OUR PROGRAMS
Social Businesses
OUR PROGRAMS
Social
Businesses
GRADUATE-RUN
Café Sabor Cruceño
Located on the rooftop terrace of the CECAP building in Santa Cruz, overlooking beautiful Lake Atitlán, Café Sabor Cruceño is a nonprofit social enterprise business supported by Amigos. Since 2012, it has employed 105 local young chefs. The cafe provides practical training and employment for CECAP graduates, as well as helps to spur local economic development by attracting tourists to Santa Cruz village.
GRADUATE-RUN
Café Sabor Cruceño
Located on the rooftop terrace of the CECAP building in Santa Cruz, overlooking beautiful Lake Atitlán, Café Sabor Cruceño is a nonprofit social enterprise business supported by Amigos. Since 2012, it has employed 105 local young chefs. The cafe provides practical training and employment for CECAP graduates, as well as helps to spur local economic development by attracting tourists to Santa Cruz village.
STORIES OF CHANGE
Meet Alfredo Santos
“When life gives you a second chance, grab it with both hands.”
Alfredo dreamed of joining the Amigos team since childhood, but supporting six children was difficult for his parents, so he left school to work in construction. In his free time, he took English and culinary courses at CECAP, which equipped him to find a job in a hotel and improve his family income. In 2018 -when he was only 17-, a severe boat accident left him in a coma for over 20 days.
After recovering, he couldn’t travel for work and became unemployed. Amigos invited him for a job at Café Cruceño, where he thrived and became the customer service manager. “The accident taught me to be thankful and appreciative of life. Now, I enjoy teaching cooking classes and interacting with tourists in my community.”
STORIES OF CHANGE
Meet Alfredo Santos
“When life gives you a second chance, grab it with both hands.”
Alfredo dreamed of joining the Amigos team since childhood, but supporting six children was difficult for his parents, so he left school to work in construction. In his free time, he took English and culinary courses at CECAP, which equipped him to find a job in a hotel and improve his family income. In 2018 -when he was only 17-, a severe boat accident left him in a coma for over 20 days.
After recovering, he couldn’t travel for work and became unemployed. Amigos invited him for a job at Café Cruceño, where he thrived and became the customer service manager. “The accident taught me to be thankful and appreciative of life. Now, I enjoy teaching cooking classes and interacting with tourists in my community.”
ARTISAN STORE
Manos Cruceñas
We are keeping ancient crafts alive, and at the same time creating opportunities for learning new techniques. Our Santa Cruz store has provided wholesome livelihood for over 200 local female artisans, and also employs five local women who run this social enterprise business. All our items are beautifully crafted unique designs.
ARTISAN STORE
Manos Cruceñas
We are keeping ancient crafts alive, and at the same time creating opportunities for learning new techniques. Our Santa Cruz store has provided wholesome livelihood for over 200 local female artisans, and also employs five local women who run this social enterprise business. All our items are beautifully crafted unique designs.
Weaving Opportunities To Thrive
Economic opportunities for women in Santa Cruz are scarce, and those available, are often low-
paying. Working for Manos Cruceñas provides women with a fair living wage, combined with the
flexibility to work from home. Amigos also provides artisans with non-economic support, such as
nutrition and empowerment workshops to help them build healthy households.
Weaving Opportunities To Thrive
Economic opportunities for women in Santa Cruz are scarce, and those available, are often low-paying. Working for Manos Cruceñas provides women with a fair living wage, combined with the flexibility to work from home. Amigos also provides artisans with non-economic support, such as nutrition and empowerment workshops to help them build healthy households.
STORIES OF CHANGE
Meet Doña Juana
Juana’s Journey to Financial Independence
Juana Méndez had never worked outside her home until six years ago, when she was suddenly faced with the challenge of providing for her family after the passing of her husband. Having two daughters to support, Juana was determined to build a better future for them. She took her first steps toward that goal by enrolling in vocational courses at CECAP, where she learned dressmaking and backstrap loom weaving. Through these skills, she found a pathway to financial independence. Today, Juana is a skilled craftswoman at our Manos Cruceñas artisan store and works as a kitchen assistant at Café Sabor Cruceño—two of Amigos’ social businesses. The generated income has allowed her to pay for her youngest daughter’s education and make strides toward her dream of building a dignified home for her family.
STORIES OF CHANGE
Meet Doña Juana
Juana’s Journey to Financial Independence
Juana Méndez had never worked outside her home until six years ago, when she was suddenly faced with the challenge of providing for her family after the passing of her husband. Having two daughters to support, Juana was determined to build a better future for them. She took her first steps toward that goal by enrolling in vocational courses at CECAP, where she learned dressmaking and backstrap loom weaving. Through these skills, she found a pathway to financial independence. Today, Juana is a skilled craftswoman at our Manos Cruceñas artisan store and works as a kitchen assistant at Café Sabor Cruceño—two of Amigos’ social businesses. The generated income has allowed her to pay for her youngest daughter’s education and make strides toward her dream of building a dignified home for her family.
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Join The Impact
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Join The Impact