Familiar Faces: Batidos Falkis

The happy faces of the Batidos Falkis staff have quickly become familiar to the people of El Sauce throughout the course of the last year as the new business planted its roots and began to grow rapidly in popularity. It is a rare day when there isn't a line of costumers waiting to order a refreshing cold smoothie.

Batidos Falkis Staff

Left- Angela Falkis  Right -Fiama Mayorga

The business started just over a year ago when owners Angela Falkis and her daughter Fiama Mayorga began thinking of opening a smoothie shop in their hometown. After having heard of the increasing interest and success of shops in other local cities they had high hopes for similar outcomes in El Sauce. From the beginning their main goal has been to teach the public that fresh fruits are a healthy option for all.

Service with a SMILE

Common Nicaraguan beliefs suggest that eating fruits at certain times during the day can cause health issues. There is even a taboo connected to the diet of a pregnant woman forbidding her to consume fruits after a certain point in her pregnancy. The ladies now take pride in their business saying that it has become much more than they had ever expected it to and they enjoy teaching facts about health and good eating habits.

But things for Batidos Falkis haven’t always easy; as most entrepreneurial experiences aren't.  Aside from finding a good and affordable location, one of their largest obstacles was getting the needed machinery. 

Sealing the smoothies.

Miguel making smoothies

Serving refreshing mocha smoothies.

However, with the assistance of the EnlaceProject Entrepreneurial Development Program Manager, Enrique Corrales and his assistant Peace Corps Volunteer, Conrad Wright, Angela and Fiama were able to receive the professional support and guidance to better their business. The mother daughter duo attended workshops that educated them in the starting a new business. The information and ideas they learned helped to attract more business and sales began to pick up quickly thereafter.  

Multi-seater  bikes are also available for rent.

This humble family business not only greets customers with smiling face because of their professional growth, but more importantly because they have work and through the opening of the shop they have provided others with jobs as well. 

The relationships they have formed with the community members of their hometown are something of great value to Angela and Fiama. They've even established friendships with the many foreign visitors spending time in El Sauce; servicing them with a bilingual menu.They love being able to provide good service to their clients and have big dreams to one day soon expand the business into a larger venue where they can give even more than they are capable of now. They hope to one day have extended hours and a wider variety of meals on their menu.

Follow Batidos Falkis on facebook today for updates, photos, events, and promos. 


--- Written by Bethany Nelson, Enlace Project Intern

Enlace Project Makes New Social Links in El Sauce

don Juan Carlos Zelaya opens the meeting

In February, 2014, Enlace Project hosted its first multi-institutional meeting with local organizations, cooperatives, businesses, and schools from the municipality of El Sauce, Nicaragua. There was a positive community turn out, with approximately 25 representatives from 16 different institutions attending the meeting. The Enlace Project shared with the community our organization’s mission statement, along with a short presentation of each program that defines our name.

On Friday February 27^th, 2015, we officially established an annual tradition, by hosting the Enlace Project’s second multi-institutional meeting. With an increase of upwards to 40 representatives, 20 institutions, and another year’s worth of positive stories to share, the meeting was a great success. The Enlace Project would like to thank everyone who assisted in making it such.

Program Coordinator Juan Carlos Zelaya began the meeting with a warm welcome to all participants; he thanked everyone for both their time and support. Next, he gave a great introduction of our organization and our goals for the formation of new partnerships with both governmental and non-governmental institutions.

Bethany Nelson speaks about the Marketing program 

The seminar continued with presentations from Enlace Project staff members, regarding their programs. Intern Bethany Nelson spoke about the positive progress of Enlace’s new marketing program, and the many strides the Enlace Project has made in developing our social media platforms. 

English teachers Luzvelia Sevilla and Javier Rocha spoke on behalf of the Enlace Project English School and the advancements the school has seen since its doors opened in 2009.

Academic and Volunteer Trips Coordinator, Juan Mariana, gave a nice presentation about his work experience with both student and volunteer groups. Projects like this reflect the Enlace Project’s dedication to partnerships with non-domestic institutions, such as state universities from the State of New York, and youth volunteer groups who annually visit Nicaragua for rural school constructions projects. 

Batidos Falkis shares success story

A new and welcomed addition to this year’s meeting was guest presentations. The Enlace Project’s Entrepreneurial Development Program Manager, Enrique Corrales, and Peace Corps Volunteer Conrad Wright, presented about the Enlace Project’s work in the El Sauce community. They spoke about how the Enlace Project supports and promotes the growth and development of small local businesses and cooperatives within the municipality. 

Luncheon conversation

After they spoke, Angela Falkis and her daughter Fiama Mayorga, owners of local eatery Batidos Falkis, presented on the rising success of their new business, along with their fruitful experiences of working with the Enlace Project.  Mendel Mendoza, Manager of the Sauce Aventuras cooperative, spoke about his work with the cooperative and how beneficial the relationship with Enlace Project has been for them.

Following the presentations, the Enlace Project staff invited our guests to join us for a luncheon, where many great conversations were held and new friendships were made. The Enlace Project looks forward to another prosperous year of being able to work with the El Sauce community in social, economic, and educational development projects. 

Written by Bethany Nelson, Enlace Project Intern

Linking Hands For Learning

When it comes to working on community development projects, such as rural school construction, the old English proverb, "Two heads are better than one." holds true. However, over the last few years, the Enlace Project has observed that the more fitting expression would be “More hands are better than none.”

Original schoolhouse. 

Linking Hands for Learning, formally known as Avon for Nicaragua, is a group composed of volunteers and families from New York, who fundraise the building of local primary schools in the municipality of El Sauce, Nicaragua. This month, the Enlace Project and Linking Hands for Learning began the construction of our fifth school, in a community called Piedra de Agua Arriba. With joined hands and a lot of community spirit, the walls of the school are going up quickly.

Leader of the Piedra de Agua Arriba community, don Luis, was filled with emotions while he watched members of his community assist the volunteers of the school project. “This project is something our community never expected, but despite all of the difficulties we have had, we still stand united to work together with our new friends to build this new school for our youth.”

There is a uniform feeling of excitement and pride emanating from all the members involved in the construction of the new school. A Linking Hands for Learning volunteer stated, "It is truly something wonderful, watching the youth of two countries come together to build a school. The power of education is a beautiful thing that is reflected in learning experiences like this; it warms my heart to be a part of such a life changing project."

Ana Yansi expresses her gratitude.

Students of the community held a town meeting to extend their gratitude and appreciation to the Linking Hands for Learning team. Twelve year old Ana Yansi opened up the meeting with an emotionally filled thank you. “I am very grateful for everything you all have done for us. I am so happy to have this new school where we won’t have to be in fear that it may fall down upon us.”  

Ten year old Dayling Vanessa Torrez Castilla expressed her appreciation for the volunteers’ time and hard work in a slightly different fashion – she gave a hug to each and every volunteer involved in the creation of the school. Although the labor of school construction may be difficult at times, seeing a community joined together in thanks makes everything worthwhile. 

Linking Hands for Learning will return to Piedra de Agua Arriba next month for the completion of the schoolhouse and the construction of a latrine. Restoration and re-painting of the old school building are also in the plans for March. What was once a one room school house for over 20 students will now become a preschool for the community; a stronger, safer building where children can start their educational careers without fear of hazardous conditions or weather related disasters.

Construction group stands in front of  new school foundation.

            -- Written by Bethany Nelson, Enlace Project Intern 

Familiar Faces: Emilio Alonso Martinez Gutierrez

Alonso has worked as a tour guide for his community since he was young.

Alonso Martinez is well-known by visitors of El Sauce's Los Altos de Ocotal for his advanced English skills and welcoming smile. A recipient of The Friend's Project's education scholarship, Alonso has finished his secondary school and is now studying English at UNAN León. We sat down to interview Alonso about his plans for English and development in the community of Ocotal.

When we asked Alonso what his childhood was like, he expressed that his English studies were a prominent part. "It was good because I could study in my community. It was easier for me [than for some other children studying in Ocotal] because I didn't have to walk a lot to go to school. My childhood was happy because my whole family helped me with my studies."

Alonso and his classmates of Las Minitas

Alonso shared with us that he decided to study English because it is an important part of his life and a way to help his family. " I want to get a job that uses English, and make some money to support myself and my family." He thinks that English will help him in his future career because it will allow him to "talk to American people and to work as a tourist guide here in the cooperative."Alonso thinks that English will help his community in Ocotal because people like himself who can speak in English will be able to translate for the visitors from places like the United States. He also thinks that he could possibly become an English teacher for some of the children in Ocotal.

When asked about his studies in the university, Alonso responded, "that is a long story because when I was in my second year of high school, I did't like the language or the career, but little by little I grew to like it more. It is currently my favorite subject. I am in my second year of studies in the university and I also study here in my community."

Alonso shared with us that although he sometimes finds it difficult to communicate with English speakers due to the speed at which they speak, he is gradually getting better at understanding them. Alonso is the son of Emiliano Martinez, a local coffee farmer of Ocotal. As a member of the Los Altos de Ocotal cooportive, the family opens their home to visitors and students as a host family. "When some Americans stay at my house, I talk to them and they feel more comfortable because they can have at least a short conversation with me and ask questions about my family and tell me about their families."

Enlace Project English School is very proud of Alonso and his progression with his English studies. His story, alike that of  many others who study at the Enlace Project English School, represents our growth since our doors opened in 2009. His new found appreciation for the English language and new cultural experiences reflect the hopes we have for our English students today. With graduation from both our program and the university in Alonso's near future we congratulate him on all of his accomplishments and encourage him to keep up the good work.

--Written by Bethany Nelson, Enlace Project Intern

English Students Write About Their Experiences, Part I

Since the English classes were divided this September, the Enlace Project English School team has been working hard to meet students' needs, adjusting their lessons and activities to help the students advance and provide them with professional English skills.

More recently, the teachers asked students to write about their experience with Enlace Project in order to better understand how the English class helps them meet their own goals. Below, you will find some excerpts from the students:

"My experience here in Enlace Project has been very nice and I have learned a lot... I've learned to capture the sounds of the language [which] is the hardest thing for me. It has been interesting to me [to] interact with foreign people who come to help and... develop our language learning which is of great importance... [I want] To develop myself intellectually with better quality since it will help my career studying and socially in my relationship with teachers and classmates..."

-Keyslor José Calderón Conteno, Second Level

Students in the intermediate class, including Nelson Israel [front right]

"When I started to study English in Enlace [Project]... [it] was hard to understand... [Now] I understand better... the experience has been really good. Studying here helped me to get a job and now I'm working teaching English. I feel good about that and I hope to continue to study here because I like the methodology that they use."

-Nelson Israel, Second Level

"...Many doors have been opened for me since I started studying English, opportunities that were not only given to me for my profession, which is why I would like to thank my teachers and the Enlace Project team for giving me the opportunity to study English, share their experiences and teach us many important things about American culture"

-Henry Chévez Garcia, Third Level

Keyslor [front-left] and Geovanni [front-left].

"My goals in English are to be able to have a good job and to help my family... I would like to be able to become a teacher... [and] travel to another country. [English] is very important in my life, I think that learning English is something that will always be important, and I hope that at the end [of my studies] I will find a job where I can make some good money."

-Geovanni Quiroz, Second Level

There will be more stories posted in the future, keep looking for them!

Familiar Faces: Mauricio Martinez

For many people, Don Mauricio Martinez is the face of Ocotal. As the patriarch of the beautiful and ample mountain community, Mauricio cares for the land and often refers to the environment as if it were a lifelong friend of his. We sat down for an interview with Mauricio to find out more about his life and the community:

Sean: Thank you for speaking with me, Don Mauricio. Were you born in Ocotal?

Mauricio: No, I was born in El Jicote, a community about a kilometer from here. When I was growing up, no one lived in this area. I built a house here when I was around 30 years old. The guy who owned this land hired me to work in the community as a farmer, so I built a house here.

Mauricio during the construction of El Ranchón, the mountain's restaurant.
This land was donated courtesy of Mauricio.

S: What was your youth like? How would you describe Ocotal in those times?

M: My youth was healthy and normal; I never had problems or fights with anyone. I had two cousins who I lived with, and we spent time learning how to play the guitar, the mandolin. We would spend entire nights just playing music. I worked a lot, mostly as a farmer, harvesting sugar cane, corn, coffee, and beans. Ocotal, at that time, was suffering because many pine trees were affected by a disease. The trees were all dry, and many were falling. There was a lot of deforestation by lumber companies, both legally and illegally. That’s why we decided it was important to care for the forest. We've been protecting and caring for it for more than thirty years now.

S: What are the best qualities of Ocotal? What does Ocotal have that other areas in Nicaragua do not?

A beautiful view of part of Ocotal's pine forest.

M: The pine needle forests are truly amazing. We have amazing nature all around us, and they are important to take care of. The environment is what gives us life, water, and the air we breathe. We started to care for the land  with of the help of the Danish Development Project "Manuel Lopez" (which years later helped formed the Coffee Cooperative "Manuel Lopez"), who came an gave us tools. Now we are lucky enough to have the Los Altos de Ocotal cooperative, so that we can show others the beauty we have around us. The members of the cooperative are good people, and also care for the environment.

S: What are some difficulties that the community of Ocotal faces?

M: Some people still do not recognize the need for working with the environment instead of against it. Much of the mountainous area that is closer to the city is damaged. We also need to focus beyond plant life, to animals too. We have a lot of beautiful wildlife to be seen. There are many types of birds and animals in Ocotal.

Sean and Mauricio together in 2013.

S: What is your vision for the future of Ocotal? 

M: I hope that one day we can all be responsible for taking care of our community, that we can work together to live with the environment, because in the end it is what protects us. I also hope that the tourism cooperative will be able to show others the beauty of Ocotal and that they too can learn to value the natural environment. Too often, it is believed that we as humans should be separate from the wild when really we are just another part of it.

New English Schedule Encourages Progress and Participation

Students in Enlace Project's intermediate class, a full classroom!

Enlace Project's English School is working to meet the growing needs of a range of English students. As more students pass from the beginner's class, the advanced students have been divided into two groups. Formerly, students who passed their level one exam would move to the advanced class, which covered levels two through six, and was taught in English by a native speaker.

The new intermediate and advanced classes are both taught completely in English, but aim to focus more on the specific needs of students. The intermediate class covers levels two and three and focuses on conversation, pronunciation, and major grammar tenses; the advanced class focuses on more advanced and professional skills such as reading, writing, and syntax.

The goal of teaching English at Enlace Project is to help Sauceños develop a skill that they can use in job seeking as well as in their personal lives. When the program started five years ago, there was a huge desire in El Sauce for a convenient and affordable English class. The low price (an equivalent of $6/month) and class schedule (at night, so that those who work can study) allows for a variety of students to enter and participate in the class.

Luzvelia Sevilla, from the advanced class, teaching students from the
intermediate class.

The new class schedule hopes to appeal to all the students, allowing for a more specialized curriculum. Students study at their own pace through a series of books and arrive to the class for practice, review, and activities. Those who have just passed from first level to the intermediate class will find the activities more difficult, but easy to adjust to; the same applies for those who pass from the intermediate to the advanced class.

The most advanced members of the class are aiming high; all of the students in the new advanced class (and a few in the intermediate) have found jobs that require knowledge of the English language. The new classes give these students motivation to continue advancing and encouraging others to do the same.

Other events such as cultural celebrations, held twice a year to give the students a chance to use their English in the form of skits and songs, encourage students to have fun while learning. Students in the advanced class are also given the opportunity to prepare a lesson for the intermediate students, designing materials and activities to teach. By doing so, they are given the chance to develop professional skills that could serve them in their search for employment. As the advance class develops, students will also have the opportunity to develop additional skills, such as translation and interpretation.

--Written by Sean Conner, Enlace Project Intern

Students from Enlace Project English school perform a skit about Nicaraguan culture for
friends, families, and guests from SUNY Geneseo's Service Learning Program.