|
 El
Descanso was started in January 2001 by a development
volunteer and a group of dedicated Ixil folks. Our goal
has been to provide well-paying employment opportunities
to hard working, service oriented people in the hopes
of forming a team that will work to offer something new
and different in the Ixil area.
Employees are involved in every step
of the decision making process and receives a portion
of the profits and scholarships. Because of this, the
El Descanso team feels a sense of ownership and strives
to make their restaurant the best it can possibly be.
Moreover, a part of every centavo that you spend in El
Descanso goes to development projects in the area . To
date we have funded or helped to fund the following. (top)
To date we have funded or helped to
fund the following projects:
- A local community store for artisans (Tetz
Chemol)
- A language school (The Nebaj
Language School)
- Scholarships for youth for internet use
- Scholarships for youth and adults for computer
classes
- Scholarships for youth for monthly school payments
(all employees receive a scholarship for themselves
or their children.
- A stove project in the villages of La Pista and
Las Violeta.
- A typewriting school in the village of Sumalito
.
- Interest free loans for local business people starting
up
- A rabbit project in the village of Las Violetas
- A youth recycled card business
- New packaging for a local honey cooperative.
Presently we dedicate all of our development
funds to pay the rent and salaries etc. for a library,
computer and crafts center "Centro Explorativo" . The
primary goals of the Centro are to teach the value of
reading, offer educational resources and give youth something
productive and educational to do in their free time.
We are always looking for self motivated volunteers who
are interested in participating in the library's development.
If you are interested in volunteering at the Centro please contact
us.
At " El Descanso we do our best
to offer a unique menu that includes many international
as well as local dishes, all for a great price. To check
out the full menu , just click. All food is prepared
with care by our local staff (in photo).
Nebaj's unique mix of locals, tourists
and development workers makes for an extremely interesting
international community. In part, "El Descanso" was
designed to provide this community with a place to not
only eat and drink, but to share ideas, cultures, languages
and dreams ...don't forget to leave your mark.
Management Structure
El Descanso is registered in the name
of one owner for legal purposes. However, as with all
of the businesses on this web site, the management structure
is organized so as to facilitate the functioning and
growth of the business and encourage all involved to
take an active role in decision making and participate
in profit sharing.
El Descanso is run by a "workers council" comprised
of the administrative manager, the consultant, three
waiters and two cooks. Each week this group of individuals
meets to solve problems and decide what changes or improvements
are needed to take advantage of short and long-term opportunities.
Each major decision is put to a vote during the meeting.
Bonuses are given to the staff of El Descanso whenever
daily sales exceed a predetermined level. Moreover, each
member of the staff receives a scholarship each month
which can be used for their own or their children's studies.
The idea is that because the people
who do the work at El Descanso make a fair wage, receive
a scholarship for their studies, get a vote in the decision
making and receive a portion of profits based on performance,
they feel that they are the "true owners", value their
work and are incentivized to provide the best service
possible to clients. "El Descanso" is in the
process of setting up an association of Nebaj businesses
along with the other businesses represented on this site.
Currently El Descanso pays for the rent
and employees of Centro Explorativo de Nebaj.
Business Sponsorship
Program
Below is an outline of the model based
on the handout given to customers at Chadwicks Restaurants
(three locations, Georgetown , Washington DC- 202-333-2565,
Friendship Height, Washington DC- 202-362-8040 and Old
Town , Alexandria , VA - 703-863-4442). We would like
to express our profound appreciation to Michael and Margaret
Kirby at Chadwick`s for their initiative and effort in
this new venture. In addition, we would like to express
our gratitude to Philip and Mary Van Kirk for facilitating
and moving this process forward .
Chadwick´s Sister
Business Model
"Helping to Educate and Provide Healthcare in Rural Guatemala "
Eat Well and Do Good
at the Same Time!
Chadwick´s has recently launched
a pilot development program along with New Development
Solutions Co., an enterprise focused on social entrepreneurship
in Guatemala , to provide much needed funding for education
and healthcare to employees of small businesses in rural
Guatemala . In much the same way that many international
development organizations have child sponsorship programs,
Chadwick´s has identified a need and is launching
a unique small business sponsorship program.
Why?
Some facts about Guatemala ..
- The poor of Guatemala (primarily the indigenous
Maya population) spend 70% of total income to purchase
basic foods that are often of low nutritional value.
- Over half of indigenous children under five years
of age are chronically malnourished
- For practical purposes there is no health coverage
or medical insurance currently in place and/or accessible
- Illiteracy is over 80% in many parts of rural Guatemala
- There is no free public schooling in Guatemala
- Access to credit to individuals and small business
people is extremely limited
- Loan interest rates in rural areas range between
22% and 36% per year.
 Where are you helping?
Chadwick´s is beginning this unique
program by offering monthly education and healthcare
funding to the employees of El Descanso Restaurant in
Nebaj, El Quiche. Nebaj is a small town in the Western
highlands of Guatemala that suffered greatly during Guatemala´s
36-year civil war that ended in 1996. It is populated
by a Maya group called the Ixiles. It is in one of the
poorest regions of the country located roughly seven
hours by bus from the capital city.
El Descanso Restauran was opened in
January of 2002 by a Peace Corps Volunteer and five motivated
local people. The goal of the restaurant is to offer
new foods, a different atmosphere and, most of all, quality
employment opportunities to local people. Since its inception,
the restaurant has donated 50% of all profits to local
development projects. In February of 2003 it began dedicating
its funding to support a local lending library and arts
and crafts center in town. The restaurant is now locally
owned and administered by the employees. It now employees
15 men and women ranging from 15 to 55 years old.
 Who are you helping?
Chadwick`s will contribute funds every
month to provide scholarships and create a healthcare
fund for the 15 employees of El Descanso and/or their
families. Unfortunately, the restaurant cannot afford
to pay fixed and variable costs, invest in necessary
equipment, continue to pay fair salaries, continue to
provide funds to the only lending library in town and
provide help with education and healthcare costs on a
consistent basis. Chadwick´s contribution will
greatly improve the quality of life of the employees
and their families while allowing the restaurant to continue
to grow and offer more advantageous income generation
opportunities to its employees and the surrounding community.
How does it work?
Once every month Chadwick´s will
offer a menu item that is on the El Descanso menu and
donate 100% of the proceeds of that item to support the
education and healthcare of the Nebaj employees. Chadwick´s
will transfer this funding to New Development Solutions
Co. in Guatemala who will then help Felipe Brito (the
owner of El Descanso) administer the scholarship and
healthcare program. The funding will be divided evenly
between scholarships and healthcare. New Development
Solutions will receive 5% of all contributions to administer
the program and ensure best practices.
We project that a contribution of between
$150 and $200 a month could provide full scholarships
to all 15 employees (or one or more of their children
if they are adults) and enough money to cover all emergency
healthcare!
So eat well, enjoy your visit to Chadwick´s
and help a rural Guatemalan business and community at
the same time. We greatly appreciate
El Descanso was started in January 2001
by a development volunteer and a group of dedicated Ixil
folks. Our goal has been to provide well-paying employment
opportunities to hard working, service oriented people
in the hopes of forming a team that will work to offer
something new and different in the Ixil area.
Employees are involved in every step
of the decision making process and receives a portion
of the profits and scholarships. Because of this, the
El Descanso team feels a sense of ownership and strives
to make their restaurant the best it can possibly be.
Moreover, a part of every centavo that you spend in El
Descanso goes to development projects in the area . To
date we have funded or helped to fund the following.
International Community
Nebaj's unique mix of locals, tourists
and development workers makes for an extremely interesting
international community. In part, "El Descanso" was
designed to provide this community with a place to not
only eat and drink, but to share ideas, cultures, languages
and dreams ...don't forget to leave your mark.
|
