The Cafe Of Smiles
Although Nicaragua is the largest nation in Central America, it is the most sparsely populated and second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Hardship is a looming shadow over this country with an estimated 45% of the population living below the poverty line which, needless to say, has a much lower threshold than in the United States or other “first-world” countries. Add high unemployment and under-employment levels for able-bodied citizens and guess what happens to people with disabilities?
There are few services or opportunities for people with disabilities in Nicaragua’s countryside and so Granada, which has a special education school and some educational options and NGO programs, is a gathering place for families with members who are disabled.
Which brings us to el Cafe de las Sonrisas, the Cafe of Smiles. With a little digging we found that it is the first coffee shop in the Americas and the 4th in the world to be run entirely by people who are deaf and mute. 
The home of Smiles Coffee is located behind an unassuming entrance on Calle Real Xalteva in a large colonial building with a beautiful interior garden courtyard filled with a variety of plants and a central fountain. Surrounding the courtyard are tables on one side, walls covered with images of the international sign language and an adjacent hammock workshop and showroom.
After ordering one’s coffee or a simple Nicaraguan-style meal from the menu and cards, which are designed to assist customers in communicating with the staff, you can wander over to the workshop areas. The numerous large and open-air work stations create a pleasant and interesting waiting experience where one can watch employees weave brilliantly colored hammocks.
The signature quality product, called The Never Ending Hammock, symbolizes the goals of: 1) providing employment for the disabled of Nicaragua and, 2) highlighting an environmental focus on recycling plastic bags, the raw material from which the hammocks are made.
The cafe is the latest addition to the Social Center Tio Antonio and is an inclusive educational and employment center for persons with disabilities. The founder, Hector Ruiz, is a Spanish emigrant who has made his home in Nicaragua following a foray in Costa Rica as a restaurateur. Early in his time in Nicaragua he met a man who was deaf and mute and began to help him by locating a teacher.
Soon he was introduced to several other persons with similar disabilities and his efforts to assist with their education grew until he required a funding source to continue. Aided by a local hotel, he opened a business to teach job skills and employ persons with various disabilities to make and sell beautifully crafted hammocks which has subsequently morphed into Tio Antonio Centro Social. The non-profit business, within the context of a community center, offers support to the hearing and visually impaired population in the areas of education, health care and dignified employment
The goal of Tio Antonio is nearing fruition: building self-sustaining businesses that flourish based upon product excellence and first-rate service. Customers return and bring their friends and recommend the shop to others because of the beauty, quality and value of the hammocks, the tasty fresh fruit drinks, satisfying, typical-style Nicaraguan meals and the whole-bodied flavor of the coffee. In addition to the above, the knowledge that one is supporting a truly worthy endeavor nearly guarantees a smile pasted on the mug of the customers as they leave el Cafe de Sonrisas.
By Anita and Richard, February, 2014
I love this smiling post which is what I am doing right now, ear to ear. The colors are so vibrant. What a great site. Paulette 🙂
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Who can resist bright colors and a cafe with the word smiles in its name? Knowing the story behind the cafe is just the icing on the cake!
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A beautiful post – visually and linguistically. How heart-warming…thanks for sharing this lovely information. 🙂
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And thank you for the lovely comment. Since writing and blogging are our second “careers” (our vocations previously were as a human resources director and a pharmacist) we are especially appreciative of comments received from gifted writers such as yourself. Loved reading through some of your short stories and look forward to reading many more…
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Thanks for sharing this inspiring story! It was a joy to read. Hector Ruiz is a hero and so are all of Cafe of Smiles workers.
Garden of Eden Blog
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It’s amazing to see the impact that one person and a simple idea can have upon so many people. All it takes are the right tools so that people can make their own way.
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This is a delightful story. Here we have Coffee Oasis to help homeless kids. It is a place where homeless kids can hang out, play games, get some food and warm clothes. Plus, the Caseworker will help the kids find jobs, and help the kids with their school work. It is wonderful that there are places like these to help people. Very lovely.
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It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the people who need aid but places like Cafe Sonrisas and your Coffee Oasis show that a small group of people can accomplish great things and provide tools to help a lot of people.
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What a wonderfully inspiring post.
Well Done!
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Thank you – As for inspiration, you can’t leave the cafe without feeling your mood uplifted!
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Sometimes I long for a simpler life. Beautiful post.
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Thanks for your comment. Cafe Sonrisas is a place that really made me appreciate what I take for granted – good health and the ability to hear and see. It’s a great place to put what’s important in life into perspective…
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It’s nice to get a reality check once in awhile. Thank you.
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I agree! I felt so fortunate with what we have and take for granted every day…
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🙂
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Reblogged this on The English Professor at Large and commented:
Inspiring blog with gorgeous pictures.
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What a great, inspiring story. I would love to see that Cafe. I’m going to re-blog, too,
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We’re so glad you enjoyed the post on the Cafe Sonrisas. Thanks so much for reblogging and sharing this story with others, too. I hope we’re all smiling!
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Reblogged this on Rewired and Retired in Nicaragua and commented:
We have a friend who works in the Cafe of Smiles in Granada. Enjoy this post written by a couple traveling through Nicaragua.
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I found your blog through Facebook. I love this post about the Cafe Sonrisas. We live on Ometepe Island and have been visiting Granada for the past 12 years. We have a friend who works at Cafe Sonrisas. Would you care if I reblogged this? Please let me know. There is a School for the Deaf on Ometepe. These are wonderful programs that provide many opportunities for hearing challenged young adults and children.
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We’re so happy that you enjoyed this post and would love to have you share it with friends. We’ve been to Cafe Sonrisas several times during our stay in Granada and enjoy the tipico food, the atmosphere and the knowledge that we’re doing our small part to support such a terrific program.
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Since I was remiss and didn’t go in and check out the café of smiles while in Granada I appreciate the story a lot. Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks Linda. So glad you enjoyed it. Even though we’ve been here for a couple of months there are still lots of little places we keep discovering. Definitely a good reason to make a return visit!
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I love the way you weave the history of Granada along with current events. I was there and your photos and script capture the essence of the place and the people.
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Thanks Maida. It’s interesting to read about the history, politics, economics and social movements in this country as it struggles to catch up with the “1st world” countries!
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