Bricks To Bread International

BRICKS TO BREAD INTERNATIONAL IS A 501C(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WHOSE PRIMARY EXEMPT PURPOSE IS TO ALLEVIATE POVERTY AND BUILD GLOBAL LEADERS. WE HELP BUILD BRICK OVENS FOR COSTA RICAN FAMILIES SEEKING A SUSTAINABLE SOURCE OF INCOME. BRICKS TO BREAD ASSISTS AND MENTORS FAMILIES IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF THEIR OWN OVEN AND OFFERS TRAINING AND ASSISTANCE IN DEVELOPING A SOLID BUSINESS PLAN TO SELL FRESH BAKED GOODS TO THEIR COMMUNITY. BRICK OVENS NOT ONLY HELP PROVIDE A FAMILY WITH A SUSTAINABLE INCOME, BUT THEY ALSO BRING COMMUNITIES TOGETHER. THE OVENS BECOME A FOCAL POINT IN THE COMMUNITY, BECOME A GATHERING PLACE FOR COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER. BRICKS TO BREAD ACCOMPLISHES ALL OF THIS THROUGH DONATIONS, PARTNERSHIPS, VOLUNTEER TRIP OPPORTUNITIES AND BAKING BREAD TOGETHER.

RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. 2,500 NEW LIVES TOUCHED BY OUR PROGRAMS. 6,350 MEMBERS OF OUR OVEN PROJECT COMMUNITIES RECEIVED OUR ONGOING SUPPORT. 2 HOUSEHOLDS BROKE THE POVERTY CYCLE BARRIER, ACHIEVING NEW FINANCIAL SECURITY OWNING THEIR OWN BUSINESS DURING 2022. OUR BRICK OVENS ARE BUILT FOR WOMEN SEEKING A SUSTAINABLE SOURCE OF INCOME TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES. THEY DEMONSTRATE AN APTITUDE AND DESIRE TO MANAGE, MAINTAIN, AND RUN A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS. FURTHERMORE, RURAL COSTA RICAN COMMUNITIES RARELY HAVE ACCESS TO FRESH BAKED GOODS, MANY IN FOOD DESERT AREAS WHERE THE SOURCES ARE LIMITED. BREADS FROM OUR OVENS OFFER A SUSTAINABLE, FRESH OPTION FOR THE COMMUNITY. OUR OVEN PROGRAM PROVIDES NEEDED RESOURCES FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, GIVING FAMILIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE BETTER LIVES AND GIVE BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITIES. EACH OVEN PROJECT INCLUDES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW BRICK OVEN, A PROCESSING AND PACKAGING FACILITY AND SEED FUNDING FOR TRAINING, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND START-UP COSTS. DURING 2022, WE WORKED WITHIN 23 DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT COSTA RICA AND HONDURAS, EMPOWERING 93 WOMEN TO OVERCOME ADVERSITY AND ACHIEVING FINANCIAL SECURITY. DURING 2022, WE ADDED TWELVE NEW FAMILIES TO OUR BRICK OVEN COMMUNITY, EMPOWERING EACH FAMILY TO MOVE FROM LIVING UNDER THE NATIONAL EXTREME POVERTY LEVEL OF $155 A MONTH TO EARNING OVER $600 A MONTH (THE NATIONAL AVERAGE INCOME FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES). DURING 2022, WE INVESTED AN ADDITIONAL $2,300 BY HOSTING OUR FIRST ANNUAL EMPOWERING WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS CONFERENCE WHERE 12 WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS JOINED US FOR A 3 DAY CONFERENCE OF EDUCATION, TEAM BUILDING AND INFORMATION SHARING.

GLOBAL LEADERSHIP 70 YOUTH VOLUNTEERS ENGAGED IN DIFFERENT COMMUNITY DRIVEN INITIATIVES. FOUR OF THESE EXPERIENCES INCLUDED VOLUNTEER TRIP EXPERIENCES, IMPACTING THE LIVES OF 23 LOCAL VOLUNTEERS, AND 6 IN-COUNTRY VOLUNTEERS. THESE TRIPS PROMOTE WORLD PEACE, EXPAND WORLDVIEW, FOSTER CROSS-CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING, AND INSPIRE SERVANT LEADERSHIP. WE OFFER A UNIQUE SERVICE LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR VOLUNTEERS INTERESTED IN SHARING THEIR GIFTS AND TALENTS THROUGH OUR VOLUNTEER TRIP EXPERIENCES. OUR 7-11 DAY EXCURSIONS CULTIVATE A LIFE CHANGING CULTURAL EXCHANGE BETWEEN RECIPIENTS AND VOLUNTEERS, BUILD MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES THAT EXPAND WORLDVIEW, FOSTER CROSS-CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING, AND INSPIRE SERVANT LEADERSHIP.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: OUR COMMUNITY EVENTS ARE CENTERED AROUND THE WARMTH OF A COMMUNITY BREAD OVEN. DURING 2023, WE OFFERED 21 BAKING EVENTS, REACHING OVER 798 LOCAL FAMILIES WHO PARTICIPATED IN OUR MISSION THROUGH OUR BAKING EVENTS. WE OFFER VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCES AND SELL BAKED GOODS THROUGHOUT THE REGION. OUR OVEN EVENTS DEMONSTRATE JUST HOW OUR OVEN RECIPIENTS IN RURAL COSTA RICA CHANGE LIVES WITH A BRICK AND A LOAF.