What is an Investour?

PEACE and Se Mas Microfinanzas, have partnered with Investours, an incredible non-profit that offers socially responsible community tours. During an investor, tourists meet local entrepreneurs and listen to their business ideas. At the end of the tour, tourists decide which entrepreneur will receive an interest free micro-loan. 100% of the tour group's fees go to this entrepreneur. This micro-loan improves the lives of the entrepreneur and fellow community members. Last week a tour group from Bucerias helped to fund a zero-interest loan for Carmela, a small restaurant owner from Sayulita, to buy a sink to be able to better clean her food and wash the dishes. Carmela also plans to use the loan to make aesthetic improvements to her kitchen in order to attract more customers.

Tours run on Thursdays from 1-5 and leave from the PEACE casa campesina in Punta de Mita.

What a fascinating way to give back!

www.investours.org



www.peacemexico.org

Art-Inspired Giving

The second annual Arte Vida event last Saturday was a success! Local, national and international artists, businesses and donors united and raised nearly $20,000 for our PEACE programs!!

Silent and live auctions took place in the stunning setting of Casa Las Gaviotas, inside El Farallon and were accompanied by delicious catering from NAEF Cuisine and authentic Mexican rhythms from Los Frixoleros.

Several pieces of art were donated from Manos Unidas por la Mujer (United Hands for Women,) one of our four main programs. The women’s artisan co-op empowers women to move toward financial independence by providing the training to create products through recycled or donated materials, and the business recourses to sell their art. A recycled bottle cap-framed mirror made by the women sold for over double its estimated price in the live auction - we were all cheering and clapping!!

We are so grateful for the support and contributions from the following individuals and businesses: The Mexico Report, Mexico Boutique Hotels, Rojo Sobre Mesa, LivePuntaMita, Splurge Gallery, Craft Gallery, Bahe Gallery, Vallarta Gardens, Best of Bucerias, Café des Artistes del Mar, Elizabeth Lloyd Photography, Howard and Lennie Weiser, Chantel Mann, Jonathan & Beth Evans, Chisko, Marco Alvarez, Kevin Harney, Alejandro Mondria, Juan Sanchez de Dios, Ehren Reed, Evelyne Boren, Robert Arnder, Rodolfo Aguero, and Sergio Lugo.

Thank you for making our biggest fundraiser of the year such a success!!!

www.peacemexico.org