News
Limón is a Garífuna community located in the department of Colón, founded by our Garinagu ancestors in 1880. The community became a municipality on November 18, 1917, almost 100 years ago. This year, Limón was the location of the 216th anniversary commemorating the arrival of the Garinagu to Honduras. The activities lasted one week and were filled with a diverse array of events, including dances, traditional foods, cultural nights and a variety of trainings.
This year Adelante participated for the first time in the celebrations of the last day, April 12. A parade began early in the morning, in which all the communities’ representatives participated in the march through the streets of Limón carrying banners and the important messages of the day.
To add even more importance to the day, a council of the ministers headed by Honduras’ President Porfirio Lobo Sosa was carried out. The opportunity to have the national government’s cabinet present was achieved by the Garinagu after submitting several petitions. Topics including Health, Educations, Road Construction, Agriculture, Preservation of Culture and Conservation of Land prevailed among the petitions made by the Garinagu people to the government. Some of these petitions were approved immediately by the government.
Adelante was represented by Celso Batíz and Jaime Guerrero, both from the Tocoa Branch Office. They took the opportunity to promote Adelante’s work and the services that we offer as we look into expanding further into Garífuna communities. Although Adelante’s presence was not extensive, it was significant. We hope that we will be able to contribute to a greater extent during future celebrations.
Adelante clients from within Garífuna communities were also found at the event. As Credit Officer for the Iriona Zone, Jaime serves over 40 women just within the community of Limón, and many others in the neighboring Garífuna communities. Both Jaime and Celso were pleased to enjoy the presence of several women they work with regularly as they all celebrated this important anniversary. The clients in attendance also came to celebrate the day and were appreciative knowing that Adelante had not forgotten about this date, so cherished by the Garífuna people.
After eight years of dedicated service as Credit Officer and Branch Office Supervisor, Nicolas Flores has now been promoted to Assistant Manager of Operations. He carries out his new responsibilities while maintaining his role as La Ceiba Branch Supervisor. Nicolas’ new position frees up Adelante Manager of Operations Oscar Mejía to dedicate himself to the future vision of the organization and product development. The new responsibilities assigned to both Nicolas and Oscar is reflective of their dedication to Adelante and a combined 16 years of experience working at Adelante. 
“You know, other institutions won’t lend to a woman like her.” La Ceiba Agency and Northern Zone Supervisor Nicolas made this statement as we drove away from Benilda’s home in rural Atlántida. He explained that at 67 years old and living under extreme poverty, she is not an attractive client for other microfinance institutions operating in Honduras. Off the shoulder of an unpaved road, Benilda, recently widowed, lives with her granddaughter, her granddaughter´s husband and their daughter in a two-room shack with walls made from wooden planks, a packed dirt floor and an aluminum roof. As a former Credit Officer for the zone before becoming Supervisor, Nicolas has known her for many years and assures me that she is in fact, “one of the hardest working women” that he knows.
Lisa is the 6 year old daughter of Karina and has three siblings between 7 and 11 years old. She goes to school at the local kindergarten in the department of La Paz. Lisa loves going to school and enjoys running around with other kids her age. Her mom cares of her and her siblings during the day while she attends to her small business selling bread from their home. Karina's job takes economic pressure off her husband who must travel once a month to work in the bus terminal of another city a few hours away. 
Angela is the 17 year old daughter of a long time client also from La Paz. As her mom has gotten older, it has become more difficult for her to get around so Angela has taken the role of representing her mother at assembly meetings. Angela just finished her last year of high school this past month and plans to go on to study in a university in Comayagua. There she hopes to study biology. Although she enjoys supporting her mother's business, she aspires to work in medicine and intends to pursue this career after her studies. 
Ashley is the granddaughter of María Juana, a client from Atlántida. Her mother is also a new Adelante client but María Juana has been with us for for a couple years. Ashley lives with her mother and grandparents, where they all work together to create a better life for each other. Ashley is five years old and will be soon starting school. With her mother and grandmother's earnings, Ashley will be able to receive a good education and fulfill her own dreams when she gets older. 