GlobalGiving.org: Economic Independence for Women in Central America

Update: Economic Independence for Women

Cathy Reilly — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:55:29 GMT

Your overwhelming support of this project is amazing! Thank you all for your partnership, which truly benefits women and their families living in rural poverty in Central America. These women not only launch small businesses to earn additional income for their families, but also gain an incredible amount of hope and confidence knowing that others have invested in their success.

Thanks to generous supporters like you, a remarkable $45,933 has been contributed toward this project. It’s a powerful number. But even more powerful is what that that money translates into – 383 women have been able to start small businesses thanks to the funds you’ve provided! And by partnering with these women, you've invested not only in their own capabilities, but also ensured a brighter future for their families and larger communities.

Attached, please find the story of Maria Griselda. Maria lives in Cajixay, in the remote western highlands of Guatemala. This region has some of the highest poverty rates in the world, and at one point her family lost everything as a result of widespread guerrilla violence in the region. But today Maria is one of the leaders of her Community Bank, and with her loan she has been able to open a general store and participate in a pea growing contract.

Read Maria’s story, and please share with us any feedback you might have about this update.

As always, we are so grateful for your continued support of Agros’ Economic Independence for Women in Central America project on GlobalGiving. As the project draws to a close, we are so grateful for the hundreds of women whose lives have been changed as a result of your generosity.

Mil Gracias,

Cathy

Attachments:

Economic Independence for Women Jun 11 (PDF)

Update: Economic Independence for Women

Cathy Reilly — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 02:14:00 GMT

On behalf of the women of Central America who benefit from your support, thank you! Your partnership makes a tremendous difference in the lives of women as they work to launch small businesses to earn additional income for their families.

Thanks to generous supporters like you, a remarkable $44,202 has been contributed toward this project. Of course, it's really what that money translates to that matters - upwards of 368 women have been able to start small businesses thanks to the funds you’ve provided! And by investing in women, you've invested not only in their own capabilities, but also their families and larger communities.

Attached, please find the story of Doña Arminda and ten other women in her community of Nueva Primavera, Guatemala. With her loan she was able to open a general store to provide supplies for her community and other surrounding ones. She and the other women have also participated in workshops and trainings that maximize their ability to create profitable projects like candle-making.

Please share with us any feedback you might have about this update. If you'd like any additional information or have suggestions for future updates, also feel free to contact us.

As always, we are so grateful for your continued support of Agros’ Economic Independence for Women in Central America project on GlobalGiving.

Enjoy!

Cathy

Attachments:

Economic Indepdence for Women 3-11 (DOCX)

Update: Economic Independence for Women in Central

Cathy Reilly — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 00:16:10 GMT

We are so grateful for your continued support of Agros’ Economic Independence for Women in Central America project on GlobalGiving. And so are the women whom you're helping!

As of today, generous supporters like you have given a remarkable $34,274 toward this project! That total has enabled upwards of 286 women to start small businesses thanks to the funds you’ve provided! These loans not only benefit the women, but also their extended families and the communities at large throughout Central America and Mexico.

Attached, please find the story of one woman's journey with Agros in creating a Community Bank in Honduras. Danubia and eleven other women in her community of Brisas del Volcan recently started a Community Bank and are already on track with their first loan payments. These women are even pooling funds so that they’ll eventually be able to loan money to others in their community. Danubia explains how the experience has really transformed these women, their families, and their community.

Please share with us any feedback you might have about this update. If you'd like any additional information or have suggestions for future updates, also feel free to contact us.

Enjoy, and mil gracias!

Cathy

Attachments:

WomensCommunityBankSummer10 (PDF)

Update: Economic Independence for Women in Central America

Shannon Gallagher — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 19:25:14 GMT

Thank you so much for your continued support of Agros’ Economic Independence for Women in Central America project on GlobalGiving.

To date, generous donors like you have given a remarkable $29,246 in support of this project! That total provides upwards of 243 women with the microloans they have been waiting for to start their small businesses! That loan not only benefits the woman, but her extended family and the community at large!

We’re pleased to share with you in the attached document another inspiring story outlining how your support really makes a difference. Through the eyes of Elena, one of the first women to participate in her community's first Women's Community Bank (WCB) in the village of La Providencia, you'll see how one such loan has made an impact on her life, that of her family, and the other women in the bank.

Please share with us any feedback you might have about this update. Let us know if these reports are proving valuable, or if there are other types of information you’d like to receive from us as relates to this project.

Enjoy, and again...mil gracias!

Shannon

Attachments:

WCB Update: Story of Elena (PDF)

Project Update: Economic Independence for Women in Central America

Shannon Gallagher — Tue, 04 May 2010 22:15:16 GMT

Thank you so much for your continued support of Agros’ Economic Independence for Women in Central America project on GlobalGiving.

To date, generous donors like you have given a remarkable $26,413 in support of this project! That total provides upwards of 220 women with the microloans they have been waiting for to start their small businesses!

We’re pleased to share with you in the attached document another inspiring story outlining how your support really makes a difference. Through the eyes of Maria, a young woman who joined the Women's Community Bank (WCB) in the village of Villa Linda, you'll see how she is benefiting today from one such loan, and the impact it’s had on her life and that of her family.

In addition, we are attaching again for your reference a 2nd document outlining the goals and objectives of the WCB project and specifics detailing exactly how it works within Agros villages.

We welcome any and all feedback you might have about this update. Please let us know if these reports are proving valuable, or if there are other types of information you’d like to receive from us as relates to this project.

Enjoy, and again...mil gracias! Shannon

Links:

Celebrating Women's Achievements Today, and Every Day

Attachments:

Project Update: Economic Independence for Women in Central America

Shannon Gallagher — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:26:39 GMT

Thank you so much for your continued support of Agros’ Economic Independence for Women in Central America project on GlobalGiving. To date, generous donors like you have given an astounding $23,843 in support of this project! That total provides 198 women with the microloans they have been waiting for to start their small businesses!

Attached to this report you'll find a document outlining the goals and objectives of the Women’s Community Banks (WCB) project and specifics detailing exactly how it works within Agros villages.

In addition, we’re pleased to share with you in a second attached document the story of Teresa García, a young woman who is benefiting today from one such loan, and the impact it’s had on her life and that of her family.

Enjoy, and mil gracias!

Shannon Gallagher Annual Campaign Manager Agros International

Attachments:

Profiles of Women Entrepreneurs

Shannnon Gallagher — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 01:31:37 GMT

Success Stories Loans from the enterprise loan fund are helping women in Agros villages gain important social and financial skills as well as generate income for their families. The following are profiles of a few of the women who are benefiting from this project.

Juana is one of the forty-four women involved in the two Community Banks in Xeucalvitz. This quarter she was elected by her peers as the President of her Community Bank Group A. In addition to a leader, she is an enterprising woman that has been very successful in her productive activities, namely her own small general store where she sells some groceries and snacks. Having recently participated in a bread-baking workshop with a partnering organization, Juana also plans to start a bakery in the community as well, and sell in the local market. “We are excited because we are constantly learning new things,” Juana shares. “We never had a bank account before, but now we know how. We go to the bank and make our deposits. And every loan cycle, we deposit a little more. With our earnings, we can provide food, clothing, medicines, and other basic needs for our families.”

And another Juana is a member of the Community Bank in the Agros village of Cajixay. In November 2008, just two months after purchasing 200 chickens through a small loan, Juana made the first chicken sale in her community! Today, the chicken project continues to be a success. More families have joined Juana in her endeavors and this quarter demand has grown tremendously as the word of the chickens has spread to other communities. Juana and her partners continue to receive assistance from Agros as they increase their income and improve families’ diets.

Griselda, 48 years old, is the President of the Community Bank Group A in Cajixay. “My dream for our group,” she shares, “is that the projects benefit all of the women in our community.” With her example, the women in Cajixay shouldn’t have trouble coming up with new ideas; Griselda currently invests in a small store where she sells sugar, water, nachos and medicine. She also raises pigs and rabbits, in addition to having her own bread oven! Griselda is so ambitious she has established a partnership with a nearby restaurant that places a weekly order for her breads. With the income that she earns, she hopes that her grandson Denison will be able to go to college, just like her son Jacobo who graduated in 2007 in agro-forestry.