Enterprise
Creating jobs and opportunities for economic development is the primary way that JustHope lives into our value of "combating extreme poverty." We believe that every person has a right to work, and our experience shows that meaningful work not only helps people meet basic needs, it increases one's sense of dignity.
Microbank Projects
MICROBANKS FOR WOMEN’S ENTERPRISES
In response to a meeting with a group of women in Chacraseca regarding their situation and concerns, JustHope started its first microbank project in July, 2009. That first cycle of lending gave 12 women the opportunity to start their own small business.
Stitching Hope
The objective of the “Stitching Hope” program is to assist women in Chacraseca, Nicaragua in the development of a multi-faceted enterprise which will enable them to work together creating both fabric art articles for export and utilitarian items for local sale. It will create a center where women work with quality machines and adequate materials. It will also provide training for the women, equipping them with the business and financial tools they will need to market their products and run their business.
Five goals of Stitching Hope:
(1) provide opportunity for up to 30 women per center to work part time creating fabric art items and/or sewing items for export/local sales; provide additional jobs for an administrator and night guards
(2) provide training for women in financial and business management
(3) provide women a place to gather and engage in creative thinking and expression
(4) provide capital for other women-focused projects
(5) empower women; increase self-esteem and deepen women’s sense of self-worth, dignity, and capacity.
Dreaming Together Hardware Store (Sonando Juntos Ferreteria) is Open
And after just two months, the residents are celebrat ing it as one of the best things that has happened in their community!
"I can ride my horse to get what I need!"
"It's wonderful, now I don't have to go the Leon to buy nails!"
"I think I can repair my house now!"
A Tractor to Share
A group of 270 farmers from the furthest sectors in Chacraseca sent representatives to us with an urgent request to help them buy a new tractor. At that time their only option for getting their fields ready to plant was to rent a tractor from someone in a nearby community, which is expensive, and they have to wait in a long line...
Centro Comercial Campesino… Where HOPE is on every shelf
Wow - Chacraseca has a REAL Farmer's Market!
It's called "Centro Comerical Campesino" (Farmer's Commercial Center) It looks a lot like a little grocery store -- because that's just what it is! Only this grocery store is not only selling toilet paper and bread and coffee... It's also selling the yuca Antonio grew, and corn from Celia's field, and the pelibuey that Jairo raised, and pork from Melba, and tomatoes from Juana, and beans from Arlen, and more will be added with each harvest...
LaFlor (The Flower) Models Sustainability
September 4, 2011
LaFlor is a small community situated at the top of a moutain in Nicarauga's cloud forest. It's home to 58 farming and coffee-picking families... all of whom live on less than $2 per day. "La Flor" means "the flower" and the beauty of the area is true to the name.
