Julio González has been learning the coffee business at the knee of his father, Fredy. Though just thirteen years old, Julio is clearly going to be one of the movers and shakers of his generation.
We sat with Julio and Fredy to talk about the future, and encouraged Julio to start a small business to get him used to handling money and accounting for his costs, and to help him acquire management and administration skills on a small scale. Our goal was the Guatemalan equivalent of a newspaper route.
Julio came back a few months later with his idea. He had already taught himself to sew baseball caps. His new business plan was to make caps from his dad's old burlap coffee sacks to sell in tourist markets. Then he would donate the lion's share of profit for the purchase of computers at his school.
As a worthy businessman with a worthy goal, Julio has become the youngest recipient of an As Green As It Gets loan. Principal funding came through As Green As It Gets' partner, Global Visionaries, and Ms. Trudeau's class at Kimball Elementary school - now our youngest lenders.
