Last year, I reported on an exciting microloan project that the Society of the Good Shepherd is involved with in the small town of Taulebé in Honduras. The project was providing $3000 in seed money to assist a number of small savings and credit cooperatives in Taulebé. In turn, these co-ops provide funding for micro-business ventures for many of the poor in the local community. These co-ops are known in Honduras as “cash boxes.”
The mayor of Taulebé, Denis Membreño, and his wife Brenda have been instrumental in setting up these co-ops in the Taulebé area. Last year, when the Society provided the seed money, it was immediately lent to one of the co-ops. This co-op faithfully paid back the $3000 in a few months. The funds were then lent to another co-op. In the past 18 months, this seed money has been recycled three times, and it has been faithfully paid back each time.
Luis Vega, a director for the Society, and I (Julie de Valladares) were invited to come to Taulebé, where the mayor was holding a meeting to publicize these co-ops. At the meeting, the $3000 seed money was lent to two other co-ops. The first co-op is a group of 20 women with small market-based businesses. These businesses range from making piñatas, to sewing, to selling various items: live chickens, cakes, small electronics, and more. Right now, this market co-op is gearing up for the Christmas season.
At the meeting, Nancy Canterero, the president of this market co-op, shared that she is encouraging the women to set aside $4 a week for their savings/interest in their co-op. These funds have grown into $3500, which is now their own capital for the co-op. Nancy is an excellent motivator, and it is thanks to her leadership that this co-op has grown so much in such a short period of time.
At the meeting, Nancy encouraged everyone to take advantage of the training sessions available to the members of the co-ops. These training sessions will help them grow their businesses and teach them basic finances so that their businesses can remain stable even when the economy fluctuates.
Dunia Moncado is one of the women in this co-op. She sells small electronics in the local marketplace. She heard about the co-op from some of her friends in the market. With the help of a loan from the co-op, she was able to start her business. Since then, she has seen the business grow, and it has enabled her to support herself and her six-year-old son.
The second co-op that received money at the meeting was a co-op of coffee farmers. In Honduras, the coffee harvest starts mid-November and runs through January. Coffee farmers are looking for a profitable year in 2024, as coffee prices are very high right now.
The coffee growers’ co-op includes mostly members of an extended family consisting of brothers and their nephews. Denovan Martínez is the president of this successful co-op, and he and the other members thoroughly know the ins and outs of the coffee business. During the coffee harvesting season each year, Denovan and the other members hire and oversee temporary workers, who harvest the coffee by hand. Coffee picking is done by the gallon, so most pickers bring an empty gallon paint can with them and tie it to their waists. Each gallon of beans earns about $2.00. Since experienced pickers can pick several gallons per hour, this is good pay in Honduras.
The brothers and nephews are supported in their work by their wives, who contribute in numerous ways. At the meeting, one of the wives, Dolores Cruz, shared that the funds from the co-op have been a huge help in financing their coffee farms. However, these funds are not the only thing that keeps them going. They regularly save all they can and do extra activities like selling tamales, chickens, and various food items. They use the profits from these activities to provide funds to rent various types of equipment needed for their coffee harvest. One of the wives, Gloria Pineda, brought several bags of their roasted coffee beans to pass out to the mayor and some of the guests—including Luis and me.
Luis has a lot of experience with coffee farming and shared some special insights about the roasting and grinding part of the business. He also encouraged the group to be faithful in the small things and to pass on the family business with the best administration possible. Luis also reminded everyone that the Christians in the U.S. who have donated the money for the co-op are praying for them and supporting them from afar. This brought tears to the eyes of many of those present. For those of us in the States, it is a joy to know that a mere $3000 has had such a tremendous impact on so many lives.
Julie Nyhoff de Valladares
The Society of the Good Shepherd, P. O. Box 122, Amberson, PA 17210 • (717) 349-7033
Click on the following link if you would care to make a donation to the work in Honduras: Honduras Donations