GlobalGiving.org: Help Guatemalan Women Achieve Self-Sufficiency

Health Initiatives Empower Women

Gillian Wilson — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 22:59:53 GMT

APROSADSE’s initiative to work with traditional midwives helps empower women. Many women in indigenous communities are wary of modern medical institutions or lack access to effective care. Midwives have been instrumental to community health and continue to be.

APROSADSE provides midwives with minor surgery equiptment and medical supplies and ongoing training. With contributions from generous donoers, 65 kits were assembled in San Martin Jilotepeque and distributed to each of the midwives.

In addition, 30 women are training as Nutritional Conselors for communities in need. Since women are often limited in their access to good nutrition, especially as new mothers, these Counselors will be instrumental in educating families and women.

Thank you for your generous contributions. Initiatives like this one depend upon them.

Supporting Women Strengthens Entire Communities

Gillian Wilson — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 22:13:23 GMT

With your help, APROSADSE’s programs in organic composting, farming, and livestock rearing has increased the self-sufficiency of women within their communities. Education in nutrition and sustainable production techniques has helped communities to grow healthier crops and animals, resulting in increased production. The women who are integral to their farms are reaping the benefits, no longer dependent on their husband’s livelihood alone. They are now able to claim their own business and farm income.

With sustainable income from their farms and businesses, women are not only able to save money but also to send their children to school and support their families. The ability to provide for their families strengthens the whole community and the women working with APROSADSE are leaders in their communities, helping to empower others to organize community health projects like planting fruit trees and gardens.

Your donations make this possible. Thank you!

Training Leads to Better Harvests and Incomes

Gillian Wilson — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 21:35:39 GMT

Starting October 12, GlobalGiving will be matching donations for this project! Donate and maximize your impact!

Thanks to your support, APROSADSE’s agroecology program in Guatemala is meeting close to

100% of its objectives. Community members were trained in agroecology, livestock

rearing, and small business management. These training programs provided families

with better harvesting and income-generating techniques.

In 9 rural communities, 1,038 pigs, chicken and cattle underwent two days of veterinary

care. By decreasing disease outbreaks, families can increase their production potential

and support their families.

Microcredit loans helped women establish their own businesses. Women who

previously depended on their husbands for money now speak of their own savings, the

responsibilities of having their own businesses or farms, and the lessons learned from

improving production.

We need your continued support! By donating to APROSADSE you are ensuring more

families can benefit from this program.

Thank you for your support.

Growing Ecology Programs in Guatemala

Gillian Wilson — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 20:57:34 GMT

APROSADSE’s agroecology program in Guatemala has expanded to include 9 community groups, with each group consistently meeting twice a month. The following workshops have been conducted: agroecology, livestock rearing, business and livestock management skills, ecological latrines, and construction of wood-saving stoves.

The cow, pig, and chicken-raising projects are still flourishing thanks to vaccination and disease-management workshops. Projects range in size from a single woman raising two pigs, to a 7-family group with 1000 egg-laying chickens.

We need your continued support! The cow-raising project in Xetinamit has an estimated 18-month turnaround time. While the families involved have not experienced major financial gains, they are benefiting from the production of milk, cheese, fertilizer, and small sales to the local market.

By donating to APROSADSE you are ensuring more families can benefit from this program.

Thank you for your support.

March 2010 Update

Gillian Wilson — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:13:39 GMT

On Tuesday, March 16, all donations up to $1,000 per donor, per project will be matched. Donate on Tuesday, March 16, 2010, and maximize your gift. Our most recent update reports on microcredit loans and training for 3 newly formed groups working on raising chickens, cows, and other types of income-generation activities. One group, in the community of Sauce Xesuj, is focusing on raising livestock. With technical assistance and loan funds, the group was able to construct a chicken coop and purchase chickens. The group, which has grown to include 10 families, sells the eggs from the chickens at the local market. Chicken-raising is an income-generating project with relatively quick returns on limited land, and almost immediate nutritional improvement to families as a result of the eggs. However chickens can be easily prone to disease and so sanitation practices need to be managed carefully to avert any sort of outbreak. With your support, the group was provided with an investment capital for the purchase, maintenance, and sale of chickens, with each family contributing a portion of the funds needed to construct the facilities, as well as the time needed to care for the birds and sell the eggs. The families also participated in trainings on chicken care, bookkeeping, project management, and had meetings to discuss savings and repayment plans. Not only to the families involved benefit from better nutrition as a result of the project, they are reaching their goals in learning about the technical and administrative aspects of caring for the chickens, improving their production, and generating a profit.

A Postcard from "Help Guatemalan Women Achieve Self-Sufficiency"

Mark Skeith — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:30:43 GMT

Empowering Pío & Defending Pepe

As I arranged my visit to APROSADSE in San Martín Jilotepeque, Guatemala, I wondered if I would be able to brush the dust off my Español skills to interact with an organization that is comprised entirely of local Guatemalans that have lived in San Martín since birth. After a wonderful day long visit to this project, however, my fears of stumbling through conversations gradually turned into a clear realization that this native-run development organization has the power to support its community in ways that are simply impossible for outside organizations.

The day started bright and early with me standing outside a church in a Guatemalan town I had never been to before looking for a Guatemalan man I had never met before. After a few awkward encounters introducing myself to random strangers who fit the description of APROSADSE’s Executive Director, Gervacio Atz Jichá, I did finally link up with him. During our car ride to San Martín, he described the organization’s history starting with its birth in 1975 in the middle of the brutal civil war, which was particularly rough in western highland communities like San Martín. After pointing out that that the other two co-founders disappeared during the civil war, Gervacio summarized a 34 year career of dedication to his community.

Arriving at the APROSADSE office, I was welcomed by ten members of the organization staff who were very eager to deliver PowerPoint presentations detailing the organization’s various development activities in healthcare, environment, education, women empowerment, and micro finance. With my limited Español, I naturally focused my attention on the presentations’ pictures of female entrepreneurs receiving training at workshops, children receiving vaccinations, farmers signing loan documents, and animals eating clean food at San Martín farms. I didn’t need my Español to understand that this organization provides crucial support to the community in a variety of ways.

After a lunch that included delicious stewed chicken, fried plantains, and some fiery shots of Cusha (Guatemala’s take on moonshine), the staff took me out to some farms that had received loans over the past couple of years. One pig farmer named Pío and his 280lb pig stud, Pepe, demonstrated APROSADSE’s importance:

Pío was the type of man who wore his sense of humor on his sleeve if, of course, he happens to be wearing a shirt. After some heavy chuckles and a tour of the facility, I asked him why APROSADSE loans are important to him, and he answered “porque puedo recibirlos” (because I can receive them). For Pío, these loans are not just important because he enjoys lower interest rates than the banking industry offers or because he is granted longer repayment periods than banks typically allow. This extension of financing is absolutely essential because farmers like Pío simply cannot get loans from banks. In this area of Guatemala, there are no credit bureaus that record Pío’s financial history, and these local banks do not have the resources to develop a personal relationship with him either. This is exactly where APROSADSE comes into the picture because they know and trust him just as he knows and trusts them. Our visit seemed to be more like a call to an old friend’s place than a professional inspection of facilities.

For Pepe, APROSADSE’s loans ensure that his farmer will be able to take care of him. Because Pío can afford to provide cleaner facilities and safer food, he has seen a significant decrease in animal losses due to disease. And because he can afford to maintain an adequate stock of pigs, he does not force unnatural levels of production out of animals like Pepe. Pío also mentioned that he recently practiced administering a vaccination to a pig under professional supervision at an APROSADSE clinic so that he didn’t have to try it out himself on Pepe. Not only is APROSADSE empowering Pío to create a business, but they are also protecting Pepe as they advocate sustainable farming techniques.

This dual theme of vitality and sustainability runs through all APROSADSE’s activities, but I believe they are truly effective because they personally know farmers like Pío and sincerely care for animals like Pepe. This welcoming group of Guatemalans refused to let a simple language barrier prevent me from understanding all the wonderful work they were doing in their community. And, I thank them for such a wonderful visit!

If you would like to support these Guatemalans as they help their neighbors, please visit their project page at: www.globalgiving.org/1660

When asked what she would tell her friends about this project, Mark said: "Great: They are making a difference."

Links:

http://travel.webshots.com/album/573791857hsENHB?start=0

The Chi Armira Chicken Raising Project

Gillian Wilson — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:44:48 GMT

The recent update from the field this period is from a site visit to APROSADSE.

In the community of Chi Armira, a group income-generating project -- one you are helping to support-- is raising 600 egg-laying hens. This group of 4 members has been working with this project for a while. They have had challenges with this project because the price of the chicken feed has gone up. They're hoping to sell the hens in 3-4 months to earn income, which they will reinvest in the project.

Thanks to your support, this program continues to offer communities a critical opportunity to enhance community’s nutrition, develop agroecology skills and improve income for their families.

Maria Hermelinda And APROSADSE

Gillian Wilson — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:02:38 GMT

Our latest update comes from the field. We hope you’ll enjoy this profile on one woman whose life has been touched through your generous support. Maria Hermelinda lives on the edge of a residential road in a small indigenous community called Sauce Xejus. She is 36 years old, married, and has two children who attend the community’s primary school. In addition to taking care of her family, cooking, and cleaning, she maintains a little store in her house selling sundries and groceries. Maria Hermalinda says that when she got married, she and her husband did not have their own house and they worked very hard for what they have now. She also sells fruit and vegetables at her children’s school during their lunch breaks in order to encourage healthy eating. She does this daily to make a little money and tends to her store the rest of the day while carrying out her family duties. And twice a month she takes part in the Sauce Xejus’s community group sponsored by APROSADSE and contributes monthly to the savings fund that the group manages for loans to each other. She also participates in training workshops that are carried out at APROSADSE’s main offices. She says she benefits from the trainings that she receives, and also manages a fund of Q 2,500.00 (US$300) that she has invested in her small store. Maria Hermelinda is a very dynamic woman and the group says she has the potential to be a leader. She constantly expresses her gratitude towards her community group and remarks how having her own income allows her children to continue to attend school. She has a dream to see her children educated and one day and have professional careers. And, upon finishing such an expression, she always smiles.

Patrociña the Entrepreneur of El Carmen

Gillian Wilson — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 00:24:47 GMT

Patrociña and her cow.

Patrociña’s community is one of 15 currently receiving support through APROSADSE's Agroecology Program, which provides loans and training to groups and individuals for income-generating projects, such as livestock rearing. These are lucrative options for families with limited access to arable land. The program also promotes group savings and facilitates monthly technical assistance to each group.

At her neighbor’s urging Patrociña attended a meeting sponsored by APROSADSE. The more she learned, the more it became clear. If she took a loan to buy a cow the milk could both provide her 5 growing children with much needed nutrition. With the income from leftover milk she could send her children to school. And if you were to ask Patrociña about her dreams, she would be quick to tell you. What she wants most in life is to see her children go to school.

Few cars make it down to El Carmen, Patrociña’s tiny community of 30 families. There are no paved roads. Patrociña has a long and dusty walk to market in San Martín Jilotepeque. Even there staples like eggs and milk and fresh produce are often too expensive. Her family lives on a small, arid plot of land in a 2-room house, the walls patched together with maize stalks and steel plates.

Patrociña never envisioned she would be able to support her family on her own. But through a combination of small loans and technical training in livestock rearing, she has discovered an innate sense for business.

In her group meetings, Patrociña is always the first to speak up; ready to share how she is maximizing her original investment. First, she sold her original cow. With the proceeds, she paid back her loan and bought another cow. She was able to sell that cow and buy a bull, which she calculated would yield an even higher profit at market.

Her children are growing strong on the milk they have to drink. Plus her cow is also providing enough milk she can sell it to neighboring families. And, as she will proudly tell you, she can now afford to purchase uniforms, school supplies and pay for tuition for her 3 eldest school-age children.

Patrociña is not content to stop there. Her entrepreneurial spirit has encouraged her to expand her micro enterprise by making cheese. She has also begun to use organic and free fertilizer (from her cows) for her two plots of the local chayote squash. In a short time, she has watched her income grow from zero into a steady stream.

Though her new life is busier than ever, Patrociña finds time to attend health-training workshops at APROSADSE’s main office and returns motivated to extend her newfound tips in nutrition and family health to the rest of the women in her community.

Give to support women like Patrociña through March 27, 2009 and your donation will be matched.

March 2009 Update

Gillian Wilson — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 23:03:55 GMT

Towards the end of 2008, 7 rural families in the Cruz Nueva group found success through hard work and the support from APROSADSE. The families shared in a chicken-raising farm project starting with 1,000 chickens that continue to produce an abundance of eggs that they then sell at the local market.

While the group owns their project, APROSADSE provides technical assistance twice a month to help the families maintain their project. Assistance has included vaccinations and trainings on the care of chickens, guidance on chicken coop construction and maintenance, and trainings on financial management and business administration.

With your donations, APROSADSE currently supports 64 families with technical project assistance as part of their Agroecology Program.

December 2008 Update

Katherine Zavala — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:47:38 GMT

In 2008, the Los Pinos de Xesuj group achieved regular income-generation through APROSADSE’s chicken project. The group of 16 women sold 3 to 5 chickens at $8.10 each week, and 1 to 2 turkeys every three months at $27.03 each. This amounted to a weekly income of $13.50-$20.27, which equals a monthly income of $54.00-$81.00. Additionally, the group cared for 1,000 hen-laying eggs, also providing a substantial income. The project benefits not just the women, but also a total of 56 family members.

September 2008 Update

Katherine Zavala — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:12:12 GMT

In the community of Chi Armira, near San Martin Jilotepeque, Chimaltenango, the chicken-raising project managed by one of APROSADSE’s new groups (called Emmanuel) is finishing its first cycle.

The four members driving the project see a production of 9 cartons of eggs daily, sold at $2.70 each, equaling an income of $24.32 daily and $792.72 monthly. The group plans to sell the hens and use the money to reinvest in more chickens, starting the cycle again.

Furthermore, the group is mixing the chicken manure with sawdust to produce organic fertilizer to sell. The income from these sales helps them pay for their chicken feed, which has become very expensive now.

The president of the group, Ana, expressed the following: “I’m thankful for the opportunity to get a microcredit from APROSADSE and to also receive training.”

June 2008 Update

Katherine Zavala — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:45:44 GMT

In April Katherine Zavala, IDEX’s Coordinator of Programs, traveled to Guatemala to visit APROSADSE’s group of women. During her visit, she met with the group Women in Action (Mujeres de Accion) – a group of women that was featured in the last project update. Katherine met with the women and discovered many them were new members, but five had been in the group since the beginning. Most of the women work individually with chicken-raising projects. Talking with them, the women shared several comments about their projects and how grateful they are to be in a group where they can share their problems and accomplishments and have support from one another.

Many of the members shared their experiences working with their projects such as Maria Julia. Maria Julia has had great success with her egg-laying hens and now sells eggs in her community. She was invited to join the group by her mother-in-law and she's now the vice-president of the group in her second year. Being vice-president has given her the confidence to speak more and to see that she can be one of the leaders of the group. For example the meeting with Katherine, the president of the group was unable to be present because she was studying and this allowed Maria Julia to open the meeting and introduce the group members.

Julia's mother-in-law, Maria Elena, is one of the five women who started the group Women in Action. She's also had success raising chickens and local varieties of turkey. During Christmas time she can sell her turkeys at a high price and receives a good income from those sales. As a result, she has bought a cow that is providing her family with milk. She also uses the chicken manure to make organic fertilizers for her plot of agricultural land.

Thanks to APROSADSE’s technical assistance, the group of women knows it has support in livestock rearing trainings that benefits their animals and the women’s income. Most women feel empowered that they are providing a source of income to their families. In addition, they can share their personal stories with their trusted group members, who have createda safe and comfortable environment that allows the women to be themselves and feel proud of their successes.

March 2008 Update

Katherine Zavala — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 22:14:27 GMT

In addition to the groups APROSADSE supports in the community of El Sauce Xesuyú, APROSADSE supports the group of women called Mujeres en Acción (Women in Action) from the community of Los Pinos Xesuj. These women meet every two weeks to review their income-generating projects and share with each other the challenges they have encountered as well as the positive results they have accomplished.

12 women from this 16-member group received microcredit last September to each start a chicken-raising project. Since then, every one of them has sold between two to three chickens to other community members. The chickens haven’t reached their production period yet, thus they haven’t been able to produce eggs to then sell them.

Before the women in this group received loans there were 11 women participating, but the women passed on the word within the community to motivate more women to join. The members would promote this group as an opportunity to not only receive a microcredit but to participate in trainings focused on themes such as health and nutrition, and to be able to save money. As a result, the group increased their members by 5 more women.

December 2007 Update

Katherine Zavala — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 22:57:49 GMT

Since the last project update, a new group of three men and two women from the community Chiarmira of El Sauce Xesuyú organized themselves to work together to start their own hen-raising project, following the success of the 11-family chicken cooperative that we reported on in October. Together, this new group of five community members has purchased 300 egg-producing hens. With the assistance of APROSADSE, the group installed a proper chicken coup to place these 300 hens using wood, steel plates and cement blocs. Since September, the group has been meeting monthly with APROSADSE to gain administrative and basic management skills to implement in their hen-raising project. APROSADSE is happy to report that after a short period of forming their own group, the five members are currently producing nine dozen of eggs per day, which they sell at the local market together with the 11-family chicken cooperative.

October 2007 Update

Katherine Zavala — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 18:11:51 GMT

As part of this project a group of women from the community of El Sauce Xesuj carried out the workshops to help them develop a chicken cooperative. They learned how to build a chicken coup that was the right size and secure for the chickens. In addition they were taught how to prevent diseases that can afflict chickens and also treatment for common chicken ailments, should they fall ill. The women learned the importance of using organic feed and how to recycle chicken waste to use within their community for producing organic fertilizer for their crops.

After their chicken cooperative project had been implemented APROSADSE returned to the village to evaluate the results from hen-raising projects. • 11 families acquired more knowledge about raising poultry in themes such as sanitation, common diseases in chickens, nutrition, chicken coup installations • 11 women were able to contribute to their household food consumption through their chicken-raising projects • 11 families are raising 30 to 50 local varieties of chickens and are currently in the process of selecting the ones that are good producers of eggs and meat • They are using the organic fertilizer (chicken droppings) for their organic agriculture, phasing out of using chemical fertilizers from their plots of farm land • The families are selling some of their chickens to raise money to maintain their farms and ultimately increase the number of chickens • The community now has a group fund of $470 that was collected through loan repayments and women starting savings to be used as an emergency loan for any member of the group.

There were a few problems in that some of the chicken coups needed structural improvements to ensure greater protection from heat extremes for the chickens. But APROSADSE was able to help them with more training and also provided veterinary assistance for chickens with ailments beyond the community’s knowledge. But overall the project has been a huge success for El Sauce Xesuj.