Concrete Blocks - 2

ON THIS POST, I would like to share the second activity about the making of concrete blocks to be used as floor in houses. As you must know, by the first activity on this initiative, the main goal is to provide the posibility the poor residents of Chimbote may count on concrete floor at low price for their houses and this way avoding that family members, specially little children, may get some kind of disease, breathe air mixed with dust, etc. because of having soil floor. In this second activity Mr. Carlos Alayo along with an assistant were making more concrete blocks.

They were working an entire afternoon, even until night, at brickwork San Gerónimo located in Ramal Playa village very near fr. Jacks Davis' parish. It is expected this initiative will be able to get better, in some way, the quality of life of the poor residents of Chimbote and bring them dignity living in houses worthy of a human being.

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Papercrete Panels

THROUGH THIS NEW POST, I would like to share with you all about a new initiative related to development of affordable housing here in Chimbote-Perú. It is about PAPERCRETE PANELS PROJECT. It was born with the purpose of making possible that poor families in the area are able to acquire a decent housing to live. It is opportune to highlight the invaluable contribution and selfless support of Mr. Earl Milbrath (from Minnesota-USA) as a catalyst element for this project. Presently he is the president of the Economic Development Council (EDC) which is a committee operating under the direction of the non-profit organization Los Amigos del Padre Juan.

Mr. Earl Milbrath is doing his best, through several ways, for all programs of CHOI to keep running. At this point I must say that CHOI is sponsoring this Papercrete Project. Mr. Orlando Bermúdez, the present executive director of CHOI, is in charge of this project and Mr. Carlos Alayo is in charge of the technical part of the project. At the end of the last month, March, after spending some time putting together resources needed to the project, Mr. Carlos Alayo started its implementation.

But you may be wondering yourself, what is papercrete? Well, it comes from the union of two words: Paper + Concrete = Papercrete. Let me share a little more about it. Papercrete is a recently developed construction material, an amazing building material. It is made from recycled paper with a small amount of cement (concrete) and sand added. The ratio paper/concrete/sand is 3/1/1. Before making the mixture, paper should has been soaked in water for several days. Then it must be crumbled using an appropriate proportion of water. It would be better if it is used a mixer to do this process.

After paper is crumbled it is time to prepare mixture. The paper/concrete/sand combination is stirred in a large barrel, much like a blender, until all paper is shredded and evenly mixed with the concrete and sand. After mixture has an uniform texture it is poured in any type of mold, prepared in advance. It is allowed to dry for a while and already it is gotten papercrete products: bricks for walls, blocks, etc, to use them in constructions. Papercrete can be mortared, drilled, hammered, nailed, used as plaster and as an infill between poles or studs.

To make papercrete, it can be used nearly any kind of paper. Cardboard, glossy magazine stock, advertising brochures, junk mail, etc. Some types of paper work better than others, but all types work. Newsprint is best. Waterproofed paper and cardboard, such as butcher paper, beer cartons, etc. are harder to break down in water. Catalogs, magazines and other publications are fine.

Back to this Papercrete Project, the place chosen to run it was Saint Mauricio Brickwork, property of an American lady named Veronica Miuller and located in Ramal Playa village here in Chimbote. So, Mr. Carlos Alayo was there and made a planch of papercrete. People in charge of this project are gonna try to make bricks of papercrete as well. This time is to make prototypes and test papercrete products.

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Concrete Blocks - 1

IN AN EFFORT TO ASSIST, one way or another, the poor people of Chimbote, the non-profit organization Chimbote Oportunidades Ilimitadas CHOI (Chimbote Unlimited Oportunities), whose present administrator is Mr. Orlando Bermúdez, has sponsored the making of concrete blocks which can be used as floor in houses. They will be able to be purchased by those people disadvantaged at a very cheap price. Mr. Carlos Alayo, coordinator of CHOI's educational programs called Dollas For Scholars and Leaders For Tomorrow, is in charge of the performance of this work which is possible because of funds provided by CHOI, which coming from benefactors specially Americans.

At the moment, the work is at stage of making of small-scale concrete blocks. People who are in charge of this work are trying to make these blocks considering the lowest possible production cost for the price of each concrete block to be accessible for the poor residents of Chimbote. After the making, they are going to test the quality of the blocks to make sure that they are well done.

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CHOI Training Event - Day 2

CONTINUING WITH the two-day training event organized by CHOI, which was headed to customers of one of its programs called Micro lending and all people interested in it, and having been held the first day of training on Friday, February 26th, 2010 now I would like to share with you all about the second day of training that took place on Monday, March 01st, 2010 at 3:30 pm in Youth House here in Chimbote. The session was opened by the administrator of CHOI Mr. Orlando Bermúdez.

The main speaker was Mr. Jorge Villar Reyes, who is a business administrator and past manager (2004 - 2006) of the Asociación Civil Apoyo Familiar ACAF (Family Support Civil Association) an association that operates under direction of The non-profit organization called Los Amigos del Padre Juan (The Father Jack's Friends.) Mr. Jorge was sharing with attendees the topic: Marketing for Enterpreneurs. Here are some items that Mr. Jorge Villar shared:

• A look at market
• What do other businesses offer that small businesses don't?
• Against whom we compete?
• What is marketing?
• Practical functions of marketing
• Creative marketing
• If you use marketing, can you attract customers?
• Let's analyze your business: Who are your customers? do you know who your competition is? what is the value of your products or services?
• Marketing mix
• Do satisfied customers always return?
• Main elements to succeed in your business
• Ideas to generate more sales in your business, etc.

This way the two day training event was performed having on mind sowing seeds for creation of new small business and strengthening existing ones.

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CHOI Training Event - Day 1

AS YOU MUST KNOW, the non-profit organization called Chimbote Oportunidades Ilimitadas - CHOI, was promoting a Training Event headed to clients of its Micro Lending program and those interested in getting to know a little more about how to start a small business or improve the one existing in order to generate self-sustainability and independence and so getting better their living quality for them to live with dignity. The event was planned taking into account one of the goals of CHOI, which is to finance Small and Medium enterprises and also to train microentrepreneurs; since we consider these factors as priority issues for development of families and their communities, letting us to continue working together.

So, within this framework, the two-day training started from Friday, February 26th, 2010. The first session was held that day and the second one on Monday, March 01st, 2010 at 3:30 pm. The event took place at La Casa de la Juventud (Youth house) located in H-4 Antenor Orrego village - Chimbote, a place lent by municipality and where all of CHOI programs are running at the moment. The main speakers the first session were Mr. Orlando Bermúdez (Peruvian, CHOI administrator) and Mr. Thomas J. DeMarco (an American volunteer from Minnesota-USA)

The first speaker, Mr. Orlando Bermúdez, started his presentation introducing people get involved in the event. He took his time to develop the first theme of the agenda which was Presentation of the Civil Association CHOI "Chimbote oportunidades Ilimitadas" (Chimbote Unlimited Opportunities). He was talking about the early days of CHOI and its main goals. Also he shared about CHOI programs such as: Chimbote Healthy Port, Dollars for Scholars and Leaders for Tomorrow, University Library, Pre-University Academy, Micro Lending, etc. and other possible proyects as papercrete (paper + concrete) to make bricks.

The second speaker Mr. Thomas J. DeMarco, an American volunteer who is studying Administration of Non-profit Organizations, International Business and Spanish Language, was sharing with attendees about the second theme Importance of Teamwork. He spent some time in Republica Dominicana doing Community Work with local residents. There he was supporting people, by sharing very important information, for them to be able to form their own small business using their gifts, talents and abilities.

In this event he also shared many of his experiences on his work in Republica Dominicana in order to motivate and train attendance. Thus, the first session was held and attendees were very pleased with all information they received that day.

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Micro Lending: Story 5

DEYSI VEGA RIOS IS a 40-year-old lady. Her husband's name is Cruz Valdiviezo Paz and is 43 years old. Both have 3 children: 15-year-old Carolay, 12-year-old Jeanpierre and 7-year-old Benjamín. They all live in H-19 San Miguel humble village in Chimbote-Perú. Five years ago, in 2005, she started sewing and making some clothes for those who asked her using an old sewing machine. She only counted on her personal efforts and assets. She started working sewing in a small market called "Los Israelitas" located in 10 de Setiembre neighborhood near her house.

Even though she did her best to save some money and so to equip the best way her small business however she could not do it because all the money she earned was used to face family expenses. At that time she need urgently a looping machine and a coater machine for her small business to begin to grow and this way generating its self-sustainability. It was necessary for her to get a loan to be able to buy these machines otherwise her small business would not emerge.

On this context and through a friend, she heard about a non-profit organization called CHOI here in Chimbote and located near her house offering micro loans, through one of its programs, for those needing a micro loan to improve their small business. So, she went to the office of the Micro Lending program and after getting to know a little more about the program she applied for a micro loan.

She received her first micro loan on April 20, 2006 and she used this resource to buy some working materials she need urgently. She applied for the second micro loan and received it on December 27, 2007. She used it to buy haberdashery (thread, buttons, little scissors, etc.) So, now she started selling haberdasheries. Her small business was going well and she applied for her third micro loan which she received it on November 27, 2008 which she used to buy a looping machine.

She applied for the fourth micro loan and received it on December 28, 2009 and she could buy a coater machine. Her small business started growing little by little and she moved to another market located in La Victoria neighborhood where she has her stand located at a corner. Thanks to micro loans received from the program her small business is going well so far. She doesn't have to worry about giving maintenance her machines becuase her husband does that work since he is an expert in sewing machine maintenance.

In a near future she would like to be a provider of clothing for institutions such as schools, universities, enterprises, etc. and she is working hard to get that goal. Presently she makes clothes for those who ask her. Also she has, in her stand, a business of phone call and her older daughter works with her.

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Micro Lending: Story 4

THROUGH THIS NEW POST, I would like to share with you all the story of another entrepreneur person who, with a bit of support and encouragement, is becoming a person who is overcoming difficulties in her family life. She was born here in Chimbote, Perú. Her name is Vilma Carbajal Mercedes and is 35 years old. She lives in F-5, 10 de Setiembre human settlement, a place located among many poor neighborhoods in Chimbote. She is a single mother and has 2 children. A boy named 13-year-old Jeancarlos Rocha Carbajal and a girl named 12-year-old Dayana Rocha Carbajal.

As a single mother she had to work hard to provide for her children and herself. Twelve years ago, in 1998, she did her best and was able to get $50.00 and with this money she started selling lingerie, underpants, socks, etc. She bought these products from a supplier here in Chimbote at first but after some months she herself started traveling to Lima (capital of Perú) to get her products to sell since she got them cheaper there. At that time she had no her own house so, because of this, she had on mind to buy a land to be, in time, the family house.

She could come true her dream so she bought a land and even got her ownership title on January 30, 2003 but this, some way or another, affected her small business financially speaking because she had to take money of her business to be able to buy the land. Even so she did not give up and kept traveling to Lima to buy merchandise but it was evident her small business was not going very well as before, on the contrary it was urgent to get financial suppor to refloat the business.

In these circumstances she, through some neighbors, heard about the Micro lending program of CHOI and talked to its director about getting a micro loan for her small business. The program, on behalf of its director, was willing to assist her so, Mrs. Vilma received her first micro loan on February 06, 2004. With this help she was able, little by little, to refloat her small business.

She applied for another micro loan, the second, and received it on November 26, 2004. Things started going well and she applied for her third micro loan and received it on July 27, 2006. As the time went by the small business was growing and she was encouraged to apply for her fourth micro loan which she received it on July 27, 2008 but after some months she received the micro loan, in January 2009, unfortunately some thieves stole all her merchandise. In this situacion the micro lending program gave her some facilities and addicional support for her to face the difficult moment and also her financial duties.

Because of her persistence and perseverance she could overcome those bad times and her small business started growing little by little once more and so, she applied for her fifth micro loan which she received it on December 16, 2009. Presently she continues to work hard to make her business successful. Her small business is located inside her house. She is very thankful to the micro lending program for all the support she received.

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