Thanks to Operation Blessing's life skills classes and other microenterprise projects, people like Cabrel, above, can learn trades such as cosmetology, dressmaking and baking.

COSTA RICA - A ride to the city and a loaf of bread were ingredients for success for Karin Cabrel.

The 32-year-old France native was visiting Costa Rica on vacation when she met her husband, Raymond. The two were married and settled in Puerto Viejo, a coastal community that attracts tourists from across the globe. Longing to make friends, Cabrel tried to reach out to the people who lived near her.

When she heard a group of women needed a ride into a neighboring city to attend some classes, she volunteered to take them. After driving the group of 14 women every Monday more than 30 miles to their classes, her curiosity got the best of her and she decided to check out the school.

Cabrel wasn't convinced it was something she would be interested in at first but eventually she enrolled in an Operation Blessing bakery course in May and graduated from the program in October.

"The bakery course caught my attention," she said. "I get to have more contact with the local people."

Through the classes she uncovered a new passion for the art of creating home-style bread, she said. She used her skills to start her own business with her husband.

"I saw the opportunity to start a bakery business," Cabrel said. "The bread will have the entire tropical flavor with a French touch."

Thanks to Operation Blessing's life skills classes and other microenterprise projects, Cabrel and others like her can learn trades such as cosmetology, dressmaking and baking.

The courses are designed to improve quality of life for members of impoverished communities by teaching those skills to obtain better employment, personal businesses and other career opportunities.

In Puerto Viejo, the local economy is spurred by tourists. However, the quality of life and job availability coupled with low wages contributes to poverty in various areas around the city.

"This is a beautiful region but it needs a lot of help," Cabrel said concerning the poverty in the area.

Cabrel has plans to expand her bakery business and include her extended family in the venture.

"I want to share this special bread with my family and friends in my homeland," she said.

In addition to the courses offered throughout Latin America, OBI continues to effect change on a community level by engaging in other projects worldwide such as sewing centers in India, fish farms and gardening projects in Africa, learning centers in Ukraine, and goat microenterprise projects in Bulgaria.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

This microenterprise venture is one of many Operation Blessing projects touching lives around the world. You can be a part of improving the quality of life for impoverished communities by supporting these and other life-changing programs.

 

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