We left the United States in May 2012 and moved to Nicaragua to create a business that gives back to the community. Since we moved here, we’ve been traveling all over the country to find various handmade products by the people of Nicaragua and ultimately develop a line of products that we can sell overseas. Buying and selling products from these local artisans will not only help their local economy, but will also expose people overseas to the beauty of an unfamiliar culture.
Life Out of the Box is a “product for a product business”. For every product that we sell overseas, we will give back a product to help educate the kids here in Nicaragua. Sell a product, give a product. One for One. We want to give the kids a useful product that will allow them to have the opportunity to live their life out of the box and pursue their own dreams. So far, these products include a variety of notebooks, agendas and pencils. We are both very connected to education and believe that it’s the best place to start in helping developing countries. It’s the root of where change can start–where kids can learn and develop their own skills to improve their country’s economy, help their families and go on to teach the next generation.
While we’ve been traveling around the country looking for products to sell, we have also been working with various non-profit organizations to find out how we can make a difference. Overall, our journey has been very exciting and fun and we hope that you follow us in our pursuit of living Life Out of the Box. Below is a video that sums up how Life Out of the box works:
Why product for a product?
Helping others around the world is a higher priority to our generation than any before because we live in a world that is more globally connected than ever. We are aware of global social issues such as poverty, unemployment and poor education systems in places like Nicaragua because of the easy access to information through internet and social media. To this new generation, money is no longer the bottom line. Making the world a better place is.
From the beginning, we wanted to integrate giving back into our business model so that the giving is self-sustaining rather than dependent on donations. We call this socially conscious business. It’s integrated into the finances from the beginning. We want to give NGOs that serve the less fortunate something tangible that we know would actually make a significant difference rather than just blindly giving monetary donations. Sell a product, Donate a product. Through buying our products, people will have the ability to give a product to children around the world who could use it.
Our plan is to start in Nicaragua, but that’s not where we will stop. Our dream is to take this business concept and implement it globally in other countries as well so that Life Out of the Box can help kids all over the world have the same opportunity as we did. To pursue their dreams and change the world.
Life Out of the Box has two main goals:
1. To inspire people to live their ideal life, go global and make their dreams come true by living Life Out of the Box
2. To give others in developing countries the same opportunity to live a better life by giving an educational product back to them for every product sold
Liked your post here and the work you are doing! Keep up the good work and keep us posted!
We will do our best. Thank you so much for liking us. We will keep you posted as much as we can.
Nice work you guys, I’m very curious to hear more about how NGO’s are responding to your ideas.
Thank you. We will continue to post more about the NGO’s that we work with. Thank you so much.
Great stuff!!
Thank you. Life is all about the journey. But you know that
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Definitely
Very worthy work with a fresh approach. I like the concept!
I like how you said with a fresh approach. We will continue to do our best and we are glad you like our concept.
Wonderful job…Keep up the good work. #keepbeingablessing
Thank you. We will do our best.
I respect what you are doing, and I myself have always wanted to do something similar. Never been the right time. Or is there even such a thing? Anyways, keep up the good work and keep living!
Yeah there is a right time. Now
. Plan it prepare for it and follow your heart.
The best to you … thanks for the visit & the “like”.
Very worthy work! Good luck! I always emphatise with the poor and feel that it is our duty to help those who are poorer than us.
Yeah we agree. Just helping them help themselves achieve their goals. Thank you for the luck and the support dude.
What do you guys think about kiva? I have been doing micro-loans in Nicaragua and other countries in central america for a while. It seems to be a good thing (TM). Have you seen its influence on the ground at all?
We love Kiva. We think it is truly wonderful. We looked into different ways of integrating it into our business model. We have made a few friends who work for the micro loan companies and they told us it is a wonderful program. They said the important thing is making sure the borrower gets the proper education on how to pay it back. We are glad you support Kiva. It is a great thing (TM)
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Definitely a wonderful cause! Many, many blessings to you in Nicaragua! Robin
Thank you very much for the blessings Robin. Have a great day
amazing! i was born in Nicaragua but raised in San Francisco, California. I never visited especially since my mom past away. Of all the counrties why Niccaragua. I’ve been told its a beutiful place. I am hoping to buy a bracelet. Once again amazing!
That’s so crazy. I miss San Francisco so much. I lived in China Town right next to North Beach. You got to check out Nicaragua. The culture is amazing. We wrote an article about why we choose Nicaragua. Check it out
http://lifeoutofthebox.com/2012/03/22/why-nicaragua/
Also if you have any questions about checking out Nicaragua please ask us. Thanks so much for the support. Means a ton to us.
thanks ill check it out!
Great blog! Greetings from Italy.
Thank you. Please eat an amazing slice of pizza for us.
What a great idea! Keep it up!
Thanks we will. Thanks for taking the time to write us a comment.
Incredible! Your life and willingness is inspiring. Keep living.
With love,
Amanda
withlovecoach.com
Thanks. We will. We appreciate your positive comment. Really made us both smile.
I love your idea!! You are making your dreams into reality and doing good in this world!!
This is a great idea, a great business model, and just a generally great thing that you are doing. I’m in awe. It restores my faith in humanity when I see people working to give back, rather than just for themselves. Thanks for liking our blog post, so I could come and see what you are up to!
Thank you very much. We are glad you like it all.
What a wonderful program and congratulations to your success in living your dream too! Thanks for visiting my blog and all the best to you in 2013.
Great work..this is really good work you are doing
thanks for liking my post
Thank you for liking my post today. I love what I’m seeing here and I’ll be back soon to read more. Thanks again.
Thanks for visiting and liking soulsnet. Now I have followed you home. And what an incredible home you have. You are so right we are all living in a global world now and the more exposure we have to it the more our own individual lives are put into perspective.
A great aim. I come from an educational background too and I can’t think of a better way of bringing about positive change than by working with the children.
Lots of luck and all good wishes
Corinne
Thank you Corinne. Positive change through children is the way to go. There are lots of children that need love and support. Keep doing what you do
Thanks for stopping by my post on the arctic circle- love that it lead me to your blog and such interesting work. Inspiring!
Thanks for stopping by my blog! I love your dream and how you’re pursuing it. I’ve spent some time in India and Africa doing similar stuff. Totally life changing!
Thanks for looking at my blog. I love your story – it’s so inspiring!
It sounds similar to what I’m trying to do eventually. I’m excited to follow you and see all of your progress.
Awesome. Thanks for the support.
Incredibly inspiring story! The leap you two have take to help others and to truly embrace life is great. Thanks so much for liking my post. I would love to support LOOTB. Shanti, Kristen
Thank you for taking a look at my new blog. What you two are doing is wonderful and inspiring. Take care and I’m looking forward to following your journey.
Thank you for all the likes … very impressed and inspiring
I love this, A philosophy that speaks to me personally. I’m involved with animal charities in developing countries. We educate to help improve the lives of animals but also the people who work with them. Some once said “be the change you want to see” this is something I live by, and you guys as well. Will continue to follow all your work and stories.
http://wildaway.wordpress.com/
Awesome. Thank you so much for being incredible.
Many thanks for visiting my blog, and what you are doing is truly admirable – I wish you all the very best
Thank you so much for inspiration. It’s my aim too. Just saving money for the travel:)
Save up. It’s worth it. And once you get here it is not that expensive.
This made my day finding this blog <3 i love what you are doing, very inspiring to many people!
That’s special to know that we made your day. Thanks for saying that!!
My mom is studying poultry science right now and she came across a program to help the poor with poultry. Basically by teaching people who are barely able to survive how to take care of chicken they are able to improve their lives drastically. The chickens produce eggs which reduces their need for food which in turn frees some of their time from simply surviving. It can allow people to start to get a head rather than just trying to keep up. Sometimes it only takes little things to turn a life around and make a real difference.
We agree 100%. That is truly beautiful. There are a ton of chickens out here. What a wonderful program.
Love the work you do! I visited Nicaragua on a missions trip and it was such a beautiful country with amazing people!
The people are very very beautiful indeed.
I love what your guys are doing in Nicaragua. What an incredible story and an awesome life journey together. Those kids will cherish the supplies you give them! I’m excited to follow your continued unfolding story. Carry on!!
You do great work over there, keep on going! I’m doing something similar in Uganda and even though it is sometimes stressful and tiresome I do love this kind of work and how great it is to see those children running back to school with their new notebooks, that’s just amazing! Again keep up the great work over there!
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