Economic Independence for Women in Central America

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.