Youth Helping Youth
How California Girl Scouts are Making a Difference
On November 18, local non-profit Investours brought a group of travelers to visit several small businesspeople in Mezcales and Bucerias and chose Felipa, the owner of a small family restaurant, to be the recipient of an interest free loan funded by the group’s tour fees. Felipa will use this loan to invest in kitchen equipment and materials that will allow open her restaurant more nights during the week and expand her catering service.
Even when standing right in front of it, it can difficult to spot this hidden gem of a restaurant because of the lack of a sign. But upon entering, visitors are greeted by the hum of a busy kitchen and the alluring smells of roasted chicken and chiles. With the help of her brother and the rest of her family, Felipa serves food to her friends and neighbors on the weekends from her home in Mezcales.
During the tour, Felipa treated a group of travelers to enchiladas, sopes, ceviche and hibiscus flower water with apples and walnuts and told them about how she started her restaurant and her plans for expansion. Anyone interested in making the trip to Mezcales to support this growing family business can contact Ryan at puertovallarta@investours.org for more information.
In addition to taking travelers into communities surrounding the Bay of Banderas to experience local culture and support small business, Investours is excited to announce an upcoming partnership with the Instituto de Cultura y Estetica in Bucerias to offer, as part of their tour, a brief show of traditional Mexican dances put on by a talented group of local children. Run by Alejandro Casillas Barraza, the Instituto de Cultura y Belleza teaches choreographed dance and workshops on craftmaking and beauty to people in Bucerias.
Investours will run tours every Thursday and Friday this season. All tours will depart from from the steps of the Cathedral in downtown Puerto Vallarta at 2pm. The cost is US$59 per adult, US$49 per student and US$39 per child. For more information about Investours, or to sign up for a tour, visit www.investours.org or contact local Program Director, Elly Rohrer at puertovallarta@investours.org.
Ellie and Rachel are passionate about helping children from the local villages in Punta de Mita, and encouraged four other girls in their troop to join their effort. The fundraising drive and delivery was an answer to ‘Silver Award’ requirements, which challenges Girl Scouts to decide on an issue they care about, develop a plan, execute the project, and reflect and celebrate the experience. 
“They had no idea of the scope of their project when they started, or how much each of them would benefit from the ‘one on one’ with the children,” said Judy Parks, Ellie’s grandmother and long-time resident in the Puerto Vallarta area. “The hands-on experience left lasting impressions on these young teenagers.”Not only did the alternative school receive needed resources for high-quality educational activities, but like so many other generous PEACE volunteers and donors, Ellie, and Rachel shared a life-changing experience of growth and learning.
If you would like to be a PEACE volunteer, contact Nicole@peacemexico.org or find donation information here http://www.peacemexico.org/donate.php.