Economic Empowerment for 225 Women in Nicaragua

María is a mother of five who lives in El Consuelo #2, San Carlos, Nicaragua. Her greatest desire has been to improve herself so that she can give her children a better future. With the support of Self-Help International, that dream is finally within reach.

María's formal education was limited; instead, from a young age, she worked the land to help support her family, planting corn, beans, squash, and citrus fruits. 

María continued to farm after she was married, working shoulder to shoulder with her husband. For a time, they worked in neighboring Costa Rica, before returning to their country of origin.

María was introduced to Self-Help International's Women's Empowerment Program by one of her sisters. "My sister told me that this organization helps women like me who want to get ahead on their own," explains María. "She encouraged me so much that I decided to go with her for one of the training sessions."

After that first time, María actively participated in every training session. She became a sponge, absorbing the knowledge provided by Self-Help. The training sessions gave María an unwavering certainty that she had the courage and ability to transform her family's life. 

In addition to self-esteem and basic accounting knowledge, among other training, Self-Help International also provided María with high-quality biofortified corn and bean seeds to improve her harvests. 

María has noticed the difference between the native seeds planted in a traditional way and the high-quality varieties used with Self-Help International's double-row planting technique. 

From the five pounds of corn seed she received, María harvested 300 pounds of corn. She kept 15 pounds to plant in the second planting season, yielding an 1,100 pound harvest. For the third planting season, María used 30 pounds of her previously saved seed corn, harvesting 4,000 pounds of corn. For the upcoming season, she plans to plant two hectares of corn.

"I am happy to have had this new variety of corn during these times of unpredictable weather," says María. "It has strong ears capable of withstanding the hottest summers."

The high protein content of the corn has improved the nutrition of her entire family. After saving some for future planting seasons, most of the corn is used for the family's consumption and to feed their animals. María sells the surplus to meet the needs of her household and invest in her farming operations.

Self-Help International also provided María with vegetable seeds, which she used to establish a family garden and produce vegetables to add color, freshness, and vitamins to her household's daily diet. 

So that other women in María's community could also improve their own diets, she shares with them the seeds she has cultivated. She has also established a corn demonstration plot using the double-row technique, transforming her own land into a living example where other farmers in the community can see for themselves that the seed and technique promoted by Self-Help International do indeed yield more. 

Now, when María walks through her plot and sees the green shoots emerging from the soil, she knows that these plants reflect her own growth. Thanks to the support of her sister and Self-Help International, María believes she now has the knowledge to make her dreams come true.

Today, María is no longer just another resident of the El Consuelo community; she is a symbol of agricultural resilience. Her story demonstrates that when you have self-esteem, you begin to see life differently. 

"I am deeply grateful for Self-Help International for helping me see life in a positive way. The organization sowed in me confidence and a desire for self-improvement," says María.

Links:

• Read more stories about the SHI Women's Empowerment Program
• Read more stories about our work in Nicaragua
• Self-Help International