Here is a link to the pictures of my trip so far:
http://www2.snapfish.com/share/p=42091215655418245/l=407710902/g=128548298/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Monday, July 7, 2008
Masatepe, Messiah and Laguna de Apoyo
It's hard to believe that I will only be in Nicaragua for 12 more days! Time flies! This past weekend was especially fun for me though. On Friday I went with work to a town outside of Mangua called Masatepe. There the FDL was holding a borrower assembly where the borrowers with the best credit records are invited to come and speak their mind on FDL's services and their experiences as a borrower.
The borrowers are split into smaller focus groups such as solidarity borrowers (groups of four), individual borrowers and commerce borrowers. They are then asked a series of questions like:
1. What are your main concerns with respect to the credit you receive from FDL? What
worries you on the personal or familiar level?
2. What do you think FDL should improve to provide better service?
3. What new things should FDL offer besides credit?
It was very interesting to here the borrowers speak. Many of them had nothing but good things to say about the FDL. Some of the responses of the borrowers were as follows:
- My loan right now is not that big but it will help me increase my level of living and give me
dignity in my work (agricultural borrower).
- I would like credit for housing construction, as my dream is to own my own home.
- We would like emergency loans for when people die or get sick.
- Rain was a problem for my crops and I have had trouble making my payments because of
this.
- FDL has given us the confidence and support that we can make the repayments.
Overall the borrowers were extremely satisfied and grateful for the services offered by the FDL. The assembly was not however all business! There was traditional Nicaraguan dances put on by a dance team, a raffle, lunch and of course dancing for all of the borrowers. They did try to teach me how to salsa but it was almost a lost cause. When I realized I looked like a rhythm-less white girl I resorted back to the classics: the shopping cart, cabbage patch and the sprinkler (haha, or jaja as the Nicaraguans would write it)!
After the borrower assembly we headed to Messiah where I met with someone at the FDL branch there who went through the lending process with me. I then got to go for a motorcycle ride with one of the loan officers to a borrowers home. This particular borrower used her loans to expand her chicken farm and vase making business. They had over 1500 chickens whose eggs they would sell at market, and then they made vases from wood to sell as well. The woman (It's terrible but I cant remember her name, I need to work on that) said she has been a borrower for 6 years and has received 5 loans. She has a very good credit record. Many of you would be shocked at the conditions the family lives in, but they have improved considerably with the loans. There home is a one room shack with a dirt floor. There is a wash basin outside to do laundry as well as an out house. I do have pictures which I will post a link to soon.
After visiting the borrower it was time for a little shopping! Messiah is well known for its market, where they sell many handmade items. I was determined to find the perfect hammock, which I did and am excited to put to use when I get back. They also had many hand made shoes (which I bought), purses, leather made items, liquors, trinkets, clothing, jewelry, etc! I made a good dent in the wallet and justified it as doing my part to contribute to the Nicaraguan economy and early birthday presents!
The trip to Masatepe and Messiah was a great start to the weekend. Saturday I mainly relaxed and did some reading, but Sunday I went with two friends and their families to Laguna de Apoyo, which is Nicaragua's cleanest, bluest, and deepest swimming holes trapped inside the crater of the Apoyo Volcanoe. The water was so warm and made for a great swim. The weather was cloudy for most of the day and while swimming we got to watch the storm role in! It looked incredible coming over the hills, and definitely did not ruin our fun! We continued to swim as the water poured down on us and I felt a little like Forest Gump when rain was even coming up from the ground, haha! It was an amazing feeling to look around at the green landscape that surrounded me and just take it all in.
But Natalia just made me a great dinner, gallo pinto and chicken with salsa! So I'm going to go enjoy it. Hasta Luego.
The borrowers are split into smaller focus groups such as solidarity borrowers (groups of four), individual borrowers and commerce borrowers. They are then asked a series of questions like:
1. What are your main concerns with respect to the credit you receive from FDL? What
worries you on the personal or familiar level?
2. What do you think FDL should improve to provide better service?
3. What new things should FDL offer besides credit?
It was very interesting to here the borrowers speak. Many of them had nothing but good things to say about the FDL. Some of the responses of the borrowers were as follows:
- My loan right now is not that big but it will help me increase my level of living and give me
dignity in my work (agricultural borrower).
- I would like credit for housing construction, as my dream is to own my own home.
- We would like emergency loans for when people die or get sick.
- Rain was a problem for my crops and I have had trouble making my payments because of
this.
- FDL has given us the confidence and support that we can make the repayments.
Overall the borrowers were extremely satisfied and grateful for the services offered by the FDL. The assembly was not however all business! There was traditional Nicaraguan dances put on by a dance team, a raffle, lunch and of course dancing for all of the borrowers. They did try to teach me how to salsa but it was almost a lost cause. When I realized I looked like a rhythm-less white girl I resorted back to the classics: the shopping cart, cabbage patch and the sprinkler (haha, or jaja as the Nicaraguans would write it)!
After the borrower assembly we headed to Messiah where I met with someone at the FDL branch there who went through the lending process with me. I then got to go for a motorcycle ride with one of the loan officers to a borrowers home. This particular borrower used her loans to expand her chicken farm and vase making business. They had over 1500 chickens whose eggs they would sell at market, and then they made vases from wood to sell as well. The woman (It's terrible but I cant remember her name, I need to work on that) said she has been a borrower for 6 years and has received 5 loans. She has a very good credit record. Many of you would be shocked at the conditions the family lives in, but they have improved considerably with the loans. There home is a one room shack with a dirt floor. There is a wash basin outside to do laundry as well as an out house. I do have pictures which I will post a link to soon.
After visiting the borrower it was time for a little shopping! Messiah is well known for its market, where they sell many handmade items. I was determined to find the perfect hammock, which I did and am excited to put to use when I get back. They also had many hand made shoes (which I bought), purses, leather made items, liquors, trinkets, clothing, jewelry, etc! I made a good dent in the wallet and justified it as doing my part to contribute to the Nicaraguan economy and early birthday presents!
The trip to Masatepe and Messiah was a great start to the weekend. Saturday I mainly relaxed and did some reading, but Sunday I went with two friends and their families to Laguna de Apoyo, which is Nicaragua's cleanest, bluest, and deepest swimming holes trapped inside the crater of the Apoyo Volcanoe. The water was so warm and made for a great swim. The weather was cloudy for most of the day and while swimming we got to watch the storm role in! It looked incredible coming over the hills, and definitely did not ruin our fun! We continued to swim as the water poured down on us and I felt a little like Forest Gump when rain was even coming up from the ground, haha! It was an amazing feeling to look around at the green landscape that surrounded me and just take it all in.
But Natalia just made me a great dinner, gallo pinto and chicken with salsa! So I'm going to go enjoy it. Hasta Luego.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
You learn something new every day...
While at work I came across an interesting fact about Nicaragua so I thought I would share...
Nicaragua, the largest country in Central America, is known as “the land of lakes and volcanoes.” The region’s largest lake, Lago de Nicaragua, is home to the world’s only freshwater sharks.
I definately will not be swimming there!
Nicaragua, the largest country in Central America, is known as “the land of lakes and volcanoes.” The region’s largest lake, Lago de Nicaragua, is home to the world’s only freshwater sharks.
I definately will not be swimming there!
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Entiendes?
I have been in Nicaragua for about a week and a half now and my Spanish is begining to pick up. I am understanding a lot more of what others are saying, but my own speaking abilities are still pretty weak. Even when I am saying the correct words people often don't understand me because of my accent. I am however able to understand most of what I am being told at work, which is an improvement.
Yesterday I met with Lucia who is in charge of women's development. Out of all of the managers I have met with so far her work interested me the most. Sixty-one percent of FDL's borrowers are women, as the FDL is dedicated to improving the economic well being of Nicaraguan women. FDL also tries to provide more than just financial services to women such as working to increase their self-esteem and improve their education and health.
They serve women in both rural and urban areas through solidarity groups. In order to obtain a loan women must form groups of four. The group is like a team, and if one woman is not able to make her full repayment the remaining three pick up the slack. This helps lower the default risk for FDL. In addition to providing the loan FDL also provides training services through a partnership with Nitlapán Research and Development Institute of the Central American University. Workshops they offer teach women about credit and credit management as well as new agricultural techniques and products. For example they may put on a workshop that shows all the products that can be produced from a cows milk so that borrowers may expand their product lines.
This Friday I will be going to Messiah, which is about an hour outside managua. There I will get to meet with the manager of the FDL branch, as well as a loan officer and borrowers. On the way there however we will be stoping in another town where one of FDL's annual assemblies is being held. At the assembly borrowers are able to speak their opinions on the services provided by the FDL as well as make recommendations for new products they would like to see offered.
So overall work is going pretty well, and I am moving along on my report for the FDL. At the guesthome I am begining to feel like one of the family. Most travellers who come to stay at Hostal Dona Ida are only there for a few days, but I will be there for at least three weeks. Monday I went with the dad and son to their horse ranch in Ficha. They have four horses right now (two lil ones!), and the two big horses are both pregnant. It's been a while since I've ridden a horse, but I got the hang of it again after a while. Then Alfredo and I rode them through the rural areas of Ficha.
It was nice to finally get out of Managua, and the surrounding areas were beautiful (my camera was dead though so no pictures to show)! Palm trees, lush greens, bright flowers, pastures and hills surounded us everywhere. The people who live in the area were very poor, as it is more rural, but Alfredo was telling me how he wants to study marketing in the University next year because he and his dad want to turn their ranch into a get away resort for tourists wishing to ride horses and enjoy Nicaragua's more rural landscapes (At least I'm pretty sure that's what he said because he only speaks spanish).
The traffic here is pretty crazy, but no where near as ridiculous as China. I would probably be in an accident within two minutes though if I ever tried to drive here. They also love to honk their horns, so Gido would feel right at home (sorry I had to call you out Gid). But anyways I'm off to lunch.
Hasta Luego
Yesterday I met with Lucia who is in charge of women's development. Out of all of the managers I have met with so far her work interested me the most. Sixty-one percent of FDL's borrowers are women, as the FDL is dedicated to improving the economic well being of Nicaraguan women. FDL also tries to provide more than just financial services to women such as working to increase their self-esteem and improve their education and health.
They serve women in both rural and urban areas through solidarity groups. In order to obtain a loan women must form groups of four. The group is like a team, and if one woman is not able to make her full repayment the remaining three pick up the slack. This helps lower the default risk for FDL. In addition to providing the loan FDL also provides training services through a partnership with Nitlapán Research and Development Institute of the Central American University. Workshops they offer teach women about credit and credit management as well as new agricultural techniques and products. For example they may put on a workshop that shows all the products that can be produced from a cows milk so that borrowers may expand their product lines.
This Friday I will be going to Messiah, which is about an hour outside managua. There I will get to meet with the manager of the FDL branch, as well as a loan officer and borrowers. On the way there however we will be stoping in another town where one of FDL's annual assemblies is being held. At the assembly borrowers are able to speak their opinions on the services provided by the FDL as well as make recommendations for new products they would like to see offered.
So overall work is going pretty well, and I am moving along on my report for the FDL. At the guesthome I am begining to feel like one of the family. Most travellers who come to stay at Hostal Dona Ida are only there for a few days, but I will be there for at least three weeks. Monday I went with the dad and son to their horse ranch in Ficha. They have four horses right now (two lil ones!), and the two big horses are both pregnant. It's been a while since I've ridden a horse, but I got the hang of it again after a while. Then Alfredo and I rode them through the rural areas of Ficha.
It was nice to finally get out of Managua, and the surrounding areas were beautiful (my camera was dead though so no pictures to show)! Palm trees, lush greens, bright flowers, pastures and hills surounded us everywhere. The people who live in the area were very poor, as it is more rural, but Alfredo was telling me how he wants to study marketing in the University next year because he and his dad want to turn their ranch into a get away resort for tourists wishing to ride horses and enjoy Nicaragua's more rural landscapes (At least I'm pretty sure that's what he said because he only speaks spanish).
The traffic here is pretty crazy, but no where near as ridiculous as China. I would probably be in an accident within two minutes though if I ever tried to drive here. They also love to honk their horns, so Gido would feel right at home (sorry I had to call you out Gid). But anyways I'm off to lunch.
Hasta Luego
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)