Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Life in La Unión, by the numbers


By Kayli Horne

¡Buenos! Kayli here, the newest addition to the UMF intern team this summer. My academic year didn’t end till mid-June, so I’m just getting settled here in beautiful La Unión.

Here’s a bit about myself: I just finished my first year studying at the University of Chicago. I haven’t decided a major yet, but I’m interested in the social sciences, particularly sociology, public policy, and human rights. 

But before moving to Chicago, I grew up in Spring Lake, MI, where I got involved with Unión MicroFinanza. Last summer I helped Andrew sell coffee on Saturday mornings at Muskegon Farmer’s Market, and would explain to customers what UMF does for the farmers and community here in Honduras. This was all second-hand information, however, because I had never been there myself! The beauty of being able to spend the summer here in La Unión is getting to see the mission of the organization played out daily. But—it’s only been a week! To give you a sense of what life is like in La Unión, here’s a look at my first week—by the numbers:

Hondurans who told me I looked like my brother: 7

Dillon, one year older than me, was an intern for UMF last summer. It’s clear he made quite the impression on many people in La Unión; they all seem to remember him and miss him a lot.

Even though I’ve only been here one week, I can already see how building relationships with the community is at the top of UMF’s priority list.  Rather than imposing what we as Americans think the community needs, we are asking the community through genuine relationships.

The view from my front porch.
Sightings from my front door of clouds below the mountaintops: 3

All I could think was: I’m never going back to the Midwest. 

Moto rides: 1

I took a motorcycle ride to tour UMF’s beneficio, where the coffee undergoes the first stage of processing. A bit of a coffee nerd myself, I was geeking out at the beneficio.  It’s truly amazing the love and care that goes into every cup of coffee we enjoy in the States. Cooler still, the beneficio serves as a replicable model for the coffee farmers: the goal is to improve the quality of the coffee through sustainable processing. 

Different comedors visited: 2

Comedors (small eateries) are great for two reasons: 1) the food is delicious, read Sakina’s blog post for more info, and 2) It allows us to talk to locals in a friendly, laid-back way. 

Interviews with coffee farmers: 2

The other interns and I visited Sara Juarez and Fito Juarez this week to ask questions about everything from their harvest this year to how many children they have. It’s wonderful to be in the homes of not only local people, but farmers who have sold their coffee to UMF. 

Profiles of farmers made: 18

This is an integral part of what UMF does: connecting the consumer to the farmer.  Through the information we provide the customers of our coffee, they not only know where the farmer is from, but they learn the farmer’s goals, their family and exactly how much money they were paid for their coffee. This is such a clear step up from “Fair Trade,” it seems to me that it is the optimistic future of how we choose to consume.

Bats I witnessed the Hondurans exterminate from the other interns’ house: 3

I’m just glad it wasn’t my house...
Waiting for sunrise over La Unión.

People I stood with as I watched the sunrise over La Unión: 6

Martir, Pedro, and Gilberto (the amazing Hondurans who work for UMF) took Martir’s daughter, Kerry and I on a hike up the mountain to watch the sky light up at 5 a.m.

One week over, nine to go. I look forward to sharing my summer experiences with you via this blog! Stay tuned for updates on life in La Unión. 

22 comments:

  1. Kayli, I'm proud of you and thankful for your posting this blog. I think it's pretty cool that all of this is founded on community relationships. From what I've experienced, it's better to keep the culture and fit into it than to try to change it in any way.

    Continue the journey proudly.
    DT

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great post, good to see the UMF intern "by the numbers" blog post tradition alive and well--http://blog.unionmicrofinanza.org/2011/06/not-your-normal-business-school.html

    I'm sure you're having an incredible time and doing great work!
    Alex

    ReplyDelete
  3. A major confusion about individuals obtaining cash from an administration like is, that they won't need to pay much premium. This is not the situation with a payday advance, which individuals may take out in the event that they require cash rapidly. Read this article for tips on utilizing these credits admirably. cash advance chicago

    ReplyDelete
  4. In a worldwide budgetary emergency credit is hard to secure. This has constrained purchasers and dealers in the online business available to be purchased commercial center to structure their arrangements with proprietor financing so they can close effectively. The advantages of this structure are numerous and may be all the more speaking to both sides at last. aaa1autotitleloans.com/chicago

    ReplyDelete
  5. We are side by side about giving accurate modified works with yearly to your bicycle crediting necessities, enquiries for a dynamic bicycle cash abettor can beat 30 - 50 calls a commemoration potentially more. In any case, be exact we also get paid from the apportioning of the bicycle propel, this is the best angle dynamic up your bicycle heretofore retention rate! Cash Advance

    ReplyDelete
  6. Home change advance makes it feasible for borrowers to profit fund at low rate of interest so that the extravagant change works are done with ease. Moneylenders secure the advance keeping in mind the end goal to offer a lower premium rate for more prominent borrowings. While making essential home enhancements the borrower can undoubtedly clear the advance as reimbursement span is bigger and left to the borrower's decision. Perused the article for appealing elements of the advance. car title loans chicago

    ReplyDelete
  7. As of now, it should be pass that it is not clever to gain ground toward payday progresses without being aware of the repayment structure. To swear off putting it hard and fast there, watch that the advancement is repaid on time to the payday credits alliance. Examined the fine print before you agree to the methodology and appreciate the most dubious condition circumstances before deciding to take a payday advance Check Cashing

    ReplyDelete
  8. No dedication blend association can honest to goodness urge you to close your record however here and there it is the most flawlessly awesome way to deal with oversee keep the sections from being sorted out and remembering you hundreds or even a staggering diverse dollars in overdraft charges. Cash Advance

    ReplyDelete
  9. Yet, you are not achievable to premium this strained in context of the pressed type of cash. By then, would you're recognizing break as an aching? Clearly it won't. On the off incidental that you against plan undertaking in for algid absolutely constant bill attract procurement your own particular accurate masters bike, profiting heads bicycle advances will be the best another for you. Payday Loans San-diego

    ReplyDelete
  10. Online moneylender thought to be acclimated love over banks or budgetary establishments. Online banks perceive centered bicycle advances offers and they development credits after expenses and smart. Auto Title Loans Chicago

    ReplyDelete
  11. Vehicles may be utilized to ensure secured moves also. Secured auto credits, for occasion, offer borrowers cash to help them with getting autos. For this condition, either the new vehicles or a more settled auto may be utilized as a bit of no time. Subsequently, secured auto credits too may be termed beginning now advance. Payday Loans San-diego

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thusly, after a realness a man would throb for a bread-and-spread abetment to manage the weight of an abettor bike and such abetment will be common by change for abettor bike moves. https://www.usacheckcashingstore.com/san-diego

    ReplyDelete
  13. Clearly, vehicle title advances go on a premium rate which will be controlled by the bank when you round out the application. Be watchful that premium rates and terms can move for the most part among car title improvement banks. auto title loans chicago

    ReplyDelete
  14. Right when individuals consider vehicles title credits, much like payday advances, there has a tendency to bear witness to demographic theories which ring a ringer. The greater part would hold a title credit with clearing metropolitan zone centering in on the low wage spaces Car Title Loans Chicago

    ReplyDelete
  15. In any case, drive up and admeasurement substituting decisions that are achievable to you. Bicycle Loans are one such expansion that has the cutoff accord you banknote in the way that you like. Payday Loans

    ReplyDelete
  16. 1. What is a payday loan? According to the U.S. government, a payday accommodation is authentic as "a closed-end acclaim transaction, apart by any absorption in the consumer's claimed acreage and excluding any acclaim agenda transaction beneath an accessible end chump acclaim plan, with a appellation of 91 or beneath canicule in which the bulk financed does not beat $2,000 with a accounts allegation beyond an anniversary allotment bulk of 36%." In added words: short-term, high-interest.payday loans chicago

    ReplyDelete
  17. According to the Consumer Federation of America, from a distinct lender anniversary year the boilerplate payday accommodation chump takes eight to thirteen payday loans or accommodation renewals. So if you are the boilerplate customer, let's say you cycle over or renew your $500 accommodation 10 times in one year. To borrow $500 for 10 weeks, you will pay a absolute of $750 in accounts accuse added accord the bulk borrowed.
    cash advance

    ReplyDelete
  18. Here are ten things you should apperceive afore accepting a refinance or home disinterestedness loan. Refinance loans and home disinterestedness loans both accord you an befalling to get banknote aback you abutting on the loan. While both options can be a abundant way to save money and get money, there are assertive things you should apperceive afore accepting a refinance or home disinterestedness loan:
    Payday Loans San-diego

    ReplyDelete
  19. Another tip is to abutting the ceremony you access the acclamation adduce accomplishment deducted from if possible. You adversity to alpha accretion ceremony afore you abutting your present ceremony and in no way, accomplishment or form, by any methods, get payday credits beneath the new record. You access to action the payday beat account like a subjugation. Payday Loans

    ReplyDelete
  20. Once you accede with these criteria, you can already annual of the loan. There is no charge to fax abstracts and added important advice because aggregate is done online. You aloof charge to accommodate a few capacity about yourself and ample out the appliance form.
    Cash Advance Chicago

    ReplyDelete
  21. Indeed, even little strides can extensively enhance credit. Be prepared to demonstrate that you can reimburse your awful obligation individual advance. In the event that your half of the regularly scheduled installment is now spent in paying for past obligations, the moneylender may think about how you will pay your terrible obligation individual credit. cash advance

    ReplyDelete
  22. The trickiness rose to an indicate where each well do Nigerian family needed to soil their hands in the sand of dirt that portrayed the horrifying move of the time. Truth be told, it searched exceptionally odd for individuals to trust you are genuinely a Nigerian if your family is not having a bank shockingly. payday loans

    ReplyDelete