Corporacion Multi Inversiones recently issued the following announcement.
Elsa Sacul is a businesswoman who lives in the indigenous community of Chiacam, in the municipality of San Pedro Carchá. The concern to have a business of its own arose in 2015, when he learned how to make jellies and craft preserves in the "Training for Life" program of Hidroeléctrica Renace.
Elsa completed an 80-hour course to learn how to make jellies and preserves. In 2017, he formalized his company before the SAT, "Dulces y Envasados Renacer", whose specialty is canned plantains, bananas, taro and medlar.
"Training for Life", one of the seven programs of Sustainable Social Development of Renace, provides workshops, with the support of Intecap, to improve technical skills and promote entrepreneurship in young people between the ages of 16 and 22.
Also, young people develop financial skills, improve their technical training, which increases the chances of getting a job and impacts the household economy.
The program has helped residents of San Pedro Carchá, such as Elsa Sacul, to start their businesses and receive support to register as small taxpayers before the Superintendency of Tax Administration (SAT).
Elsa went from learning to produce preserves, with materials and supplies that Renace facilitated, to market their products at events such as "Mercado para Todos", an initiative of the hydroelectric plant that, month by month, reaches the urban center to help rural entrepreneurs.
Elsa Sacul's effort to get ahead had a positive impact on the economy of her home and favorably affected the community of Chiacam, giving work to other neighbors when she receives large orders.
"Tasty, Tasty"
While all the courses and careers that are given to residents are so diverse, ranging from how to knit a scarf, piece of güipil, napkins or purses to repair computers, have been developed by Renace in the cultural context of the department of Alta Verapaz.
The courses of the "Training for Life" program are not limited to Chiacam, they are also taught to different communities of San Pedro Carchá. This is the case of María Elena Misti Chub, originally from the Bancab community of the aforementioned municipality.
María Elena Misti Chub, has been characterized by her enthusiasm to succeed, to be an example for her children and the women around her. Until 2014, he sold gelatin and ice cream in schools and markets in his community.
That year she began to participate in Renace's social programs where, like Elsa, she learned how to make jellies and preserves, thanks to what she learned in the "Training for Life" program.
In 2016, he decided to start his business, which he called "Saa Sa". In q'eqchi 'language it means "Tasty, Tasty". The sale of jellies and preserves have helped improve your income and the economy of your home.
The products produced by neighbors who have participated in the Renace hydroelectric programs are sold in the same communities, nearby places or small businesses located in the municipality of San Pedro Carchá.
The Basic Bakery course in 2016, allowed him to learn to produce French bread, pirujo, butter breads and toast. It also makes special breads with cheese, chocolate and sesame seeds.
Renace points out that since the beginning of the bakery course, in 2016, more than 50 young people have participated through community assemblies held by the COCODES of the communities neighboring the project.
Claudia distributes bread in her community and in surrounding communities, with eight stores as regular customers where she delivers the product on a daily basis, which shows that the courses are adapted to success cases in the communities of San Pedro Carchá, neighboring the hydroelectric Renace.
Social investment
Although the businesses of Elsa, María Elena and Claudia are palpable examples of improvement for future generations, they also show that the Renace program fulfills the objective of improving the quality of life of the residents of San Pedro Carchá.
By 2018, Renace Hydroelectric had already supported the 206% increase of young people with technical skills: there are 28 promotions of graduates of different courses, with a direct benefit to 839 young people and adults.
Renace has a strategy of shared social value that has been developed since 2012 in the department of Alta Verapaz and is proud that, thanks to programs such as "Training for Life", eight businesses have been formalized before the Guatemalan Treasury.
The social investment of US $ 30 million, the strategy supports all stages of development of the human person through seven programs of sustainable social development in the Q'eqchi' communities that inhabit the Cahabón river basin, in San Pedro Carchá.
The products elaborated by the members of the community that have received the technical training also include the typical fabrics, edible with natural products of the region and wood crafts.
In 2018, Renace received the international prize "Diversified Program of Corporate Social Responsibility", awarded by Standard & Poors Global Platts, whose objective is to reward shared value strategies in the energy sector worldwide.
A world class recognition, brings together the efforts of the Renace hydroelectric plant and several entities that have contributed to improve the quality of life of 21 thousand people in 29 Q'eqchi 'communities of San Pedro Carchá.
Renace also supports infrastructure projects, such as road construction, community halls and schools. They focus on economic development with activities that promote local tourism, community markets, among others.
Original source: https://www.cmi.co/es/item/464-los-emprendimientos-artesanales-que-triunfan-en-san-pedro-carcha
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