Fresh Juice and Smoothie Stand Proposal 

The Humanist Lighthouse

Mondongo, Bata. Equatorial Guinea.  

Members: Rosa Okomo, Teresa Mangue, Lucia Osa, Sabel Esono, Elena Mba, Sofia Nguema, Carmen Abeso, Ana Micha, Juan Obiang, Carlos Edu, Pedro Asumu, Luis Nsue, Antonio Miko, Francisco Ntutumu, Miguel Engonga.

Email: rosaokomo15@gmail.com

Phone: +240 222 555 019

What does humanism mean to you?

For the fifteen of us gathering here in Equatorial Guinea friends like Sofia, Carlos, and Isabel humanism isn't just an abstract philosophy; it's a lifeline. We found each other through our shared, often painful experiences in a culture that demands unquestioning faith. We’ve stood by as loved ones succumbed to preventable illnesses, heartbroken when those losses were passively dismissed as "God's will" instead of being recognized as local healthcare failures that desperately need scientific solutions. When some of us dared to speak up against the mistreatment of marginalized people justified by religious texts, or simply wanted to feed our impoverished neighbors without forcing them to pray, we faced intense social exile. Forming this group has finally given us a safe harbor. It’s a place where we can breathe, ask critical questions without fear of being condemned, and help our communities out of pure, genuine empathy rather than transactional religious obligation.

Letting go of a "Godly" worldview and embracing what our society insults as "godlessness" has been the most beautiful and grounding awakening of our lives. We used to look up for salvation, but now we look right at each other. We’ve realized that there is no cosmic safety net and no divine judge coming down to fix our country's struggles; if we want justice and equality here, we have to roll up our sleeves and build it ourselves. Seeing the tangible, compassionate work overseen by HuMAN leaders like Hank and Usman has shown us exactly what organized secular goodness looks like in action. We no longer rely on the fear of hell to keep us moral. Instead, we are focused entirely on the here and now, doing good simply because we see the inherent worth in every human being, and because we feel an urgent, passionate responsibility to make this one life we share as fair and kind as possible.

Project Description

We are seeking a $300 micro-grant from HuMAN to launch a fresh juice and smoothie stand that does more than just sell drinks; it breathes life, health, and economic opportunity into our neighborhood. Right now, our local streets are flooded with cheap, highly processed, sugary sodas, making basic nutrition feel like an out-of-reach luxury for many families. We want to change that narrative by setting up a vibrant, welcoming stand that serves delicious, vitamin-packed beverages made entirely from fresh, locally grown fruits. This initiative is deeply personal to us; it is about taking control of our community's well-being and creating a positive, safe hub where neighbors can gather, connect, and enjoy something that is genuinely good for them.

From a business perspective, the local demand for refreshing, healthy alternatives is entirely untapped, giving this micro-enterprise exceptional potential for rapid growth and self-sustainability. The $300 grant will serve as our critical seed capital, directly covering the upfront costs of a heavy-duty commercial blender, a quality ice cooler, hygienic prep stations, eco-friendly cups, and our first batch of fresh produce sourced directly from neighborhood farmers. By keeping our overhead incredibly low and our supply chain entirely local, the stand is designed to quickly generate a reliable profit margin. Within just a few months of operation, we plan to reinvest those daily earnings to expand our menu, extend our hours, and build a dependable, independent income stream that financially empowers our grassroots team while continually enriching the community we serve.

Budget

Heavy-Duty Commercial Blender: $80

Large Insulated Ice Cooler: $45

Portable Folding Prep Table: $40

Initial Fresh Fruit Inventory (e.g., Pineapples, Mangoes, Bananas): $40

Eco-Friendly Cups, Lids, and Straws (Bulk Supply): $35

Preparation Tools (Knives, Cutting Boards, Food-Safe Gloves): $35

Display Signage and Menu Board: $25

 Total: $300

Expected Income from Project, with Timeline

Based on our projected operations, the juice and smoothie stand is expected to generate a steady average revenue of $15 per day by serving 10 to 12 customers daily at an affordable price point. With our incredibly low overhead and direct local fruit sourcing, we project a 50% net profit margin, translating to $7.50 in daily clear profit, or roughly $225 per month. Our operational timeline breaks down this growth over the first quarter: Week 1 will be entirely dedicated to procuring materials and setting up the stand; Weeks 2 to 4 will focus on hitting our initial daily target and achieving immediate business break-even; and by Months 2 and 3, we expect to establish a loyal customer base and a fully self-sustaining income stream that allows us to completely recover the initial $300 seed capital and begin reinvesting profits into business expansion.

Benefits to your Community

This fresh juice and smoothie stand will serve as a vital catalyst for both health and economic empowerment within our local community. By providing an affordable, delicious, and deeply nutritious alternative to the heavily processed, sugary drinks that currently dominate our neighborhood streets, we are directly investing in the physical well-being of our neighbors. Beyond these immediate health benefits, the project will actively stimulate our local micro-economy by sourcing all our fresh fruits directly from regional farmers, ensuring that the money we spend stays within and enriches our own community. Furthermore, the stand will function as a welcoming, safe social hub where neighbors can gather, connect, and experience the compassionate, community-focused values our group champions, ultimately fostering a stronger, more unified, and self-reliant neighborhood.