The Art of Listening

Or perhaps, more accurately, the art of asking questions.

Saturday we completed Step 7.5- the General Assembly, with the Cristo Rey group (where I am facilitating the 22 step process of forming a Community Credit Enterprise). Maria Marta Padilla, founder of FINCA-Costa Rica, came to clarify doubts/questions of the group, and check in on my work as a facilitator.  

Two new members making their arrows (these are taped onto the 22 step process, to mark where we are)

Last Tuesday I was in FINCA- Costa Rica’s offices, discussing the regulations Cristo Rey had written and the parts they hadn’t yet defined, the cost of affiliation and the activities they can solicit loans for. Cristo Rey decided to wait for Maria Marta's advice to define these sections. Maria Marta advised me that the group knows best, they have the answers- you just have to ask the correct questions.

Cristo Rey is quick to ask for FINCA-Costa Rica’s recommendations, but it is crucial that all their decisions ultimately come from within the group, because really the business is theirs, FINCA-Costa Rica merely acts as a guide in the formation. Once the 22-steps process is over, the group will be running all aspects of the business themselves, and need to believe in and understand their regulations if they are going to comply with them.

Returning to Saturday’s session: we ended up discussing the regulations in depth, trying to write concrete rules for the business to follow. Due to new members in attendence, we didn't end up getting to the "main course" (more on that later), but there were some good nuggets from the afternoon...

Lesson 1: If your question is met with crickets: focus the question down. That may seem obvious, but I listened to Maria Marta ask the same question FIVE times, getting more and more specific each time. Example: we were defining the types of activities that would be approved for loans, and the group was having a difficult time defining them. She started by asking “What activities would you solicit loans for?” Enter crickets. She kept getting more specific, “What types of productive activities would you solicit loans for?” Followed by, “What types of agricultural projects would you ask for loans for?” And the answers flowed out- “Planting Christmas trees, blackberries, orchids”. Bingo.

They needed to hear the question framed in a manner that they understood.

Sra. Maria Marta Padilla, asking the right questions

So the right questions had been asked, and the regulations finished- it was time to buy the first stocks!  Fortunately, three new members arrived, but, unfortunately they weren’t informed that today was the day to pay affiliation(3,000 colones or $6) /buy stocks (5,000 colones/stock or $10) and thus arrived without money. Without buying stocks, you cannot vote (one stock=one vote), which is why we had to postpone the two main tasks-buying stocks and electing the board of directors- for the next week.

Brining me to Lesson 2: Patience. It’s better to do something correctly, rather than to rush things. And what is one more week in the grand scheme of forming a business? So, everyone is coming next week with their wallets full, and (hopefully!) their homework completed of imagining who will make a good president, treasurer, secretary, fiscal, and member of the Credit Committee. 

English class Graduation potluck at my house last week. Next up: Intermediate Part II

The Power of Collaboration

I believe in the power of people coming together.

ECC- Cristo Rey, Charla Informativa (step 2)

Yesterday I was re-listening to Simon Sinek's TEDtalk, "How great leaders inspire action" on a run. Sinek's model for inspirational leaders is simple, and all begins with the question, "WHY?"

Why do we do what we do? Why do we wake up every morning? Why do we choose the path that we choose?

I thought about it as I ran up and down the hills of San Cristobal, why did I choose to be here? Why am I serving in the Peace Corps?

My why hit me as I thought about my most recent project, forming an Empresa de Credito Comunal in a neighboring community, Cristo Rey.

We had our first session on Saturday, step number 3 of the 22 step process (the microfinance model comes from FINCA-Costa Rica). For the motivation of the session the group was re-enacting the three little pigs, the moral of the story being strength but more specifically, strength in numbers. The three little pigs were able to build the strongest house when they all came together, in order to keep the wolf or lobo out (or at least out of the house, as he did end up in their bellies after jumping in their boiling soup on the fire).

ECC Cristo Rey- Charla Informativa

I believe that each community member in the room is going to achieve more when they come together. Alone the majority of them do not have the collateral to take out a loan at BancoNacional, or they really only need a small amount, or they can't afford to travel the 35 km to get to the bank, or they can't fill out the forms. But together they can slowly build their capital, and have the opportunity of financing, through something they created together.


I believe in the power of collaboration, and using connections to create good in the world. 

One Year: Beto and more...

*An October 2010 visit from Marjorie Anctil, Director of Peace Corps World Wise Schools Program lead to the creation of this slideshow, "New Opportunities for Women" highlighting my work with women in San Cristobal Norte, Costa Rica. (Spanish and English versions available!)

Home to 5 birds, 1 dog and me!

At first it is hard to believe that I have been in site for over a year, but as I look around my “cabin” (black-lab mix dog next to me, book case filled with books and the walls holding paintings and pictures on clothespins), I believe it.

Beto! My amazing dog

My old Tarbaca host family, in my new yard 

In April, I successfully organized an Encuentro Nacional, or National Conference for 30 Empresas de Credito Comunal. The bulk of the follow-up to this event will come in June when myself along with four other Peace Corps Volunteers,(representing five different areas of the country), and a representative from both FINCA and Peace Corps offices, will have the first PCV-FINCA Committee meeting . The general goals for the committee right now are:  building on the network established at the April conference; providing support to Peace Corps Volunteers working with Empresas de Credito Comunal, information sharing through FINCAs monthly newsletters and Peace Corps online sharing community, (including creating a tri-annual bulletin of “Best Practices” in the fundamental areas of Empresas de Credito), providing follow up on the action plans from the conference and supporting FINCA in future trainings. With the first meeting we will clearly outline the action plan for the year, and prioritize the goals.

FODA analysis at the Encuentro Nacional

I am excited to get to know my fellow volunteers better in the committee, and learn about what issues they are tackling with the Empresas de Credito Comunal, and how we can improve the network and support. Furthermore, I am looking forward to learning more about FINCA and how the organization’s resources can be best allocated to support the 112 Empresas de Credito in the country.

However, now that the conference is over I have chosen to dedicate more of my time to supporting the Empresa de Credito, SACRIN, in my community. There are two new projects I am taking on- the first is computer classes for the board of directors- focusing on using Microsoft Excel for SACRIN and their own businesses and Microsoft Word.

Possible September purchase: Converse!

The second is strengthening their youth savings program, INED. Every Wednesday Emilce, from SACRINs Credit Committee, and I are at the local school, collecting the students weekly savings and returning their receipts from past weeks. Three weeks ago I put together a brief PowerPoint presentation,  focusing on the importance of saving and talking through examples of what they could buy in September/August if they started saving today (Converse shoes! A cell phone!).

The week after the presentation, 8 (out of 35 who weren’t already members) students opened up new accounts, and we doubled the savings from existing members.   The success continued into this week, where 2 more students joined. Next week, together with SACRIN we are drafting a plan for INED, including a short savings course, trips to visit successful entrepreneurs in the community (and members of SACRIN), talks from past members of INED, and community days (i.e. trash pick-up, environmental hikes, visiting the local hot springs).

Sixth graders (from the World Wide Schools Program- letter exchange with class in Palo Alto, California)

I love getting to know the students, hearing their dreams of purchasing new notebooks for school, a dress for their First Communion, or Converse shoes. I cannot believe the number of elementary school kids already with cell phones, and the number of text messages I have received since starting to work on Wednesdays...

If you get the chance to watch the slideshow from the link above you will see a lot of my projects have a focus on the women in the community- All of which are still going on- Exercise classes, women’s soccer team, yoga/dance/whatever with the senior citizens, small business coaching, promoting the library and English.

San Cristobal Norte Women's Soccer Team

A fellow volunteer came to stay a couple weeks ago and re-inspired me to make English classes interesting- we are no longer allowed to speak Spanish (myself included) and this is lending towards a growing party fund. Each student is being required to make weekly presentations on English books from our library (combining projects!) or news articles from the internet.  We are planning trips to local tourist sites to speak with other foreigners, a pizza making night at my house, listening to English music, movies and more. Their excitement to learn is inspiring, and as we sit around the table I enjoy hearing their ideas, dreams, and opinions.

Lastly, three weeks ago I participated in a 25 km bike race in Turrialba with one of my English class students. Alvaro and his wife picked me up at 5:30 am for the 9:00 am race. As we drove the two hours to Turrialba, the sky turned darker and darker. When we arrived it was pouring rain and the entire route was marked with mud, however it was the best morning adventure ever! I carried and pushed my bike through sugar cane fields, and slipped down mountains, ending the race covered in mud, no rather SOAKED in mud.

River Crossing (I couldn't risk bringing my camera...)

Next week is Mid Service Training, where I will get the chance to enjoy time with fellow volunteers, learn from their successful projects and share a bit of my own successes. Here’s to a great second year in the Peace Corps!

Eric and me in Manuel Antonio, celebrating one year

Encuentro Nacional

Sunday 6 am marked the end of the first "Encuentro Nacional de Empresas de Crédito Comunal y Voluntarios de Cuerpo de Paz" in San Cristobal Norte (my site). 

Don Ananias, me, Steve Dorsey, Maria Marta Padilla, Gabriela (JA)

After about four months of planning (a poor excuse for the long gap in blog posts) the 65 person conference  finally took place. Volunteers travelled from all over Costa Rica with one member of their Empresa de Crédito Comunal (the microloan organization formed using the FINCA-Costa Rica model) to San Cristobal Norte, in order to learn from SACRIN (the Empresa de Credito in my town, and my Peace Corps counterpart), meet other Empresas de Crédito, share ideas and discuss problems and solutions.

Welcome Speech

Now that it is officially over, I admit that there are things that could be improved- more time for sharing among Empresas, better structured sessions, and other little details that could have prevented, i.e. last minute searches for plates, tape and vegetarian options. However, as I begin to read through the evaluations, I smile each time a participant has written exactly one of the objectives of the Encuentro as something they gained from the weekend.

The majority of the participants arrived on Thursday evening, and unfortunately, in true San Cristobal fashion, it was cold and rainy, and we didn’t all fit inside SACRINs offices. As quick as possible we sent them off with host families (who were for the most part socios, or members of SACRIN- another opportunity for information sharing etc.)

Participants Friday morning

Friday morning started early with last minute phone calls from the founder of FINCA, Maria Marta Padilla, organizing the salon and making sure all materials were on hand. I was very fortunate to have tons of help and support from a special someone- otherwise I don’t know how I would have organized the sixty five chairs and tables in our oddly shaped salon communal (or main meeting room for the town). 

At 8:15 am the event kicked off with welcome speeches from Steve Dorsey- Director of Peace Corps Costa Rica, Maria Marta Padilla, a woman from Junior Achievment (another program that Peace Corps volunteers work with), Don Ananias Cordero (President of Sacrin and my counterpart) and myself.

The Encuentro Nacional was scheduled with many different sessions, lead manily by Luis Roberto Jimenez- director of FINCA Costa Rica, Maria Marta Padilla and volunteers. Energy level was kept high (or at least attempted to be kept high) with cafecitos, lunch and dinner, provided by three wonderful women of the commuity (this event also brings an income for community members-another benefit!)

The Friday lunch was held up on a community members soccer field (he used to play for a local team, and is now the president of our development association). It was a long lunch, and volunteers and counterparts played soccer while Andres (a member of SACRIN, who started his entertainment company with a loan from SACRIN) sang. The FINCA San Jose office made the trip up to San Cristobal Norte for lunch, along with visitors from Honduras and Guatamala, from other microfinance organizations. Also five women from a womens group in a neighboring community came- I am working with them now to gain community interest in forming an Empresa de Crédito Comunal in their community (my next project now that the Encuentro is over).

Friday lunch on the soccer field

The afternoon sessions were long (something that could be improved for the future) but Friday evening we held a bonfire in the street and roasted marshmellows. Don Ananias was very doubtful at first as he bit into the roasted marshmellow, but was quickly convinced.

Saturday started at 8 am as well, with a great session of discussion among Empresas de Crédito. Each Empresa de Crédito completed a FODA (or SWOT- Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats analysis) the night before, and were sharing their FODAs in groups. I think this session could have been extended to discuss in different groups, but it was great to hear the Empresas sharing which areas they were being successful in and in which areas they needed to improve. 

I admit I wish I could have been more involved in the sessions, but often found myself running around making sure coffee was ready, food was on its way, the next session was prepared etc.

FODA or SWOT analysis of the Empresas de Credito

In the afternoon the groups split into two and those that were interested in forming an Emrpesa de Crédito went to gain a general overview of the 22 step process while others stayed to hear about the regional networks or sectors of Empresas. In the afternoon an accounting session was also scheduled, it was incredibly valuable for Empresas and volunteers alike, but could have been better planned for a morning session.

The conference ended with future plans for the Empresas and volunteers, evaluations, a certificate ceremony and a slide show. After which a group of volunteers came back to my new house (haven’t even made a blog post about the house!- but it is wonderful and a great size for visitors!!!)

I thoroughly enjoyed the weekend, having the volunteers in my site, and making sure everything ran smoothly. Tomorrow starts the tough part of organizing the financial aspect of the event (FINCA got a grant from CRUSA in order to make this possible, participants just had to pay for their own transportation to and from San Jose).

The final step in the Encuentro is making this network sustainable, and inspiring Empresas de Crédito and volunteers to continue in the process of strengthening their organizations. A committee of Volunteers will be formed in about two weeks, to continue the open communication and support between FINCA, Peace Corps and Empresas de Crédito.

FODA analysis

My goal is to continue having events where Empresas de Crédito get the option to share successes and challenges and to continue strengthening the alliance between Peace Corps, FINCA and Empresas de Crédito.    

Arte y Aroma de Cafe

'Tis the season to pick coffee!

Coffee plant, with ripe red beans

The coffee bean in all is glorious stages

This blog post finds me back in California, while in my other home, San Cristobal Norte, the coffee season is in full gear. November and December were wonderful, if not jam packed with finishing up projects for 2010 and celebrating the holidays. 

This blog post will be short, as I know this time of year is filled with fiestas, family and food- but I wanted to post some photos of the coffee jewelry from Lies, the owner of Arte y Aroma de Cafe. 

Lies and her daughter Diana at a local craft fair

I have brought home a selection of the jewelry so please contact me if you are interested in purchasing this beautiful, aromatic jewelry! Or if you just have suggestions for improvement. 

 Makes for a great last minute gift- Happy Holidays to all!

Coffee Bean Wrap Around Bracelet- $7.00 

Semillas and Coffee Bean Wrap Around Bracelet  (detail)

Semillas Wrap Around Bracelet- $7.00

Coffee Bean Flowers Bracelet, with clasp- $7.00

Flower Bracelet (detail)

Coffee Bean Hemp Bracelet- $6.00

Coffee Bean Hoop Earrings- $7.00 

Semillas de San Pedro and Coffee Bean Necklace- $9.00

Variety of Bracelets 

Necklaces and Hemp Bracelets at craft fair

ISV Volunteers in San Cristobal Norte purchasing from Arte y Aroma de Cafe

Halloween Pan de Ayote

It is raining, and it has been raining non stop for five days. Part of our road was blocked in by a mudslide and yesterday we were trapped from both entrances to the community, without electricity or telephones. Nothing better than baking when its raining. Last night was oatmeal cookies- today I am making whole-wheat pizza! Recipe will be in the next blog post.

Nuestra Nacion, Eating oatmeal cookies and working on a "sopa de palabras" about business organization

Although the rain has stopped a few plans, the last few weeks have been wonderful. I have started a Junior Achievment program called Nuestra Nacion, where I am working with 5th and 6th graders to learn the basics to business organization and their options for employment. It is really fun working with kids, and thinking of posible activites-visiting a local business, starting a garden, movie days etc. I have the support of two really great women, Sidey and Mayela, from SACRIN, my counter-part and our local bank. We watched Ice Age 2 two Saturdays ago, and I will be leading a workshop the first week of December  so that everyone can take the course during school.

Presenting at the Asamblea of Sacrin

Last Satuday was our Asamblea at Sacrin, where financial results were discussed, the youth group was invited (from the Friday and Saturday youth Program with MAG and FAO) and I was given a space to talk about what I have been up to and what I plan to do in the next year. I put together a nice power point filled with pictures of the community members and tried to rally particpants for my excercise class (Wednesday was an all time low, 2 students! But I will blame this on the crazy rains).

Lies and her coffee jewelry!

 Sunday was a cultural event, organized by the Minestary of Culture to celebrate a local artisan. Lies, who I have been helping with her coffee jewelry, set up a stand and I have noticed quite a few people wearing coffee bean earrings and necklaces! Sunday was also Halloween- so although my town discouraged an organzied event, I got together with the girls from my soccer team under the excuse of just a little fiesta. Three sisters ended up making Halloween decorations, including a broom and witches hat, plus my pumkin bread and it really was Halloween! Also I had a wonderful visit from Micahela, a Peace Corps Trainee who helped with the festivities.

Micahela and me- Las Brujas

The team! Scary faces...

Dancing with the team at the Halloween party...

 Pan de Ayote (or PUMPKIN bread!)

1 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup whole wheat flour 

1 cup Ayote (or Pumpkin)

1/3 cup vegetable oil

2 large eggs

1 1/4 sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Mix all the ingredients together using a hand mixer. Place batter in pan and cook until golden brown on top (it took about 25 minutes in our oven, which doesnt have different temperatures and using a 9 inch round pan). Happy Halloween!!!

Ayote!

Before I head off to make the pizza, my host mom, Mayela Romero, is opening a tienda or clothing store in the house. She was fortunate enough to get a loan from Kiva http://www.kiva.org/ Her page is not up yet but I will let you know when it is so you could possibly fund her loan. Although I am a bit nervous about what this means for my room- the shop is being built right outside- it has been exciting talking through her business plan, outlining her objectives and listening to her fears (not to mention seeing all the clothes!)

Rapids and Rapido French Toast

El rio that ate my shoe.

A fellow Peace Corps Volunteer sent along an excerpt from a book titled "Callings" by Gregg Levoy. I read the three pages over breakfast and realized the importance of viewing my Peace Corps experience as a fluid one- there will be moments of distress, pain, failure etc. but the important thing is to remember that when each fourth step is a fall, I know why I am here, and get back up again.

Chile Dulce! Ready to plant in the next few days...

So, after watering my Chile Dulce, I set out on an adventure to climb la piedra mona. My first challenge came with the river corssing, where recent rains had amde the once easy to cross river...not so easy to cross. But I was feeling like this was my calling for the day, to be more adventurous, so I removed both shoes, and decided to chuck them to the other side of the river. My right shoe fell on the opposide shore, and rolled until it was half-way in the water, lodged between a rock and the "rapids". I laughed but proceed to throw my left shoe saftely across. Then I realized my shoe might be completly pushed away. Looking at the jump I had to make a second too long, I fell to the other side just as my right shoe got whisked down the river. Laughing and calling out to my shoe (yes, I was taking to my shoe), I tried to trample down river to save it. Alas, the vegetation was too overgrown and my shoe way too fast for me to save it. My first jump across the river and I loose a shoe- but instead of getting upset I relaxed (barefoot) and made it home with just one shoe.

Made it home with just one shoe!

Shoes aside, and on the positive side of things, My Tarbaca host family (who I lived with the first three months) came to visit over the weekend. Along with my current host family, we went trout fishing at the local trout farm and played some soccer. The Tarbaca family has a new Community Economic Development Volunteer, which is exciting to meet the next PC generation.

The Tarbaca kids getting goofy in San Cristobal Norte.

In other news, the youth group (Ventanilla Unica) has elected a junta or board, and are becoming more serious about taking leadership in the community. We are now in the second half of the course and each participant has to develop their own business idea. I have really been enjoying this section, as the youth often stop by or call for my help on their ideas. One student is working on a Security Guard business- he came up with some very convincing reasons why his business was important for himself, his family, the community and the country. He was also surprised to realize how large his possible market could be, and how low his overhead costs are (his father is already trained and with 30 years of experience under his belt). Lisbeth, another participant, is putting together her artisan goods and thinking aboutnew ways to market them to more tourists, exploring the possibility of an environmental spin and opening a small shop. Friday each student has to give a three minute pitch accompained by a poster board that I am really looking forward to.

In English class news, Tuesday was fashion focused, so I dressed up in one of my primas quincinera dresses to help spark interest. We ended up debated youth wearing piercings- the opinions were evenly split between the students.

Excercise class numbers are back up! Thanks to the break in the rain- if anyone has any old aerobics/excercise DVDs they would be much appreciated to add variety to the routine.

Lastly, I made some Rapido French Toast con Amor:

4 eggs

3/4 cup milk

Vanilla to your liking

Pinch of salt

Teaspoon of sugar

Bread of choice (my host uncle is now making whole wheat bread!!!)

Mix all the ingredients together with lots of amor, then add the bread to soak. Super soaked bread tastes better.

Serve with Guayaba jam.