Beauty For Ashes Project is a non-profit aimed at supporting the locals of Nicaragua. We are particularly focusing on Los Jicaros, a poor community near Gran Pacifica. Our goal is to make Los Jicaros a more sustainable community by giving its people more opportunities and skillsets. Our foundation and efforts are all centered on one thing that can produce so many products in almost any industry. What is this thing I'm talking about? Coconuts.

Coconuts are among world's best assets because they can used to produce a tremendous number of commodities for almost any industry. They are relied on by businesses and millions of people throughout the world. The supply and demand is essentially endless, which we use to our advantage.

We are excited to announce that due to all of the dedication and hard work from the children and families outside of the trash dump here in Managua that we have reached our eco-brick halfway point and are on schedule to start construction on the sewing studio after Christmas! We have over 3,000 eco-bricks and the community has really come together and embraced this project in a special way. As we prepare for construction starting on February 1, 2014, we are still seeking funding for sewing machines, tables, chairs and also more volunteers to help us on the ground here. Want to join in on the fun but you aren't good with a hammer? Don't worry - you don't need a background in construction for this project!

We at Beauty For Ashes Project have exciting news to share with you this month! Our KickStarter campaign ended in a huge success and we are so excited to report that we rose over $8,000! A huge thanks to those of you who donated and helped make this a success! This money will allow us to start the construction for the sewing initiative in Las Banderas and also purchase our first sewing machines and supplies for the women to begin earning enough money to support their families. This project is extremely close to our hearts and we have great anticipation for what it will do in this community. Stay tuned for some incredible stories of life change through this new adventure and also the opportunity to purchase the women's goods one day!

We wanted to share a few highlights from some of the things we at Beauty For Ashes Project did last month here in Nicaragua. We started out the month by giving out gently used children's clothing and shoes that were collected in the US to our families outside of the trash dump as well as in the barrio Las Banderas. We also outfitted the church outside of the trash dump, El Faro, with almost 100 children's English books and study materials for the free English class they provide every Friday evening for the youth in the community. The kids were so excited and grateful for the books and we want to thank Bethany Elementary school in Clover, SC for donating their used books to us!

This is the BIG project I have been working towards in Las Banderas for the last few months. It just launched on KickStarter today.

We have 30 days to raise $7,500 and if don't raise the full amount then we get nothing.

Make sure to watch the video we shot too so you can really see the impact this project will have for the mothers and children here and how awesome this project is from beginning to end! Just click on the play arrow over the picture.

Thank you so much for all of your support! It seriously means the world to me!! Please feel free to share this project with as many people as you would like! :)

With love and blessings,

Kara Shay Westermann
Executive Director Beauty For Ashes Project