Self Help International (SHI) in Nicaragua educates farmers in cultivation and post-harvest practices, feeds young children, and introduces water chlorination systems among the the rural poor.
In the 2012 grant cycle, Project Redwood awarded SHI a grant to help build and equip a new training facility in Quinta Lidia, Nicaragua; in the 2013 cycle, we funded entrepreneurial training and mentoring for women and their older children at the new facility. Five Project Redwood Partners, Jorge Fernandez, Ann Gordon McStay, Donna Davis Allen, Rich Jerdonek, and Dave Fletcher, visited the Quinta Lidia facility in November 2013. (hover over photos for caption)
Nicaragua is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. Nearly 50% of its workforce is underemployed, and 28% of its people are poor or severely poor (as measured by the Multidimensional Poverty Index).
“The challenge for the country is to develop jobs and housing for its marginalized and struggling populations,” Ann Gordon McStay says.
The Project Redwood team visited some of neediest areas of Nicaragua, but consistently encountered people who, in spite of their economic challenges, are intelligent, motivated, and friendly, and aren’t afraid to speak up when problems occur. “There is an infectious can-do spirit among the Nicaraguan people, who work hard and are not afraid of responsibility. They want to succeed. To me, Nicaragua is surprisingly organized and ready for modernization,” Ann adds.
SHI has spent twelve years in Nicaragua finding good people, honing training techniques, and learning what local needs are. Their first community education center (in Los Chiles) did so well that the farmers it served bought it, and now use it as a demonstration site and commercial center.
The goal at Quinta Lidia is also to eventually transfer ownership to locals.
Jorge Campos is SHI’s Project manager responsible for agricultural training and water-chlorination systems. “He is a large man with a large personality who is respected and admired for his leadership,” says Donna Davis Allen, “His knowledge and dedication were obvious to us as he proudly explained the efficient use of space and drip irrigation in the SHI model garden.”
United States-educated Lucia Vega Galeano is SHI’s Operations Manager; she sees that day-to-day activities run smoothly. Yolanda Del Carmen Fletes Rosales, SHI’s Project Officer for Women’s Micro-Enterprise, teaches financial and business skills to women.
In addition to training and assisting local farm families with planting, cultivation, and the post-harvest problems of storage, processing, marketing, and transport, SHI also provides micro-credit loans for women to start small-scale businesses.
The Project Redwood team visited a community fair, and met some of the women assisted by Self Help’s programs. They’d like you to meet them as well.
