Seeing TechnoServe's Work on the Ground

Today (March 17th) was a great day, because I got to see what TechnoServe is doing on the ground, which is where over 1200 of the TNS employees work. Only about 50 work in the DC office with a few more in CT, NY, and London.  As a new TNS employee and someone new to development and business, this was a wonderful opportunity to learn first hand what we in the DC office are supporting...and it's pretty awesome.

In Chile, the major TNS initiatives are around helping small business owners grow their business. This is done through training classes and business advising.  One program is done with Anglo American, a mining company with operations throughout Chile and is called Emerge. In the past three years, the Emerge program has grown from helping 65 entrepreneurs to 150, and they expect to help over 320 this year. They have many metrics which they track the businesses success (which include sales, salaries paid, and amount they buy from local supplies) and something like 70+% have grown their businesses by at least 50%.  Our itinerary today was visits to three entrepreneurs who have graduates from the Emerge program. At each visit, the business owner spoke about their experience and how their business has grown. They were all empowered, thankful, and more successful.

Our first stop was Hornos Don Victor with owner, Elioza Espinoza. She originally just made empanadas and employed 4 people.  Now she does serves lunch and dinner and employs 12.  

Elioza (right) with TNS staff member Corina

The place was hopping at lunch, and I could taste why.  Trust me when I tell you the food was DELICIOUS. 

Empanadas

Pastel de choclo

Elioza in front of her restaurant

Our second stop was in Llay Llay at Zurda Vestuario with Jennifer, an atelier who employs 4 people including her mother who is deaf. The Emerge program helped her be more intentional about what she designed and made and how she sold them. She originally was selling in stores but changed to work with saleswomen who would sell directly to the customers - urban Santiago women.  The TNS staffers were very impressed by her showroom stock, and the Anglo American staff person with us bought one of her tops on the spot.

From there we want to San Felipe to visit Alba Rocio and her husband, a physician, who run medical center, providing services and consults that people would have had to drive a couple hours to get previously. This group of doctors used to mainly make house calls, but through the Emerge program determined that, among other things, setting up offices would be better. They plan to open a second of offices in another community that currently has nothing. They are passionate about serving the entire community (from ninos to abuelos) and bringing services to patients. Like the others, they hailed the Emerge program for teaching them to think like businesses and helping them grow their business.

We drove back to Santiago and went to dinner at El Meson Nerudiano, a restaurant celebrating Chilean poet Pablo Neruda.  The owner read some of Neruda's poems, and a singer sang songs by the famous Chilean singer Violeta Parra.