Economic Empowerment for 200 Women in Nicaragua

During one of the most recent capacitaciones (trainings) both SHI micro-credit officers, Yolanda and Aracelly, traveled to each community that had beneficiaries currently in the micro-credit program. While visiting homes, Yolanda and Aracelly noticed there were many women nearby in the community curious to witness some of the skills being taught in one of the demonstrations in the trainings. The SHI officers invited the women in, and the group of women spent the day learning several business and resource skills that would benefit some of the local women's small enterprises.

Some of the women that were in the training session that day had been with the SHI micro-credit program for a few years. Aracelly and Yolanda met with them and taught them how to start community banks so that the women could learn to grow their own profits, while at the same time, be able to receive higher loans. The women were excited to learn about the ability to still maintain their relationship with the micro-credit officers and receive consulting if needed, but also to have the ability to achieve self-sufficiency while still receiving helpful skills training.

A few weeks later, the two micro-credit officers returned to the small, rural community of Las Azucenas to host a beauty workshop for the daughters of the micro-credit beneficiaries. The officers wanted to demonstrate that the girls could also be a part of the program by helping their mothers and feel pampered. By teaching the girls how to do their own hair and makeup, they could spend less at high-end salons in the area for services for major life events, such as quinceaneras and weddings. They learned how to trim, style, and brush their hair. The girls were eager to learn the different styles and spent the day practicing on each other. The teen girls and their mothers would then use these skills to generate income by charging others in the area small amounts to do their hair.

The two micro-credit officers had the women of Las Azucenas come to the training center for a third visit later that month to help them in a different way- their health. Thirty women came from the area to participate. The two officers worked alongside a doctor and a nurse from the local Ministry of Health. They taught the women when to seek immediate help from a doctor, and the different signs they can use to help with prevention of breast and uterine health, as well as sexual infections. Five women came forward with symptoms to seek help and learn how to better care for their bodies. Mammograms were performed for free for the women who attended. The training then followed a visit to the Laurel Galan Health Center, so that the women could also receive a pap smear test. Our country program director, Jorge, provided transportation for the women and drove each of them to and from the clinic to the training center. The Nicaragua SHI staff also used one of the new and improved stoves to cook all of the women a lunch after attending the training sessions. The SHI staff said they felt satisfied knowing that the women were not only receiving help to improve their economic obstacles, but also receive basic important services to improve their health so that they can face any obstacle in life. The women ended the training in thanks, and said they now feel comfortable visiting the clinic when they need to after meeting the doctors that day. The capacitaciones were a success!

It has been a busy few months for Self-Help’s micro-credit program in Nicaragua. After interviewing many strong candidates in June, Edelia joined Self-Help Nicaragua in July as a second micro-credit program officer to ensure that the program will continue to serve women uninterrupted during Yolanda’s upcoming maternity leave. Together, Yolanda and Edelia visited all four communities involved in Self-Help’s micro-credit program (Quinta Lidia, Santa Isabel, Melchorita, and Las Azucenas) and Yolanda introduced Edelia to each woman in her home so they could get to know and trust Edelia since they’ll be working with her during Yolanda’s leave.

Disbursing & Collecting on Micro-Loans
In July, Yolanda and Edelia issued the second round of micro-loans to 10 members of the Las Azucenas micro-credit group. They also completed the final business training session for the 5 newest members of the micro-credit program. The women are also from Las Azucenas, and requested to join the program after seeing the success of the women in their community who were involved with Self-Help. The new group accessed their first loans in late July after loans from other communities were repaid to the revolving fund.

Introducing Technology to Improve Health & Household Finances
The micro-credit program has been hosting several training sessions on new technologies and enterprises as well. In July, Self-Help began promoting a new, improved stove design called “INKAWASI.” The traditional firewood stoves expose families to smoke and other gases that cause Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). In contrast, the INKAWASI stove has a chimney to reduce smoke inhalation, making it safer for the family’s health. It also requires less firewood than the traditional design, which makes it both more environmentally friendly and more economical by saving families money spent on firewood.

Alfredo, a member of Self-Help staff, learned how to build the oven during a training session sponsored by the Peace Corps. Together with local Peace Corps Volunteer Michael, Alfredo lead the training sessions to teach women about the benefits to their families, how the up-front cost to construct the stove would save them money in the long term, and how they could use their micro-loans to purchase the construction materials. At the end of the training, five women in attendance requested support to build the new stove in their homes, so Alfredo, Michael, and Self-Help Country Director Jorge immediately began helping the women start the construction.  

Bertilda from Quinta Lidia was the first woman to use her loan to construct the new stove. Eight other women from Bertilda’s micro-credit group, who were also interested in constructing the stove in their homes, came to Bertilda’s home to watch the construction process. Self-Help's goal is for young entrepreneurs to become promoters and builders of the newly improved ovens as their own small business ventures.

Mark your calendar to increase your impact: One week from today, on Thursday, October 5, all donations will be matched all day long! The match runs from 8am - 11pm Central and will apply to gifts of up to $1,000 per person! See complete terms & conditions here. 

PS: We're thrilled to share that Yolanda and Jairo welcomed a healthy baby boy in late August. Both mother & baby are doing well!