March 2008 Articles

NEW: Adelante Foundation's Weblog - Shannon Clohosey

March 12, 2008 : The first time I ever read a blog was when I arrived here in Honduras only a few months ago; a few months before that, I had never even heard of blogging. Upon hearing the term, I may have chalked it up to some new lingo in the deepest part of the web-world where I rarely tread. Now, here I am, a few short months later, marching straight into the well-trodden world of blogging.

This foray into blogging has been sparked by another new experience: my volunteer position with Fundación Adelante, which began in early March. When I first arrived in La Ceiba in August 2007, I was captivated by the sun, the sea, and the abundant tropical woods that climb the mountains that back on to the city; I was also amazed, and at times overwhelmed, by the dynamic, entangled and often difficult history and socio-economic context of this rich country. While I have been here for over six months now, every day I find myself fascinated, bewildered and heartened by new observations, thoughts and experiences.

This blog, therefore, will be all about newness and learning. As I navigate the new (for me!) world of blogging, I hope to share my experiences, learning and reflections on my work with Adelante and their efforts to affect positive change in Honduran communities.

The blog can be found on Adelante's new website - check: it out: http://adelantefoundation.wordpress.com/ .   I look forward to input and ideas from readers, and would love to hear from others about their own observations, thoughts and experiences about blogging, microfinance, Honduras, or any other subject I touch on.  

Annual Board of Directors Meeting · February 12-14, 2008 -Ashley Hooker

The Adelante Foundation Board of Directors had made a very positive change at the 2007 meeting: the Honduran and United States Boards were combined to create one governing body without geographic distinction. As a result, a very cohesive thirteen member board has been in effect for the past year. In addition to the usual conference calls and the emails, a face-to-face meeting in Honduras was a tremendous joy for everyone.

The week was spent in meetings hearing from the different departments about the accomplishments of 2007 and the goals for 2008. The board was able to reconnect with the staff both in the office and at dinner. The highlight for everyone, as always, was getting out into the field and going to the assemblies. The board recharges every year through the experience and impact of all those who make Adelante possible. The first assembly visited was a group of women who have been with Adelante for several years. They were energetic, incredibly welcoming, and eager to show off the strong community that they had created. Then the board visited a newer group of Adelante borrowers.   This second assembly of four solidarity groups was making its final payment on current loans and the women qualified for a subsequent, larger loan!

Adelante would like to welcome the newest board member, Belkis Pina. Belkis was born and raised in La Ceiba, Honduras. She is a chemical engineer and currently lives in Kentucky with her husband and three children. Of her involvement with Adelante Belkis says, "From the first time I learned about Grameen's methodology I was exited about its potential to help alleviate poverty in my native country, Honduras. Fundación Adelante's microfinance and education programs are doing just that; we see the results in the improved quality of life of their clients.   It behooves us to help spread this work!"

For more information on the Board of Directors, please visit www.adelantefoundation.org/board_of_directors.htm .

"Seed" Capital -Ashley Hooker

"I am way too young to have a husband!" proclaims thirty year-old Maria Isidora Bowtista. This is a rare statement from a rural woman living in Honduras, where childbearing from age fourteen is common. This independence sets her apart from many and creates a welcoming place among the fabric of the Adelante Foundation: entrepreneurial women. Maria's sun-drenched brown Lankan Indian skin is graced by friendly crows-feet outlining her sparkling eyes. As she talks about the struggle to make her flower-selling business dream a reality, Maria's confidence and joy stream forward as brightly as the vibrant array of flowers she is growing to sell in the market.

The backdrop is stunning and the company is charming, but the dusty reality is harsh and unfair. Maria lives in a mud and wood house with her parents and two brothers in the cool mountainous region of Intibucá. Intibucá is the poorest region of Honduras and many say that it is neglected by the government because of a prejudice towards the predominately Indian population. Maria's house sits on a steep hillside looking down upon fertile plots of corn, peppers, beans and the other crops Intibucá is known for. The irony, however, is that Maria's family owns land which is rocky and useless.  

For generations, no one has found the land profitable, so Maria's father did not object when she asked him to use it for a flower business. However, the support stopped there; her family puts any extra money towards her younger brother's schooling. For two years, Maria toiled against the unyielding family plot and her product was sparse and erratic. Yet, she still carried flowers on a steep rocky mountain road for over an hour to the market in La Esperanza with the hope of a better life. She went weeks without anything to sell, just waiting for nature to produce. Maria was not making any money.   Her dream of filling the family compound with flowers to sell, becoming a profitable business woman, and contributing to the family finances was not possible without investing in seeds and pots - impossible investments without access to capital.

Maria had heard about microfinance. The first lenders she approached only provided large amounts of money for bigger endeavors, but she needed an organization that would grow with her and her flower business. Maria says that no organization except for Adelante is working in her area to provide women the opportunity to start small businesses. With her first sixty dollar loan from Adelante, Maria was able to buy dirt, seeds, and plastic bags to use as planters and start a very successful business! Because of the unyielding land, Maria has planted an above-ground garden, slowly filling the empty spaces of the family lot. It is hard to imagine that before joining Adelante, Maria could not afford the purchase of a few hundred plastic bags and some seeds.

With product to sell and the promise of money in her pocket, the long trek to the market no longer seems as arduous. Now, Maria makes consistent trips to the market and has also developed a customer base that comes to her house to buy flowers on non-market days. Maria says that her business goals are to put in a sprinkler system and buy more land to expand production. When asked what her personal goal is, she says with a broad smile, "Adelante has already made it come true, I am a business woman."

Doña Dina

Meet Doña Dina, one of Adelante's professional educators. She is giving a talk at an assembly about good business practices. Her audience is the thirty women who gather every two weeks to make their credit payment and participate in an educational lesson on business, health, or human rights. The children of the women have taken seats in the front row, exemplifying how a contribution to Adelante has a direct effect on poor women in Honduras and their families. Doña Dina's assembly is a perfect example of important lessons and empowerment reaching four young girls - future Adelante clients!