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Read all About it! Esperanza en Acción Newsline |
Artisans proudly hold their diplomas from the training | - Esperanza en Acción's second major training for artisans took place on February 22-24 in Managua, Nicaragua with 25 artisans in attendance. This training focused on three primary topics which were; How to Promote a Product, Quality Control in Nicaragua and the Savings Program being promoted by Esperanza en Accion. It was a great success! The suggestion that was made by the artisans was that we need to provide more trainings in the future.
- Another loan was given from our small loan fund to Ducuale Grande, a ceramics cooperative in Condega, Nicaragua. They borrowed $350 to purchase raw materials. Without these loans artisan groups would have had to look for alternative financing that would have cost them more money due to extremely high interest rates in Nicaragua. (Often upwards of 60% annually).
- The artisans from El Timal, (click here to read more about their story), with the help of Esperanza en Acción have found their first client in Granada, Nicaragua. Soon their recycled chip bag purses will be shown in one of the most fashionable boutiques in the city!
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Program Feature: The Importance of Saving- Help with Matching Funds!
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We mentioned in our last newsletter
about the new Savings Program that Esperanza en Acción is bringing to
the artisans, giving them the opportunity to set savings goals for
themselves while also receiving an incentive for matching funds up to
$150.
Juan Paulino and Azucena Martinez with their Savings box provided by Esperanza en Accion
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Juan Paulino, an artisan from San Juan de Oriente had the following to say about his take on the Savings Program:
"I think the idea is a good one. If we don't have the culture of saving in our home or business it helps us to have the idea and the goal, it is really important. It's hard to say that we're going to go to the bank to save, but with the box we have our own savings bank at home."
We wanted to share are few of the plans and goals that artisans have established so far:
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Group
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Timeframe
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Amount
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Goal
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Ducuale Grande
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One Year
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$240.00
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To repair the roof of their building.
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Mugapro
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8 Months
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$150.00
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Repair the roof of their building.
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Malacatoya
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8 Months
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$192.00
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Purchase a sewing machine
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Guadalupe Nororis
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6 Months
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$150.00
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To purchase paint for ceramic work.
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Juan Paulino
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6 Months
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$150.00
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To purchase paint for ceramic work
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Darwin Calero
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6 Months
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$150.00
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To purchase paint for ceramic work
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Jacobo Nororis
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6 Months
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$150.00
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To purchase paint for ceramic work
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Telares
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6 Months
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$75.00
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To create a medical fund for the women in the group.
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There are more artisan groups that have established their plans but are waiting for our visit in order to hand us their savings goals. This information will soon be up on the website.
We have promised matching funds up to $150 for each artisan group and we need your donations to help us keep that promise, if you would like to donate to that cause you can do so through our website at www.esperanzaenaccion.org/donate.
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Donor Spotlight: Melissa Keywood
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Melissa Keywood, Esperanza en Accion donor
 | Melissa Keywood is a student who has decided to put her support behind Esperanza en Acción and our programs in Nicaragua. She tries to dedicate a small amount to send to Esperanza en Acción when she has the funds available.
Melissa recently shared with us her reasons for supporting Esperanza en Acción:
"In July, I visited Nicaragua with a group of students and Dr. Richard
White from Portland State University to study community development. We
met with non-profits, farmers, community leaders, and politicians in
areas around Lake Managua to try to understand what entails "best
practices" of development. Although we met with several groups doing
important things, Esperanza en Acción seemed to be doing the greatest
amount of work in the most effective way. Our full day visit with
Esperanza left a lasting impression on me, and I try to set aside money
(ideally $10) out of my small student income each month for Esperanza
and the artisans they support. I know they are doing good things."
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