Melva Santana Melva is 67 years old and has been working with the Better Breed Pig project since 2009. She is requesting an additional $1050 to purchase a water pump with pipes in order to install an irrigation system so she may be able to plant string beans, squash, pumpkins, and other various vegetables. If Melva could sell these crops at the market, she could be a self-­‐sustaining farmer without having to scavenge for food to sell. Would you consider donating to help her see this dream become a reality? Paula Pánfila Castillo Paula is a 57 year old farmer from La Bolsa sector, who has been with JustHope’s microcredit program since 2011. Paula ambitiously wants to plant 4 hectares this upcoming season, which will be divided into 2 hectare of red sorghum wheat and 2 hectare of corn. Paula needs $630 so that she may plant, furrow, purchase fertilizer, and pay for labor. Currently one of the largest challenges Ms. Castillo faces is working with subpar seeds that do not respond well to dryness, which is a real issue during dusty crop seasons. Part of the money donated the Paula would go towards buying higher quality seeds. Carolina Uriarte Carolina is a 40 year old farmer from El Recreo sector, and she has worked with the Mujeres Unidas project since 2011. After all these years of effort, she has been given the opportunity of planting 4 hectares of land instead of 2 hectares, and she is requesting $735 to do so. Carolina has some savings from the previous harvest season, but it is not enough to make her enterprise a reality. The money loaned would go towards planting seed, fixing small impurities in the land, corrugation, fertilization, and more. This opportunity could help Carolina become a self-­‐sustaining farmer for good – would you help her cause? Juana Obando Juana is a 68 year old sales woman from La Arenera sector. For the past 10 years, she has been purchasing and selling clothes. She has an established clientele, not only in La Arenera but also in other communities, and would like to continue growing her company. Juana has successfully loaned twice with JustHope, but this time needs a $630 loan to expand her clothing collection. The women in different sectors await her bi-­‐monthly visits so that they may purchase blouses, pants, and undergarments from a familiar face. Liseth Munguía Liseth is a 35 year old business owner from Boca de Cántaro sector. Liseth runs a small grocery store (pulpería) an hour and thirty minutes from the city center, which makes her business essential to the people in her community. Ms. Munguía has successfully loaned three times with JustHope, and this year would like $630 to purchase chairs and tables to sell because there are none available in the Boca de Cántaro sector. Liseth sites her main motivation as the people who have encouraged her to provide this service, and would like to continue to serve her community. Bertha Blanco Bertha is a 57 year old entrepreneur from Mojón Sur, and has been working with JustHope since 2009. Bertha is an entrepreneurial woman who sews yucca and sesame seed with her children and husband. Thanks to her hard work, her children were able to study and now possess degrees. Today, Bertha very proud to be a farmer, constantly wanting to work and expand, but the seeds she works with are subpar. Nicaragua suffers from a lack of rainfall during planting season, and therefore many women, including Bertha, need to purchase more expensive seeds that are resistant to dryness. Bertha came to us 3 years ago for a credit expansion of $630 and has been waiting patiently for a positive answer that will help her accomplish her goals! Martha Alstun Martha is a 52 year old farmer from Las Lomas sector. Mrs. Alstun has been with us since 2009, and has always been dedicated farming; she sows yucca and coordinates a group of women in Las Lomas that are beginning with their second round of microloans. Martha has been requesting an expansion for 2 years because she has always wanted to plant more crops and to be able to develop her working abilities in the field beside her husband. She needs a $630 loan to purchase goods like fertilizers, to be able to fix the land, and to furrow. The investment also will go towards Martha’s crop-­‐rotation plan, as farmers struggle against the lack of rain in Nicaragua.