women empowerment, and entrepreneurial leadership. Funding also enabled Bricks to Bread to hire two in-country coordinators who provide training and mentoring for 38 women, and their immediate families (plus 116 extended family members) who have been in the programme for the past three years.
In 2022/2023, the Eurofins Foundation renewed its support to Bricks to Bread through the project Empowering Women Entrepreneurs Program. Bricks to Bread since launched five brick-oven bakeries – four locations in Costa Rica and one location in Honduras. They also started the initial construction phase for two additional ovens in Costa Rica.
They have supported 24 new entrepreneurs and 43 new family members (impacting 25,050 new community members), in addition to the 57 families and 180 family members in their program since 2016.
The Eurofins Foundation support also provided scholarship assistance to fourteen youths who were instrumental in building ovens in 2023.
The Eurofins Foundation renews its trust and partnership with Bricks to Bread for the period 2023/2025, this project aligning very well with the Foundation’s values: empowering women with intellectual and material resources and long-term support. As a result, they gain culinary, business, finance, and leadership skills which we see translating to increased resourcefulness and self-esteem, a greater sense of control and personal diligence, and a rise in self-sufficiency.
Women demonstrate their financial success, emotional growth and positive mindset by becoming role models of independence, inclusion and equality for future generations. They inspire other women and families through networking and mentoring while providing nourishment in areas where there is food insecurity.
This project contributes to the following United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals
