Young Entrepreneurs of San Miguel Escobar
Segunda Generación de Café Entre Volcanes
Located in the Antigua Coffee Growing Region
The rising generation of coffee growers in the community of San Miguel Escobar has a first hand glimpse of the obstacles and challenges of producing coffee, such as price volatility, lack of access to markets, climate change, and more. However, as the children of parents who are members in other DLG partner cooperatives in the community of San Miguel Escobar, they have also witnessed the great potential of coffee farming when paired with self-processing and market access. In efforts to feed their entrepreneurial spirit, whether that leads them to a career in coffee or opens up avenues to other professions, DLG began partnering with the Young Entrepreneurs of San Miguel Escobar in 2017.
This group is currently made up of ten members between the ages of 20 and 35. While the majority of them specialize in coffee production, many are simultaneously studying at university pursuing degrees such as nursing, law, and engineering. Other Young Entrepreneurs balance their coffee career with other professions like tourism, working as a barista and even starting their own businesses and entrepreneurship endeavors.
Inspired by their initiative, DLG launched a campaign in 2018 to generate funds specifically to support their goals as coffee farmers and beyond. Beginning in 2020, the Young Entrepreneurs have received annual financing (through the form of 0% interest loans) at the beginning of the coffee season to help them cover operational costs associated with the harvest, which are paid back during the remainder of the year. In 2022, DLG launched a financing program with a more long-term focus, inviting the Young Entrepreneurs to apply for microfinancing for a three year period at 0% interest. Five members were approved for these three-year loans and are currently pursuing their entrepreneurial goals through 2025. DLG offers support in other ways such as providing trainings on topics related to coffee production as well as a donation for the purchase of a computer to use among the group.
