Project Launch:

Pejibaye is a small town in a valley, south of Turrialba, Costa Rica. Since the 1990s, when the price of sugar and coffee dropped, families in Pejibaye have been living in extreme poverty and few opportunities for employment for men. Men often must leave their families and work in Cartago, San Jose, and Turrialba to provide income for their families back in Pejibaye. There is a river that runs through the town and draws many tourists to kayak and raft, but there are no hotels or lodging options in Pejibaye, so tourists don't stop or stay.

This project will loan 11 women money to turn their homes into bed and breakfasts to increase the impact of tourism in the town, while also providing a local, sustainable source of jobs. The impact will extend not only to the women who are opening their houses for simple reconstruction, but also to the local vendors and artisans of Pejibaye. As a whole, this project will empower the women of this community by allowing them to be leaders in driving new economic opportunity for Pejibaye.