General Information
Business Idea: With the collaboration of Global Business
Brigades, this young group of artisans want to share their
heritage through marketing and selling their products in
larger markets.
Communtiy Name: Pueblo Nuevo
Community Members Involved: Jeancarlos Quintana,
Ana Doviana, Diana Chirimia and Karina Mecha.
Date Established: March 2015
Business Description
Located in Darien in the community of Pueblo Nuevo, 4 young artisans who were working as independent craftsmen decided to join and work together to promote their culture by producing traditional artisan crafts. They sells their products through an NGO called Casa de Esperanza Panama, which provides educational workshops to children in poverty in order to improve their opportunities for the future. While it is a great connection, it leaves them vulnerable; if members of the organization don't want any more crafts, they will no longer have a market to sell to.
Current Status:
Business Information:
• They are looking for a business associate to take care of sales and distribution of his crafts, with
responsibilities of finding stores to accept their products, and research the necessary requirements,
documentation, permits, patents, or any other necessity in having such a business.
• They mainly work making necklaces, braceletes, rings and other products made of chaquiras (an special
type of bead).
• It takes around 2-3 days to make each chaquira, depending on how complex they are.
• They get the materials from the nearest community Arimae that is 3 mins away and also from a store in
Tortí that is 1 hour away.
Business Opportunity:
• Jean Carlos in the past was the president of the Caja Rural, but he had to quit to work outside the
community since he's the one in charge of family. He is very ambitious and organized, which can be seen
through his management of the community bank.
• They have all received financial education through brigade workshops.
• Ana is the actual secretary from the Caja Rural and is also very organized and ambitious.
• They are looking to increase their profits and are open to new ideas.
• Previous brigade created a template for the logo that you can use and improve.
• Jeancarlos has received consultations from previous Business Brigades, and his business profile can be
found here.
Business Obstacles:
• Due to the cost of transportation, they often cannot collect money from the sales of their products.
• Jeancarlos self-reports as being very shy and quiet, which can limit him in his entrepreneurial mindset.
• Education levels are generally low.
Your Task
• First, get to know your client and his business. Build a trust between you and your client.
• Learn about their business' strengths and weaknesses.
• The group expressed interest in learning about a few different topics: money management, how to invest
to increase funds (ideas for new projects/activities), and generating ideas for a name, logo, mission, and
vision for the group
• This business idea needs to be properly developed with the appropriate foundation of financial tools and
knowledge before it can be considered for implementation
• Based on your recommendations, update/supplement this business profile.
Brigade Log
| Business Brigades Chapter |
Date | Volunteers |
| University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign | March 2015 | 5 |
| UT Austin | May 2015 | - |
| University of Missouri | January 2016 | 4 |
Visit Other Programs in Pueblo Nuevo
Global Brigades strives to implement a model of Holistic Development in communities through a system of health, economic, and education initiatives in order to strategically meet a community's development goals. Learn more about the other programs being implemented in Pueblo Nuevo:
Dental 
Environmental 
Human Rights 
Medical 
Microfinance
Public Health