Our Christmas Project – Poverty in Nicaragua
People in Nicaragua really need our help. It is the least developed country in Central America and families are struggling to recover from a combination of the pandemic, back-to-back hurricanes, and high food prices.
Trinity has a tradition of generosity in helping others at Christmas, and our Christmas Project this year is dedicated to helping families in Nicaragua living in extreme poverty.
One of the best ways to address poverty is to help women start small businesses so they can earn income and help lift their families out of poverty. The goal of our Christmas Project is to raise funds to give micro-loans to 30 women to help them start small businesses.
Following are the stories of three women in Nicaragua who have received micro-loans in the past and how it has transformed their lives.
Trinity has a tradition of generosity in helping others at Christmas, and our Christmas Project this year is dedicated to helping families in Nicaragua living in extreme poverty.
One of the best ways to address poverty is to help women start small businesses so they can earn income and help lift their families out of poverty. The goal of our Christmas Project is to raise funds to give micro-loans to 30 women to help them start small businesses.
Following are the stories of three women in Nicaragua who have received micro-loans in the past and how it has transformed their lives.
Karla's Story
Karla’s bustling household is a hub of activity, where she lives with her four children and 20 other relatives in a shared family home. Space is a precious commodity in their crowded living environment, but Karla has ingeniously carved out her own corner, where she has nurtured a thriving business that’s reshaping her life.
Years ago, as a young woman, Karla’s brother worked at a local hammock factory. In the evenings, he passed on his knowledge to Karla, teaching her the art of weaving string to craft hammocks, bags, and fashionable accessories. Karla’s talents led her to secure a job producing 15 bags per day for a local weaver. However, despite her artistry, her earnings remained meager. |
Eight years ago, determined to use her skills to launch her own business, Karla received a $23 micro-loan of the assistance of ASODENIC, the local partner of Opportunity International in Nicaragua. Karla used the small loan to purchase materials and embarked on producing bags, which she sold in her community.
It was not easy in the beginning, but Karla worked on her business skills and today has diversified her business, adding hammocks, bracelets, and even a range of products like produce, local snacks, ice cream treats, and soda, all sold from outside her home. Her eldest daughter and her fiancé, who also reside in the family home, work alongside her, experimenting with new styles and supporting Karla as the demand grows.
Karla wholesales her hammocks to market vendors and produces up to 15 hammocks per week. She is currently working with a $400 loan to expand her business. Her children, aged 19, 15, 7, and 5, all have ambitious aspirations – to become an orthodontist, a graphic designer, a flight attendant, and a veterinarian, respectively. Karla is dedicated to empowering them to reach their goals.
As for Karla herself, she’s pursuing two significant dreams. First, she would like to acquire her land and a house independent of her family, hoping one day to have a space that’s entirely her own. Secondly, she aspires to open her own store, eliminating dependence on other vendors. Selling directly to customers, especially tourists, would significantly boost her monthly revenue. Karla is determined to see her dreams come true.
It was not easy in the beginning, but Karla worked on her business skills and today has diversified her business, adding hammocks, bracelets, and even a range of products like produce, local snacks, ice cream treats, and soda, all sold from outside her home. Her eldest daughter and her fiancé, who also reside in the family home, work alongside her, experimenting with new styles and supporting Karla as the demand grows.
Karla wholesales her hammocks to market vendors and produces up to 15 hammocks per week. She is currently working with a $400 loan to expand her business. Her children, aged 19, 15, 7, and 5, all have ambitious aspirations – to become an orthodontist, a graphic designer, a flight attendant, and a veterinarian, respectively. Karla is dedicated to empowering them to reach their goals.
As for Karla herself, she’s pursuing two significant dreams. First, she would like to acquire her land and a house independent of her family, hoping one day to have a space that’s entirely her own. Secondly, she aspires to open her own store, eliminating dependence on other vendors. Selling directly to customers, especially tourists, would significantly boost her monthly revenue. Karla is determined to see her dreams come true.
Grettel's Story
When Grettel Parrales married her husband Winston, she immediately got involved in the family business. Winston’s father Raymundo learned to make rope from his father, and purchased a rope-making machine from Costa Rica 36 years ago. He has spent the remainder of his career building a rope business in Jinotega, Nicaragua. When Winston was old enough to begin working, he joined his father in the business. And when Winston and Grettel got married, she jumped on board as well.
When Grettel joined the business, she brought an important relationship with her – a partnership with Opportunity International. When she was just 18, she began working with Opportunity and received loans to support a clothing business that she operated with her mother. So when the rope business needed an influx of capital to grow, she knew exactly where to turn. |
She used her new loans to purchase nylon and other materials for the business, and before long, their nearly-empty table in the market was full of brightly-coloured ropes. They sell their items to coffee farmers and other members of their community, and their business is growing more quickly than ever.
As their business began to grow, Grettel got pregnant and gave birth to her daughter, Brittany. Now, all of Grettel’s goals for her business center on her daughter’s future. She wants the best things for her daughter; she wants to give her a great life.
She recently became the President of her local Trust Group and is proud to lead the 20 people in her group, and she is personally saving her earnings so that she can open a real store instead of a simple table on the sidewalk. She dreams of a bright future for her family and she is doing whatever she can to achieve that.
As their business began to grow, Grettel got pregnant and gave birth to her daughter, Brittany. Now, all of Grettel’s goals for her business center on her daughter’s future. She wants the best things for her daughter; she wants to give her a great life.
She recently became the President of her local Trust Group and is proud to lead the 20 people in her group, and she is personally saving her earnings so that she can open a real store instead of a simple table on the sidewalk. She dreams of a bright future for her family and she is doing whatever she can to achieve that.
Juana's Story
Juana lives in the community of Montegrande along with her husband and their three children. They live right next door to her parents and just down the road from her sister. Juana’s husband and father have worked with Opportunity International through the cassava processing plant, and Juana’s father recommended her for a small business loan that Opportunity provides to women to help them start or grow a small business.
In February of 2022, Juana received a loan of $300 from Opportunity International for her clothing business. Each month she travels to the nearby town of Masaya to buy used clothes and shoes. She brings them back to her community and goes door to door to sell to her neighbors. |
Juana says that the micro-loan helped her get the start she needed. In the first month she spent about $280 on clothes. She then spent the next four weeks selling her items door-to-door. By the end of the month, she had completely sold out. She earned a total of $385, which allowed her to reinvest and buy more clothes and gain $85 in profit. This supplemental income is especially impactful considering the average income in Nicaragua is only about $300 a month, and even less in rural communities.
The Gift that Keeps Giving
These stories show the change that can happen by giving a micro-loan to a woman in Nicaragua. Not only do these loans help women and their families out of poverty, but they give them hope for the future.
But there is one more remarkable thing about microfinance loans like these - 98% of them are repaid in 4-6 months and can be re-loaned to other women to help lift their families out of poverty as well. It is truly a gift that keeps giving!
But there is one more remarkable thing about microfinance loans like these - 98% of them are repaid in 4-6 months and can be re-loaned to other women to help lift their families out of poverty as well. It is truly a gift that keeps giving!
How you can Help
The average size of a micro-loan in Nicaragua is $375. If your means allow, please consider a Christmas gift of $375 for one loan - or more than one loan if you can. If your means don’t allow this, please consider giving just part of this amount and join with other Trinity members to support a loan.
We will provide you with a Christmas card insert if you would like to give on behalf of a friend or family member. What better gift to give this Christmas? If you would like to support our Christmas Project this year, you can make a donation through your offering envelope or by e-Transfer. Please indicate “Christmas Project” on your envelope or in the notes for your e-Transfer. You can also donate by credit card through Tithe.ly by clicking here. Thank you so much for your generosity! |