We are thrilled to report on the huge success of Microfinance Brigades! Check out all the latest updates to see what has been happening in our communities in Honduras:
- In Pajarillos, the Caja (community bank) continues to flourish with demand for loan usage increasing each harvest season (17 loan requests in one day last month!). With two successful Caja businesses bringing in new capital to satisfy this demand, the Caja has a bright future.
- With the help of Microfinance Brigaders working on construction projects, we are pleased to announce that Pajarillos has worked hard to be the first Caja to have their very own building in the community! This builiding will be used to advertise relevant agricultural information to the community, hold general assemblies, and store the goods for Pajarillos’ agricultural store.
(Danny and Brigaders in front of the new Caja building)
Meet two new businesses aided by Brigaders:
- Cine Colega is a new “theater” in the community of Pajarillos! It is surely unlike any theater you’ve been to! Tickets are only 50 cents/person, the screen a little humbler than average (27 inch color), and the power is generated from a car battery, an inverter, and a little ingenuity. Victor, the theater’s owner, is helping to bring joy to other hardworking community members while saving the profits to put towards the future education of his three daughters.
- Juanita is in the difficult position of being a great grandmother who has worked all her life to give to her kids. Juanita’s children have moved on and Juanita now lives by herself, barely making ends meet. Using some basic business strategies, budgeting, and a boost in materials from brigaders, we are thrilled to report that Juanita’s donut business is poised to take off. Juanita sells homemade donuts to the community to support herself while she works towards the goal of returning to more profitable bean farming.
