Community Enterprise Solutions: Rural Entrepreneurship Initiatives

Rural Entrepreneurship
Initiatives
(Please use the links below)

CE Solutions is constantly studying, vetting and field testing appropriate products and services to be implemented within the MicroConsignment Model by our network of rural entrepreneurs. As the name of the model suggests, CE Solutions creates access to high quality products and services on a local level by training rural entrepreneurs and consigning them a "basket of goods" to be offered for sale at an appropriate price in rural communities. The products and services (initiatives) that are currently being offered to rural entrepreneurs through MicroConsignment are detailed below:

ENERGY EFFICIENT STOVES

The Problem:
Lack of access to effecient, healthy stoves

In the rural areas of Guatemala, it is very common to cook with open fires, on the floors or “poyos” inside homes. In the majority of traditional households, there is no chimney and the only way that the smoke can escape is through the door and through a permanently open space between the roof and the walls. Because of this, the interior of many homes is covered with thick layers of black soot covering all surfaces. Aside from the clear danger involved with this, many children have also been victims of serious burns from open flames. However, many families are impervious to the grave risks to which they are exposing their health by cooking in this manner.

Here are some statistics for you to consider:

The Effects and Consequences:

Around 70% of all deaths in the Third World are due to respiratory illnesses. This means, smoke and dust. 75% of Guatemalan families use wood as their main source of fuel.

Wood represents 72% of all the consumed energy.

In Guatemala, 90% of chopped wood each year is used for energy

60000 hectares of forestry are lost annually.

The gathering of wood is arduous, consumes time, and is often done by the children in the family. Open fires on the floors are also extremely dangerous and accidents happen frequently, especially with children.

Our Solution:
Access to an improved, high-quality stove at an economic price and a no interest payment program

An Improved Stove can have enormous impact on the life of a family and it also decreases their dependency on forests, which are very important for all of our futures. Improved Stoves offer an excellent alternative for families in rural areas. The designers spent their first 8 months doing research and testing of different kinds of stoves. The final design is a simple brick stove made with a metal plate surface for cooking and a metal chimmney so the smoke can leave the house completely. The Improved Stoves work much more efficiently than open wood fires on the floor do.

The Benefits of Our Solution:

The stove usese a simpley chimney that directs smoke out of the house, improving the family’s health.

It uses less wood than other options, saving money and time in the gathering of wood.

It is safer to avoid flame-related accidents inside the house.

Avoids ant infestations in the house.

Decreases respiratory, eye, and skin illnesses.

Women benefit in particular since they spend most of their time in the kitchen. The stoves are designed to make cooking easier and limit the need for lifting heavy pots.

Due to the fact that the stoves are much more efficient in their use of wood, the family has to make less trips to gather wood.

Reduced environmental impact by cutting less wood.

The family saves money since they are buying less wood.

The stoves create opportunities for entrepreneurs and workers who are needed to build them.

The impact of the Improved Stoves is truly amazing.

To learn more about how access to Improved Stoves is provided in rural communities through the MicroConsignment Model please click here.

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WATER PURIFICATION

The Problem:
Lack of access to potable water

Potable water is a vital liquid necessary for the survival of every human being. Pure water is not only necessary for everyday consumption, but maintaining an ample amount of pure water in the human body, maintaining hydration, helps avoid and cure illnesses. Also, the growth of harmful parasites and bacteria lead to many long-term health afflictions in the human body.

The Effects and Consequences:
In Guatemala

Only 24 of the 331 municipalities treat their water.

Guatemala has the highest rate of water-borne illnesses en children younger than 5 years of age. It is also considered to have the worst access to water treatment installations.

In 2000, diarrhea-based illnesses were the 2nd highest cause of death in the country. The #1 cause of death was respiratory illnesses. Up to this day, there are no plans to install water treatment plants.

In the rural areas, the population spends almost 50 % of their income buying medicines for diarrhea and water borne illnesses, which would be reduced if there were clean water available to them.

Due to the chronic lack of infrastructure, about 95 percent of the country is not giving any treatment to the sewage, which pollutes rivers, lakes and wells.

According to the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare, during 2006 there were 356,668 cases of diarrhea in the country. Of these, 1,225 ended in the death of patients.

Studies in recent years show that 90 % of freshwater bodies in the country are contaminated with fecal material, says Yuri Melini, director of the Center for Legal Action, Social and Environmental.

On The Family Economy

Water-related diseases such as diarrhea and parasitic infections cost 443 million school days each year—equivalent to an entire school year for all seven-year-old children in Ethiopia—and diminish learning potential. Inadequate water and sanitation provision in schools in many countries is a threat to child health and learning potential.

The absence of adequate sanitation and water in schools is a major reason that girls drop out.

Parasitic infection transmitted through water and poor sanitation retards learning potential for more than 150 million children worldwide.

The time women spend caring for children made ill by waterborne diseases diminishes their opportunity to engage in productive work.

Waterborne diseases reinforce deep and socially unjust disparities, with children in poor households facing a risk of death some three to four times greater than children in rich households.

Our Solution:
Access to a high-quality water purifier offered at an economical price that can be covered in a few payments.

After dedicating much effort to investigating the problem of lack of access to pure water, CE Solutions has come up with a solution to improve the quality of life of Guatemalans by offering a product that delivers 99.9% pure water. Meaning that for a minimal cost, families have the opportunity to have pure water in their houses, at all times. After purchasing our filter, there will be no need to waste money, time, wood for fuel, and medicine.

The new product that we are currently offering is called “The Water Purifier for Your Well-Being”. We say “For Your Well-Being” because the filtration process is extremely efficient, the price is economical, and the family benefits from having more savings in the household.

The Water Purifier was designed to offer a practical solution in response to the everyday need for safe water in rural communities. This is due to the fact that our Water Purifier is made with high quality components ad state of the art technology that is reasonably priced. For example, the ceramic filtration element (U.S. manufactured by Black Jack Industries to U.S. and international standards) is designed to provide a hostile environment for all microbiological organisms that cause devastating illnesses such as Cholera and Dysentery. The “Water Purifier for Your Well-Being” can take water that was once unsafe for human consumption and safely and affordably transform it into potable water.

The Benefits of Our Solution:

The ability to have potable water available at all times for local families, especially their children.

No more wasting precious wood from the forests.

Provides a safe place to store your purified water once it has been filtered.

No need to purchase more expensive bottled water.

Saves precious time compared to boiling and other tecniques.

Improves the overall health of the family.

Helps avoid stomach illnesses.

Helps to conserve the environment.

Affords local families over 10 gallons of purified water per day

To learn more about how access to the Water Purification is provided in rural communities through the MicroConsignment Model please click here.

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VEGETABLE SEEDS AND GARDENS

The Problem:
Lack of access to variety of qulity seeds in small quantities

Many families in Guatemala do not have access to different types of vegetable seeds in small quantities as local agricultural stores do not offer a diverse selection of seeds in quantities appropriate for starting a home garden. People who are able to purchase the seeds needed, often do not have the knowledge on how to plant and care for their seeds and garden. For these reasons, many Guatemalans do not have home gardens and are less able to provide a healthy, well-balanced diet for their families. Guatemalans need access to small quantities of a variety of different types of vegetable seeds as well as garden care information in order to give their families the nutrition needed for a healthy lifestyle.

The Effects and Consequences:
The majority of families who live in the rural areas of Guatemala live a day to day subsistence existence. Due to hundreds of years of tradition, most farmers only cultivate corn and black beans. These vegetables are not profitable although they are nutritious and easy to grow. Many farmers and families have expressed interest in diversifying their gardens or farms to increase their profits. However, they are concerned about the cost of different seeds and are afraid of trying to grow vegetables they have limited knowledge about.

According to UNICEF, Guatemala has the worst rate of infant malnutrition in all of Latin America and sixth in the world. These statistics are a result of varies factors:

Lack of access to health and nutrition programs.

Insufficent money to buy healthy foods.

Limited to no education on the importance of being healthy and having a well-balanced diet.

Longterm malnutrition creates many problems:

Poor growth and development in children

Higher susceptibility to diseases and illnesses

Increased probability that undernourished children will not be able to reach their full potential or receive all the benefits of their education.

Will not be able to support ones-self fully financially.

Our Solution:
Access to a variety of different types of seeds in quantities appropriate for starting a family garden and to provide a guide about caring for the seeds.

With the initiative “Semillas de Cambio” or “Seeds of Change,”

We provide local families with access to a variety of different high quality vegetable seeds in small quantities. This allows families to purchase just the amount they need which in turn allows for crop diversity with less investment and risk. The seeds we offer are ¼ ounce packages of radishes, beets, onions, cucumbers, coriander, carrots, broccoli, green beans and green cabbage.

As a complementary product, we also offer an image based guide that explains how to plant, care for and harvest the plants as well as to educate about the nutritional value of each vegetable. The guide we have gives clear explanations with photographs on how to plant, tend and harvest the vegetables and care for the garden. The guide also includes descriptions on the nutritional value of each vegetable and how each helps to lead to a healthy body.

The Benefits of Our Solution:

Through the initiative “Semillas de Cambio,”:

Families have the ability to grow more diverse and nutritious gardens resulting in improved diet and health.

Families have the opportunity to maximize precious land, growing effectively on whatever plot they have available.

Image based guide allows for use among semiliterate constuitients

Small family surplusses can eventually be sold to generate additional family income.

Communities have improved agricultural knoweledge base and can make better informed decisions on investments and yield estimates.

To learn more about how access to "Seeds of Change" are provided in rural communities through the MicroConsignment Model please click here.

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ENERGY EFFICIENT LIGHT BULBS

The Problem:
Lack of access to high quality, energy saving light bulbs that reduce energy costs.

Traditionally in Guatemala, as in many other countries around the world, incandescent light bulbs have been commonly used, especially in homes. Unfortunately, incandescent light bulbs are not efficient because the majority of energy consumed by the bulb is wasted in the form of heat. With the constant rise in energy costs, small changes, such as the shift from a traditional bulb to an energy saving bulb, can have dramatic results (savings) on a family economy, consider the following...

The Effects and Consequences:
Cost of Energy in Guatemala
Electrical network:

Seventy percent of Guatemala´s energy is generated from the burning of non-renewable fuels, such as fossil fuels.

Fuels used to produce energy are acquired from foreign sources.

Markets prices of fuels have a direct impact on costs of electrical energy in Guatemala.

Currently energy in Guatemala is at an all time price high per kW.

Local / Family level:

Limited availability of products in some areas.

Incandescent light bulbs are not efficient because the majority of energy consumed by the bulb is wasted in the form of heat.

Inadequate information of the benefits of the product.

In many homes as soon as the filament burns out the bulb is replaced with another incandescent light bulb. It is easy to find a replacement incandescent bulb at corner stores and the cost is less than fluorescent bulbs. If homeowners were well informed on the benefits of fluorescent light bulbs they would be more likely to purchase an energy saving light bulb.

Although prices of fluorescent light bulbs have lowered, so, in some cases, has the quality of the product. There exists a wide range of brands offering energy saving light bulbs at various prices. An energy saving light bulb from General Electric has a product life of 8,000 hours (on average). One can buy a General Electric product confident it will perform to the stated specifications. A cheaper substitute does not offer the same confidence and may not last as long as the buyer had hoped.

Our Solution:
Access to a high-quality, energy efficient light bulb at an affordable price

The compact fluorescent ligh tbulb (energy saving light bulb), is a fluorescent light manufactured by General Electric that can be used in standard sockets commonly used by incandescent light bulbs such as lamps or ceiling fixtures.
The Benefits of Our Solution:

Energy saving light bulbs can save up to 80% of energy consumed by traditional incandescent light bulbs, thus reducing energy consumption and monthly energy bills.

It is a product that saves money and directly conserves the environment by lowering energy outputs.

Translates into savings for individuals, families and even local businesses.

Contributes in decreasing emissions of ¨green house gases¨ into the atmosphere, the proposed principal cause of climate change.

To learn more about how access to Energy Efficient Light Bulbs is provided in rural communities through the MicroConsignment Model please click here.

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NEAR VISION AND PROTECTIVE GLASSES

The Problem:
Lack of access to high quality reading and protective glasses at a low price.

The Effects and Consequences:
Presbyopia
More than 90% of people around the world over the age of 35 have vision problems, specifically Presbyopia. Presbyopia is a condition which occurs naturally with age where by the eye progressively loses its ability to focus on close objects.

While Presbyopia is not an illness, it is unfortunately unpreventable. Presbyopia is a normal condition which first appears when a person is around the age of 35, though the first symptoms usually are not noticed until around the age of 40. The symptoms most people initially develop include blurred vision when focusing on objects that are close. The main consequence of this problem is that many people can no longer read or be productive in their job. Unfortunately, most individuals choose to live with the problem, rather than easily solving it at an economical price.
The loss of a person’s ability to focus on objects in close range is easily solved by corrective lenses, better known as “reading glasses”. Because the severity of the symptoms can vary, glasses with different levels of magnification are made available.   Fortunately, the presence of a doctor is not necessary in order to give a simple eye exam and fit an individual with the proper glasses.

Pterygium
Pterygium is a growth on the surface of the eye which grows from the inner edge of the eye expanding through the white part of the eye (conjunctive) until it reaches the pupil. It generally assumes a pink or off – white color, eventually becoming red and irritated. Pterygium is found to be more frequent in persons who spend much of their time outdoors. The causes for this condition are found to be long-term exposure to sunlight, especailly to ultraviolet (UV) rays, as well as environments where dry conditions, dust, and smoke are present. A lack of drinking enough water and genetics are also factors. In Guatemala, most people in rural areas are exposed to all of these living conditions on a daily basis.

Unfortunately, surgery is the only treatment which will remove pterygium. But, prevention is possible and, therefore, is very important. Using protective glasses or sunglasses is not only the most effective prevention available, it is also an economical solution for everybody.

Our Solution:
Access to free eye exams as well as high quality and economical glasses at the local level

Since 2005, CE Solutions has been working with VisionSpring (formerly Scojo Foundation) to create an infrastructure in which we could purchase high quality reading and protective glasses at a low price. Currently, CE Solutions purchases the already mentioned eye care products directly through VisionSpring and then includes those products, as with all of the products in the MicroConsignment Model, in the basket of goods used by rural entrepreneurs.“Vision Campaigns” held by entrepreneurs in rural communities help identify people who have field treatable problems such as Presbicia. Entrepreneurs are trained to give simple eye exams and to then sell the appropriate glasses to the client. If more specific treatment is needed, referrals are made to partner clinics throughout the country.

For more information about VisionSpring please visit their website by using the link below.

The Benefits of Our Solution:
For Clients:

Supports and improves the productive lives of individuals whose work depends on viewing objects within a close range (tailor, seamstress, weavers, mechanic etc.)

Improves the quality of lives of people by supporting their abilities, so they can continue sewing, cooking, reading.

Refers patients needing more advanced treatment to clinics and specialists..

For Communities:

Stimulate economic development on the community level.

Promote awareness on the importance of visual health.

Support the health system by optimizing its limited resources. By CE Solutions focusing on presbyopia, the health system can focus on more serious problems.

Improve the quality of life in the rural areas: we give people in rural Guatemala the chance to purchase a product/service to which they did not previously have access while at the same time, creating a positive economic impact by satisfying needs within the families.

To learn more about how access to Reading & Protective Glasses and other eye care products is provided in rural communities through the MicroConsignment Model please click here.

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COMMUNITY SERVICE WEBSITE
www.paralacuminudad.com

The Problem:
Lack of access to information about community resources

There is a both a lack of organized information regarding Guatemalan NGOs and a database that is sufficiently accessible to individuals and organizations country-wide. Either such information does not exist, or it is available in fragmented fashion that is difficult to encounter and navigate. Consequently it is nearly impossible for villagers to access need critical information about organizations seeking to serve them and as well organizations seeking collaboration are placed at an extreme disadvantage.

The Effects and Consequences:

Absence of contact and knowledge of other similar organizations.

General lack of collaboration between organizations

There is a lack of organized information regarding Guatemalan NGOs or a database that has sufficiently collected the information of organizations country-wide. Either such information does not exist, or it is available in fragmented fashion that is difficult to navigate. As such, it is nearly impossible to search for a Guatemalan NGO by desired category or region.

Lack of communication between NGOs and organizations working in Guatemala toward similar goals of positive social change.

Our Solution:
Access to a comprehensive database and website of local development orgainzations and resources

To solve this problem CE Solutions is endeavoring to collect useful information from local and international NGOs and other organizations throughout the country. The goal is to create a website called ParaLaComunidad.com (“for the community”) to provide access to an extensive, organized network of Guatemalan organizations that address community needs. A template of the following information is gathered from organizations at no cost and is posted on the www.paralacomunidad.com website:

Organization name

Primary contact person

Position

Address

Telephone number

Email Address

Coverage

Website

Mission

Statement of problem being addressed

Organizational solution

Organizational goals

Beneficiaries

Recent successes

This is done in order to provide access to an extensive, organized network of Guatemalan NGOs that will streamline the process of locating an organization specific to the site user's needs and to provide a tool that can facilitate the coordination of projects between Guatemalan NGOs. By collecting useful information from NGOs and other organizations that we visit we will facilitate partnerships, volunteer activity, and overall effectiveness of organizations enacting positive social change throughout Guatemala. ParaLaComunidad.com will also promote the collaboration of NGOs, Associations, Cooperatives, and Governmental organizations by collecting and organizing organizational information onto a single web directory. ParaLaComunidad is dedicated to strengthening the system of organizations in Guatemala by furthering collaboration amongst these organizations.

Paralacomunidad.com aims to solve the above mentioned need by providing widespread access, via published website, to an NGO network and where users will be able to easily organize participating NGOs by region and category.

The Benefits of Our Solution:

Encourages collaboration of organizations by making it easy to do so.

Publicizes organizations working towards development in Guatemala.

Grants access to information about organizations to donors world-wide.

Creates a website that supplies development organizations with information about other Guatemalan development organizations in hopes that said organizations can begin to collaborate and subsidize each others’ work.

Guatemalans will be able to find desired information on NGOs in a convenient and organized fashion.

NGOs will be able to use the site as a resource to share ideas and collaborate on projects

Volunteers can learn about development in Guatemala through the website.

In short, our beneficiaries are Guatemalan citizens, organizations, foreign volunteers and any other interested party in need of organized and comprehensive information on specific Guatemalan non-governmental organizations.

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MICROENTREPRENEUR TRAINING PROGRAM

The Problem:
Lack of access to adequate business and financial management training

It has been estimated that there are 500 million economically active poor people in the world operating microenterprises and small businesses. Most of them do not have access to adequate financial services.

Banks are the institutions people normally associate with financial services. Competition forces banks to offer services their customers want at competitive prices. However, in a number of countries there is little or no competition, and banks may or may not meet the financial needs of community members.

Even as we enter the 21st century, the majority of poor families and individuals on our planet have no readily available affordable financial services. In many rural areas banks, savings and loan associations, and credit unions are nonexistent. The formal financial institutions that do exist do not consider the poor creditworthy, because the poor lack collateral to secure loans. This is especially true of women, who in a number of countries own no property or fixed assets due to legal restraints or cultural norms.

The financial institutions that do offer credit to economically active poor people not only charge high rates of interest, they also do not provide the adequate financial management counselling necessary to help those that receive credit. There are very few reliable institutions that provide reliable credit counselling where it is needed most.

Savings accounts also are problematic; the savings of poor people are of little interest to banks. Transaction costs decrease the profitability of small accounts. Minimum balance requirements, complicated procedures to open accounts or withdraw savings, and a lack of trust discourage the poor from putting their money in banks. Illiteracy is another barrier to accessing formal financial institutions. It is impossible to fill out a savings or loan document if you cannot read or write. Again, women are impacted disproportionately; their illiteracy rate greatly exceeds the rate for men.

The Effects and Consequences:
The majority of the world’s poor are working families. Most of these families live in developing countries. Women head many of these families. An estimated 200 million women in the developing world live in severe poverty. Most are self-employed, struggling to ensure the survival of their families through multiple economic pursuits that yield marginal returns.

Poverty is a continuous cycle...

"CrediCapaz" offers an opportunity to receive training for credit recipients in techniques to efficiently manage their income generation activities as well as an advanced form of saving -based community banking so that they can break free from the clenches of the poverty cycle.

Our Solution:

Small Business training and loan education not only allows family members to manage credit received through financial institutions and earn higher wages, but also enables them to better manage the family’s scarce resources.

By acquiring productive assets through savings, small grants, or affordable microloans, a family can increase their capacity to produce income by starting or expanding an income-generating activity. A small amount of capital is all that is needed to purchase a bicycle to get produce to market or purchase raw materials to make handicrafts or other homemade items to sell. A little additional income can make a big difference. It is difficult for people without education to find employment, and self-employment or microenterprise is thus the only option for millions of poor people. Lack of capital to acquire equipment, raw materials, seeds and fertilizer, or farm animals is an insurmountable barrier.

Education and the ability to secure productive assets are effective strategies in breaking the poverty cycle.

Leadership recently decided to launch two-pronged approach to make the people that need it the most more capable to efficiently manage their resources.  It is our goal to create a system that we can provide throughout the country of Guatemala and beyond through the current women entrepreneurs and through organizations that we collaborate with. Both of these approaches complement eachother. Income Generation/Microenterprise Development Training would be useless without Credit and Credit would be inefficiently wasted without Income.. By taking advantage of years of experience in the field, the aggregate knowledge of staff, leadership and interns, coupled with the fact that rural education is necessary now more than ever, the concept is to help small business people fill in their gaps in knowledge. As well, by having the entrepreneurs act as promoters and facilitators, they can passively learn and be actively taught new business concepts and as well their credibility in the field is greatly enhanced. By working with local organizations and through the growing network of entrepreneurs, Soluciones Comunitarias believes it can deliver necessary training and resources quickly and efficiently to villagers and create an additional revenue stream through services rendered throughout the initiative.

The Benefits of Our Solution:
Around the world, millions of low-income entrepreneurs are building better lives for themselves and their families by starting and expanding tiny businesses. The vast informal sector of the economy is comprised of microenterprises—microbusinesses with one to 10 workers, including the owner. Poor families launch microenterprises to generate income, build savings, and acquire assets as a cushion against natural disasters, illness or death, and other crises. As these enterprising households pull themselves out of poverty, they can improve their access to safe drinking water and more nutritious food, improve their housing, and educate their children. This is grass-roots development!

Income Generation/Microenterprise Development Training

Microenterprises provide most of the goods and services that meet people’s basic needs in developing countries.

Often microenterprises are the only economic organizations that function in a time of crisis.

Microenterprises require small amounts of capital to enter the market and produce results quickly Microenterprises use local products and skills.

Microenterprises are labor intensive and create jobs.

Microenterprises improve the income of the entrepreneurial poor.

Microenterprises are a catalyst for comprehensive community economic development.

Savings Based Community Banking Model

Provide families with the ability to survive economic crises.

Encourage people to look beyond daily or weekly income cycles and think about how to use money for long-term goals.

Allow for risk taking. With even a minimal increase in security, a poor woman can think about diversifying some of her activities to generate income.

When managed by a group, become a vehicle for bringing members together to talk about both personal and community issues.

Give people some control over their lives.

Enhance the welfare of children. Women’s income is most often spent on improving the lives of their children. The sense of security derived from having some savings is passed on to the children.

Easy, quick, local access to credit is important.

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SMALL BUSINESS NEWSPAPER AND WEBSITE
www.empresariorural.com

The Problem:
Lack of access to entrepreneurial resources

There is currently no appropriate access to helpful business information for rural Guatemalan small business people. Due to this lack of access to appropriate business information, not only are small businessmen being put at a high risk of failure, but many aspiring businessmen cannot support their dreams of creating their own enterprises.

The Effects and Consequences:
In Guatemala:

Guatemala suffers from a lack of available resources for small business owners. Small business owners are crucial to the Guatemalan economy, and Empresario Rural seeks to provide resources to help them improve their business practices.

Entrepreneurs and business owners throughout Guatemala lack the education, information and resources to become more successful in their business enterprises.

CE Solutions offers an opportunity to have access to useful information that harnesses and fosters the entrepreneurial spirit. Empresario Rural is a new, free resource available to all Guatemalans to help them realize their dreams of becoming successful entrepreneurs.

Our Solution:
Access to an informational website and newspaper specifically designed for rural small business people

Leadership recently decided to launch a small business resource website and newspaper called Empresario Rural.com (‘Rural Entrepreneur”). It is Soluciones Comunitaria’s goal to create a small business newsletter distributed throughout rural Guatemala by the current women entrepreneurs and through organizations. This newspaper is complemented by a comprehensive free website with more in-depth information and resources. By taking advantage of years of experience in the field, the aggregate knowledge of staff, leadership and interns, coupled with the fact that rural internet centers are now the norm rather than the exception, the concept is to help small business people fill in their gaps in knowledge. As well, by having the entrepreneurs act as distributors they can passively learn and be actively taught new business concepts and as well their credibility in the field is greatly enhanced. By working with local organizations and through the growing network of entrepreneurs, CE Solutions believes it can deliver necessary information quickly and efficiently to villagers and create an additional revenue stream through advertising once distribution channels are established to these unique markets.

Our Mission:

To achieve widespread and effective distribution of Empresario Rural and to acquire feedback and support that will improve and sustain future editions of the publication.

Spread awareness and gather feedback of the first editions of Empresario Rural; establish Empresario Rural distribution centers; conduct "Cuenteme" interviews to evaluate general state of small businesses in Guatemala (as well as provide content for future editions of Empresario Rural); assess needs of readers in terms of content;

To educate entrepreneurs throughout rural Guatemala on the best business practices.

Our Objectives:

Up to 10,000 copies of Empresario Rural distributed all over Guatemala every two months

Rural Guatemalans will have become more educated and efficient in their businesses

Community, Regional, and National Advertisers will have become interested in advertising in Empresario Rural.

Establish permanent distribution centers in Coban, Nebaj, Xela, and Solola.

The Benefits of Our Solution:

Micro finance institutions are continually looking for ways to teach their constituents new business knowledge/best practices. Empresario Rural will provide a vehicle for them to achieve this goal.

CE Solutions is continually searching for ways to provide efficient training to MicroConsignment entrepreneurs/micro franchisees. As these individuals will be the primary source for distribution, they will be learning as they are handing out newsletters.

Villager-level business people currently have no access to business information. All other distribution mechanisms aside, MicroConsignment entrepreneurs/micro franchisees are visiting up to 40 villages a month and can create access that leverages off of their current businesses. This will also further establish these individuals as credible and respected village level problem solvers.

The MicroConsingment model presently relies on a “push” strategy (i.e. we go to the clients). As SolCom will be advertising its products and services in Empresario Rural, more and more clients will be “pulled” and be calling/requesting services/products. This should increase revenues, create greater impact, help us to better serve self-selecting target markets and lower distribution/transportation costs.

There are projected ample suppliers of goods and services as well as NGO’s who should desire reaching markets at the village level (“The Bottom of the Pyramid”). This could include cell phone providers, trainers, relief organizations, consumer products distributors etc etc. Given that there are no local level print advertisers in Guatemala, Empresairo Rural would be a truly unique media outlet.

Rural internet centers now abound in Guatemala. However relevant and appropriate content is lacking. Empresario Rural will provide a means by which rural small business users can now get pertinent information that “speaks to them”. As well, the newsletter should “pull” infrequent and new users to these internet centers.

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social entrepreneurship George Bucky Glickley