By Rosanna Di Turi (@Rosannadituri)
Learning how to work chocolate, in bonbons or squares could be the business tool to allow a better future for many Venezuelans. Fortunately, there are those who have been responsible for transmitting this knowledge for that purpose.
The civil association Trabajo y Personas/ Work and People, founded by Alejandro Marius, have training programmes dedicated to chocolate entrepreneurs. “We have already prepared 802 people in several places around the country, such as Caracas, Bailadores and Guatire”, Marius says. They are low-income women who get the tools for a promising job. They are based on the premise that not only the initial training is essential, but also a continuous follow up is the key.
In order to support this initiative, they have come up with two collections where alliances help encourage efforts. One collection is San Benito chocolates, created in 2014 together with Maria Fernanda Di Giacobbe’s Kakao. The other one is the San Juan Collection, with squares made by Giovanni Conversi from Mantuano Chocolate and released last December 2016. In both proposals, the new entrepreneurs learn and contribute in the production alongside the chocolate makers. The sales of these products are to the benefit of this Work and people’s training programme.
The bonbons San Benito Collection are to meet corporate demand. The new square, with packaging designed by Gaby Valladares from the firm Papusa, opens other possibilities. “We wanted a chocolate to be offerrd at points of sale” Marius says.
Sponsored by Chocolates El Rey, and allowing them more affordable prices for the base product, which is Bucare chocolate, they elaborate squares with nuts donated by Manicería San Jorge. “Many people want to collaborate with us, but they do not have the capacity to cover corporate demand. These squares offer the opportunity” Alejandro Marius states.
Baptism is the most appropriate. “He is the saint of work and the name of the last cocoa crop of the year.” The idea is to multiply the collection in other squares and different alliances. “In the future we want different chocolate makers to propose squares that, like these, be of use to change lives in our country.”
San Juan squares are available in places as Siete al Cubo in Los Chorros warehouses, Centro Cacao at Maiquetía airport and Cacao de Origen in Hacienda La Trinidad.
In Instagram @trabajoypersona @mantuanochocolate
