Learning Centers (LC) who participated in
Opening Doors Phase III 2011
55 beneficiaries, including three men
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Solidaridad y Amistad LC, Las Lagunas Boaco
Rosa LC, Tipitapa
Las Muñecas LC, Chiquilistagua- Managua
Nincy LC, Nejapa-Managua
APAN LC, Diriamba – Carazo
Miguel Obando y Bravo LC, Los Cedros – Managua
Gloria Chavarria LC, Managua
Personal Stories from the Opening Doors Project
Los Cedros Learning Center – One of the beneficiaries Maria speaks and says with
the loan she purchased sewing materials and supplies to work on girls dresses
with smocking, shirts, blouses, pants for males, shirts and sheets. She worked
alone and sold her products in the community and other places but everything
was sold by orders. Her profits have been invested to finish her house , purchase
of school supplies for her kids and she is also able to save money when the sales
are good. In general , her business was going well. This loan meant a lot to her
because without the opportunity she wouldn’t have been able to finish the
construction of her house.
Las Muñecas LC – Chiquilistagua: This was a group of 8 women
and one man who worked the entire loan as a coop. The LC
bought materials for different products such as: tote bags, shirts,
fabric, belts for people working at mines, sketch cases, garment
construction, gowns for pharmacists, etc. The group would offer
their services to the mayor’s office and a road construction
company in town. The normal average of the number of pieces
made at the LC were 700 per month and the biggest order they
had was 1500 between March and April 2011. They feel the
investement and the success was greater by working in a group
instead of individually. The profits earned were designated to
make the monthly payments, pay tuition of their children in
school, clothing and food needs, house construction, house
renovation, home furniture purchase, beds for children and other
basics needs for the house. They commented they’ve never
worked a loan so well as they did with this one given by W/NP.
This opportunity has
opened doors for them
and allowed to provide
needs for the family they
couldn’t have afforded to
pay for had they not had
it. Thanks so much for the
great impact that has had
on our lives and families.
Gloria Chavarria LC: Marjorie has a beauty salon and invested on purchase
of different beauty supplies. She employs one person at the salon who
works for her Fridays and Saturday afternoon if necessary. She says the
beauty salon exists from four years ago and that it only had 1 blower, 1 chair
and a shaver machine. The beauty salon business is her only livelihood, it has
improved a lot. She has more supplies and tools to work with so now can
offer a better service to the community. From the profits she is able to buy
the groceries for the house (5 members total), pay the electric bill at the
salon, make monthly payments toward the loan, purchase school supplies
and other things needed. She has seen great results of investment and
some success. She cannot compare to what her life was like before having
the beauty salon, they would lack a lot of things and now they are able to
buy a lot more and still have some money in hands. Thanks to WNP for
thinking of families like this, the opportunity was very well taken.
Carmen has a rental business for plastic chairs, tables and ceramics based in the
convenience of her own house. Carmen works with four members of the family. She
has a lot of demand for the rental service. She has double the # of tables and chairs
she originally had in stock. The ceramic business is only temporary, had good sales on
special occasions. From the profits she buys groceries for 15 days, is able to cover
travel expenses for her daughter who attends the university, and is able to purchase
ceramic tile for the house.
Carmen is very thankful for the loan given to her because it has made a change in the
family. She was feeling stuck and now she has moved forward in life and has had
success. The fact the interest on the loan is so low allows them to see more the
outcomes. She feels great because nobody will take away any of her belongings due
to late payments unlike micro business in the
country. She feels very comfortable working
with Wisconsin/Nic Partners and hopes to
continue this relationship for many more
years.
The opportunity has been simply amazing.
Thank You!
Roberto invested on 1 bale of used clothes (32 pieces) to sell at the market in
Diriamba. It is a very good business and has lots of demand from people from rural
communities. He works with his daughter between both of them, they manage the
business every day. This is his first loan and he is already happy with it and the results
that have come out of it. He has solved many needs in the house with the profits
earned and of course there is also money to pay the monthly payments. He has seen
changes in his business since he took this loan, he is thankful for the opportunity and
for the low interest. If he was to have a second loan he would invest on construction of four more modules since he has
people asking for them already. He owns a land near his business and knows it would be a very good opportunity for
him to make more profits which would mean better conditions for the family.