Etta Projects has been working with Bolivian communities since 2003.

Women's Bakery Project Updates

Update: February, 2011 and Final Report

Panaderia Etta Small Business/Microfinance Project

After a successful year in business, Panaderia Etta closed shop in October 2010 at the decision of its owners. The ten women that developed and managed the bakery with the assistance of a business training course and an Etta Projects microloan have moved on to other endeavors-launched by their experience owning and managing their own small business. Four of the women have started individual bakeries, three more have formed a small group that harvests and sells watermelon. Interestingly, it was in part the great success of Panaderia Etta that led to its closing. Panaderia Etta was the first bakery in the Fernandez Alonzo region and became immediately popular within the community. Only a few months after Panaderia Etta opened, other would-be entrepreneurs followed suit, seeking to replicate its success. Five new bakeries opened within a six-block radius of Panaderia Etta within the year. This increased competition led to reduced earnings for the Panaderia Etta team, partially spurring their decision to move on to create new business opportunities.

The Panaderia Etta team members successfully completed a small business management course covering marketing, sales, accounting, quality control and client service. They also completed an eight-week course in bread and pastry baking, which included food-safety and kitchen hygiene in addition to culinary techniques. The team members then had the opportunity to put their new skills into action through the development and management of the bakery. Etta Projects provided all training and some materials for the project; the capital to purchase equipment came from a small microloan, which the women repaid during their first year in business.

Most of the women in the bakery project had never worked outside of the home or engaged in any entrepreneurial activity. Some did not even read or write. Throughout the project, team members gained experience in problem solving, leadership, group dynamics, and economics, in addition to gaining valuable business and culinary skills.

Although the original vision was for an ongoing bakery business run by the Panaderia Etta team, Etta Projects remains committed to the belief that the people it serves have the ability to evaluate their own situations and choose alternatives best suited to their individual circumstances. Through the Panaderia Etta project a group of women have become empowered to establish their own businesses and partnerships. They are now seeking their own ways to improve the lives of their families.

 Update: December, 2009

he Christmas season has a way of making us stop...reflect...admire. And the women of Panaderia Etta give us much to think about. It's not easy to start a business, train in an entirely new field, balance work-the kids- the home. Some women in the group do not read or write; some are timid and were nervous to embark in sales for the first time. But these women make us recognize that people can succeed, despite the odds, with determination and persistence.

In the Christmas spirit, Etta Projects wanted to express their admiration to the group of women. Staff and volunteers arrived to the bakery one Saturday night in December after closing time with a truck full of supplies to give the bakery the makeover that the hardworking women deserve. We transformed the dark, cement room into a cheerful women's bakery. We hung shelves, painted walls, trimmed windows, hung pictures and added finishing touches of flowers and decorations.

Our intention was to do something nice for the women. But leaving Panaderia Etta we realized that once again, we probably got more out of it than we gave. As local people from the village arrived to the bakery to see what the crazy Gringas were doing in their village at night, they began to help and participate. The community spoke about how exciting it is to have a nice place to go in their town to buy their pastries. Children painted flowers and we all celebrated. Etta Projects got to be part of this special moment in the community. Sure the women were excited to see the newly decorated bakery but for us, well it was one of the best Saturday nights we ever had!

In addition to the decorations, the women of Panaderia Etta spent the month of December learning how to bake holiday treats. Despite the 95 degree heat it actually felt like Christmas in Puesto Fernandez as the women decorated sugar cookies and baked different pastries. Etta Projects' volunteer, Barbara Chandler, led two baking sessions and the women sold the Christmas cookies to the village.

Udate: November, 2009

Panaderia Etta (Etta's Bakery) has hit the ground running! Just one month since the bakery has opened its doors, sales are already soaring. The small community of Puesto Fernandez is overjoyed to have access to warm delicious bread for the very first time....and the women are working relentlessly to meet the demand! Being the only Bakery in town demand is great but what a great business to own.

The Bakery Project functions as a small micro financing project. While Etta Projects provides all training and materials, the majority of the equipment needed to begin to the bakery is given to the women in the form of a small loan. All funding returned to the project will be put towards future microfinancing projects. Etta's Bakery has been so successful that in November, the first month of repayment, the women paid five times more than what was required!!!!!

During the month of November, the women also completed their final bakery class. Etta Projects will continue to meet regularly with the women to monitor the work and to strengthen teamwork skills. The women have expressed interest in coordinating with neighboring communities to teach other women bakery skills and help launch new projects.

Update: September, 2009

The participants of the bakery project worked relentlessly this past month to complete the small business management class and to purchase the necessary equipment. They are now busy learning how to bake pastries, breads, and cakes. The group has rented a small space just off the town's main plaza and will open their doors to the public on October 12th.

On October 7th, the municipality of Fernandez Alonso held an inauguration ceremony to celebrate "Panaderia Etta" (Etta's Bakery); the women voted on this name after learning about Etta. At the event, the mayor and other members of the municipality spoke about the impact of this project in the community. The women gave speeches about the incredible opportunity of the bakery to make a positive change in their life and in their families'. Etta Projects shared their gratitude to have the opportunity to connect with ten hard-working women and the honor we felt for the women naming the bakery after Etta.

The inauguration drew people throughout the community to try the goods and pastries of the town's first bakery.

The startup funding necessary to begin the bakery was given to the women of Etta's Bakery as a microloan. All funding repaid to Etta Projects will be put towards initiating future community projects.

Update: August, 2009

This project includes three distinct phases: Phase 1- Small Business Management Course; Phase 2- Bread and Pastry Course; and Phase 3- Small Business Implementation.

We are currently in Phase 1 of this project. In order to participate in the bakery project, each member has to first complete a small business management course. The participants learn skills in marketing, accounting, quality control, client services, savings, and sales. They will also practice working in a group, problem solving, and leadership. Etta Projects brings a local professional of each theme is facilitate the various sessions of the Small Management Course. During this course, the members will also form a directory committee.

The small business management course is expected to end on September 3rd. At this time, Etta Projects and the members of the bakery group will purchase all the materials necessary to begin their business. The bread and pastry course will begin on September 11th. Etta Projects has already secured Phase 2's teacher, Marta de la Fuente. Marta has her own successful bakery in Montero, and is widely known for the best bakery products in town. The bakery classes will meet once a week for 4-hour sessions for eight consecutive weeks. Women will learn how to make a variety of breads, empanadas, cakes, and pastries. They will also learn hygiene in the kitchen.