September 2008 Articles
Catalina Romero in Aguas Calientes by Sophia Anderson
"With the same love that we received the money from Adelante, we should pay back our loans!" Catalina Romero stands up and interrupts a lively argument in her asamblea . The clients are angry because one of their compañeras, or partners, defaulted on her loan and now each one has to contribute 30 Lempiras, or about $1.50, to cover her bi-monthly installment. "Everyone was excited and happy the day they passed out the checks," she says, "now things get a little difficult and they want to give up."
These types of arguments are not uncommon in Adelante asambleas. This asamblea is lucky to have Catalina's profound logic, especially for a woman with a second-grade education. As vice-jefa, or vice-president, Catalina is clearly a leader in her assembly. Catalina reminds her compañeras that Adelante asked for no collateral in order to issue them their loans because they were only asked to be responsible for each other and now it is time to make good on that promise.
Catalina is currently in her second loan cycle with Adelante and she says her business has flourished with the business education and capital she has received. She buys bedspreads and used clothing and re-sells them in her own and surrounding towns. "I used to buy a blouse, for example, and re-sell it without calculating my cost. I hardly made any money. Now I know that if I buy the blouse for 40 lempiras I should try to sell it for 80."
The bi-monthly charlas, or educational talks, are one of Catalina's favorite parts of being involved with Adelante. She has acquired valuable knowledge about business administration and a new awareness of women's rights and the meaning of self-esteem. Catalina beams as she describes the sense of empowerment she has gained.
Catalina is a single mother with four children: three of whom still depend on her, and one, a daughter, who is in college. The older daughter works in a flower shop in addition to studying computer science. She gives her mother half of her salary and, in return, Catalina takes care of her son while she is away.
When asked how her life has improved since her involvement with Adelante, Catalina replies that she and her children now eat much better and can plan for the future. She has not made any major improvements to her home but, rather, is saving her money to build in a new housing development that is coming to her area.
Catalina has big plans for developing her business. She says it is currently hard work walking from house to house selling bedspreads and clothes. Eventually she wants to get a big enough loan to buy a fardo , or a large, tightly-packed bale of used clothing sent from the United States. With this fardo she wants to set up a shop in her own home. The cost of the fardo varies depending on size and quality and ranges from 3000 to 6000 lempiras or about $150-300. For an ambitious and sensible woman like Catalina, that goal could become a reality soon.
In the News - Adelante holds its Bi-Annual Board Meeting
Adelante held its bi-annual board meeting in La Ceiba, Honduras during the first week of September. The board members started with a visit out to the campo near Tela and took part in the celebrations and challenges that made up two Adelante asambleas. Many important topics were discussed during the meetings including modifying our methodology to serve clients better, how to make our operations more efficient, and the possibility of sharing our education materials with other organizations. Some board members met our new director, Rene Licona, for the first time and it was a good introduction for Rene to the board's involvement in Adelante's activities.
Photograph of the Month
The children in an assemblies just before they celebrated Children's Day with a piñata made by Adelante's community educators.
MyLocalCause.com Support Microfinance Blog's Site of the Week
The Adelante Foundation is proud to announce that on September 8 th , the Adelante Foundation Weblog (http://adelantefoundation.wordpress.com/) was featured as the Site of the Week on the MyLocalCauses.com Support Microfinance Blog (http://microfinance.mylocalcause.com/2008/09/08/site-of-the-week-adelante-foundation-honduras-microfinance/).
Adelante Foundation joins Facebook
We have joined Facebook (http://www.facebook.com) and would like it if you would join too. Facebook is a social utility that connects people with friends and others who work, study, and live around them, and helps to encourage solidarity among those who would like to help different organizations at the grassroots level. Help us to spread the word about our efforts to end poverty in Honduras through micro-finance by joining us today with our Facebook Cause (http://apps.facebook.com/causes/59913) and Facebook Group (http://vupload.facebook.com/group.php?gid=26542997926).
Adelante Foundation joins Ammado
We are also proud to announce that we have joined Ammado.com (http://www.ammado.com/Nonprofit/adelante-foundation), a global online community that connects nonprofits and socially engaged individuals dedicated to positive change on both the global and local levels. You can become a member of Ammado.com (http://www.ammado.com) today and help us spread the word about our efforts to end poverty in Honduras through micro-finance.
GoodSearch.com and Goodshop.com
We are excited because starting June 24, 2008, the Adelante Foundation is now on Goodsearch.com and GoodShop.com ! With more than 62,000 non-profits and schools participating, GoodSearch has become a popular and unique way to help raise money for important causes. All you have to do to participate is visit GoodSearch.com or GoodShop.com and under "Who do you GoodSearch for?" search for the "Adelante Foundation." It is free for you and helps us to raise the money we need to continue providing micro-loans to women in Honduras. >Visit GoodSearch. |
