Her name is Maria

I lose focus sometimes. Does that ever happen to you? I re-read my last posting and was struck by how far I had missed the point. It was like a voice prompted me saying:

Her name is Maria!

It seems I was describing the forest without identifying each of the solid, enterprising "trees". The micro-credit program is a total success because of the hard-working individuals who have the ideas, put in the work, market the products, pay back the loan and start the process all over again. And each of the "trees" have names.

The owner of this poultry micro-credit enterprise is Maria Esperanza Mendoza. She is the third person from the left in this picture. (l to r; Orlando Montiel, Nicaraguan Micro-Credit Project Officer, Wilmer Correa, Nicaraguan Interpreter, Maria, Maria's daughter and Merry Fredrick, Self-Help's Executive Director)

So, next time I mention "micro-credit enterprises" just remember that I am talking and thinking about Francisca Lopez, Theresa Espinoza, Magdelina Gonzales, Eva Chavarria, Maria Antonia Guiardado and hundreds like them in Ghana and Nicaragua who work every day to improve their family's life forever.

Chicken for Supper

My family and I had chicken on the grill for supper last night. It was very good and there was a lot of it. But I almost forgot to remember. Protein sources (beef, chicken, pork, eggs, lamb, legumes, etc.), while commonplace in the U.S., aren't in most of the world.

It wasn't that long ago when I was in Nicaragua visiting some of Self-Help's 'micro-credit enterprises.' That term makes it sound so clean and efficient. Here's a picture of a very successful micro-credit enterprise. It's a chicken coop, if you can't make it out... concrete, posts, tarp and wire. But this business provides eggs, meat, fertilizer and income to a woman and her family. Because of the $100 investment we (was it you?) made, this family has more than a chance to break the poverty cycle... they have hope -- hope that tomorrow will be better than yesterday, hope that their daughter can stay in school past the age of 12, hope that this new-found financial independence can lead to more.

We're not talking about building up their 401k for retirement. Financial independence (for them) means being free of the high interest charged by the local money-lenders. It means standing on your own. It means being self-reliant. And that tastes pretty good no matter where you live.

My New Favorite Quote

This one quote crystallized for me the difference between a relief and a development organization (like Self-Help). It was contained in a great article by Thomas G. Donlan in the June 1 issue of Barron's (p. 39, if you would like to read it for yourself).

My new favorite quote is from Michael Doane, leader of Monsanto's sustainability team. See if you agree. Here's a paragraph from Mr. Donlan's article:

"Credit and logistics are essential, but once they are provided, local farmers can enter the global cash economy. This kind of aid turns compassion into investment. Says Doane: 'If a food-aid program delivers a ton of U.S. grain to a village in Malawi, it costs about $700. If they grow a ton of grain in the village, they can do it for about $70.' The money earned in the local market can buy more seed and more fertilizer. It pays for local farmers and everyone in the local economy."

Put your $70 with Self-Help and do $700 worth of good! That's a good investment.

Just being kids

I've included this photo from our recent (March 09) trip to Nicaragua. It was my first time visiting Self-Help's in-country staff and the programs they administer. I was floored. They do so much with so little.

Those familiar with Self-Help's programs know that we have feeding centers that provide a once-a-day porridge of corn meal, a pinch of barley malt and a little sugar for pre-schoolers in rural communities. The kids love it. It does much to battle malnutrition at an important developmental time for these children. While there are plenty of cases of hungry and diseased kids (a subject of another blog), I thought you might like to see the faces of kids who have been coming for some time. Here's one such photo... of kids being kids.

Volunteer Power

It has been over six months since I started this blog (see the date stamps on the previous posts). I could claim that it is because my life is so hectic that I didn't get to it sooner. That would not be true. The truth is that Self-Help operates with and depends upon the help of volunteers. They are the ones that carry much of the work load. That's one reason Self-Help has the impact of an organization twice its size. Our Board of Directors, for example, serve without compensation -- an almost unheard of practice. They also pay their travel when they visit our projects in Ghana and Nicaragua. And many of our fund raising events simply would not happen without volunteers. And that includes one skilled volunteer who knows how to connect a blog to our web site. Thanks to all who serve.