Don Tejada: A Big Step Forward

Jose Adonil Tejada signing his loan forms and by his car

Jose Adonil Tejada stepped into our office with a quiet smile on his face. It was clear, though, that he had come with a purpose. He had arrived to discuss his loan of a molino, or corn mill, valued at 18,000 lempira. Our goal for the meeting was to talk over his plans and establish a schedule for repayment that would give him enough flexibility to grow his new business at the same time. 

The most incredible part of working with him was watching his mind work as he outlined his business plan with us. He explained that his clients would come to him with their corn for processing and that his family would then return the produce to them in the form of usable flour. He intends to charge clients one lempira per pound and expects daily revenues of L. 2 per family, thus generating a revenue of about L. 600 each month from it. Martir, one of UMF’s senior field agents, and I alternated between questioning him about how many clients he expected to have, what expenses he would have when running his business, and at what times during the year he expected to generate the greatest amount of revenue from this new endeavor. Don Tejada looked us straight in the eyes and answered all of our questions thoroughly. It was quite clear that he had already thought through many of these details, and our calculations revealed that it would indeed be a profitable business for him. In a society in which the simplest concept of saving money for future investments is still quite obscure, it was immeasurably exciting to hear about his plans and feel confident in his and his family’s ability to not only pay back the loan, but significantly improve their own lives. 

This loan marks an important milestone for Unión MicroFinanza. UMF’s goal has always been to provide the vehicle through which members of La Unión’s community can drive their own sources of livelihood. While fertilizer loans are helpful for farmers, UMF’s dream is for its clients to remain with us for enough years to finally build up enough credit to begin taking out substantial capital loans such as this one. In this way, they will be able to expand their businesses in a way they truly could not have in the past. Once Don Tejada pays off his loan for the corn mill, his family will have an entirely new source of revenue—one that will not only bring added security to them, but will also lend itself to increased opportunities for further investments in the future. As more clients begin to take out capital loans for mills, solar dryers, and other processing equipment, we are hopeful that we will be able to observe a significant leap in their businesses and in the communities in general. 

As an intern, I feel extremely lucky to be working with UMF at this critical moment and look forward to seeing Don Tejada again. My hope is that the next time we meet will be in La Ceibita Centro, at the site of his successful new corn processing business.

Written by Lennie Zhu
Photos by Lennie Zhu

Community: In Theory and in Practice

¡Hola! I'm Dillon, a sophomore at the University of Michigan and one of four UMF interns living in La Unión this summer.  Getting to know the other interns and the UMF employees has been very interesting, and I already feel a part of the UMF family. Whether it's jabs at my Notre Dame-attending roommate, Ben, for his school's inferior football and basketball teams (in the humble opinion of a Michigan Wolverine), in-depth philosophical discussions with anyone around on whatever topic of the day, or losing the dictionary game to Jeremy at the Comedor during lunch, the sense of fellowship here is extremely high.

And although this intra-organizational camaraderie is important, much more importantly, and impressively, is the togetherness between all of the UMF workers and the community of La Unión. I've volunteered with UMF for about the past year, so I've known for a long time that one of UMF's core values is to be a part of the communities that they partner with. However, it is one thing to know this value and another to see it lived out and be a part of it each and every day. I see this in practice in countless ways. When I walk down the street with Charlie it seems like every La Unión child below the age of 13 comes outside to yell "Carlitos!" Each time I've been over to the UMF house/office for dinner we've been joined by one or two of the kids from the local bilingual school, who are always encouraged to stop in. I've played volleyball with Hondurans, eaten dinner at their homes, gone to their church, and even have plans to make a cake later this week with a class of 3rd graders.

I am a firm believer that poverty is not strictly a monetary issue and am so proud that the organization I am interning with is not just a money-in, money-out microfinance institution for this reason. Poverty alleviation does not come about from simply increasing access to financial services, it comes from an all-encompassing approach which UMF offers. It's facilitating Community Partnership Programs from the United States–of which we are hosting multiple this summer.  It's partnering with the local bilingual school–the interns are going this week to speak with the 10th graders about university in the U.S.  It’s living within the population and conducting development in a way that is community-driven.  I’m excited to continue to be a part of this philosophy, and more excited to live it out each day.

¡Hasta luego!

Outside the Catholic Church in La Unión

Written by Dillon Horne
Photo by Lennie Zhu

A Week of Baleadas

This is my first time spending an extended period of time in a developing country, and I’d be lying if I said that life isn’t that different. There have been a lot of changes to adjust to, yet despite some of the challenges, it’s been well worth it for the amazing experience, the people I’ve met, and the many things I’ve learned already. We were picked up at the San Pedro Sula airport by Jeremy Miller, UMF’s Director of Honduran Operations, and Albin, our head of security, a Honduran man who we soon learned was both incredibly tough and very kind. During our three hour drive to La Unión, careening across lanes and maneuvering the hilly, potholed dirt roads with ease, he showed us pictures of his three children, the pride and love evident in his voice. 

Though the roads became worse the further we drove, the scenery and mountain views became more and more spectacular. In town the roads are all dirt (and, after a rain storm, all mud) and filled with holes and rocks. Walking down the street is always a challenge to find the least muddy route and to avoid the dogs, chickens, horses, motorcycles, trucks, and other passerby that are always traveling every which way. The houses are small and pretty, painted in bright shades of pink, yellow, and aqua. There are lots of flowering trees, and, of course, the constant views of the beautiful verdant mountains surrounding the village. 

I quickly learned to consider it a luxury rather than a fact of life to have both water and electricity at any given time. During my first week, there was one night when the water ran out mid-shower, and then the next night the power went out, leaving the shower pitch black. We learned to judge the usability of the water by whether washing with it would leave us cleaner or dirtier than we were before bathing. Cold showers are perfectly acceptable here, the question being whether our temperature choice would be icy, cold, cool, or, once in a while, lukewarm.  

   

Food too is always an adventure. At the airport I had my first baleada, a classic Honduran meal consisting of a tortilla filled with a combination of eggs, beans, cheese, avocado, and mantequilla (a mayonnaise-like sauce). It was really tasty, though baleadas were much less exciting when they became the standard daily lunch. At our local comedor (a small eatery), I eat a baleada for 10 lempira, the equivalent of a 50 cent lunch. Liquados are among my favorite food finds. Similar to the consistency of a frappacino, liquados are blended drinks made with ice, fresh milk, and whatever fruit is available, pineapple and watermelon are common at the present. I love being able to buy peeled and halved oranges at the fruit stand on the corner, and it’s become a part of my daily routine. 

Like anywhere, some people are more friendly than others, but, overall, the people we have met have greeted us with smiles and generous hospitality. Walking down the street we always greet the people we pass with a “hola,” “buenas,” or “adios.” Interestingly, I learned that “adios” can be used as a greeting for both hello and goodbye. Honduran children will often greet us with giggles and a series of “bye byes,” using the literal English translation. On our weekend trip to Gracias, a city about three hours south of La Unión and four times the size, I noticed that there were far fewer friendly greetings exchanged. The other interns and I appreciated the friendliness of our small town even more after comparing it to the “big city.”

There have been many changes to adjust to living in La Unión, but as we enter our third week here, I feel comfortable and at ease. Ben, Lennie, Dillon and I keep busy researching and assisting the Unión MicroFinanza staff and have enjoyed exploring the town, chatting with locals, and playing cards together in our free time. These first couple weeks have been great, and I am eager to learn more, continue to absorb the culture, and maximize the experience.

Standing on a rooftop in Gracias

Written by Natalie Clark
Photo by Lennie Zhu

Orlando: A Story of One and of Many

I saw Orlando today. He looked great. Happy. Vibrant. Gracious. He was Orlando as I knew him. It was beautiful to see my friend again. Though he had visited multiple times per week during the previous month, it had been too long since I had seen the real Orlando.

Just a month ago, he sat in our office devoid of life. His eyes were sunken and red, sorrow and fear dominating his emotions. This was not Orlando. It was obvious he hadn’t eaten or slept well in days. As we listened to him speak about the struggles facing his family and community, the worry in his voice was evident. He needed help. 

It was at that point we realized the situation in Chimizal was becoming desperate and that, if we didn’t intervene, no one would. After our conversation, Orlando made the hour-long trek back up the mountain from La Unión to Chimizal. He collapsed en route under the mid-day sun. It had taken his last ounce of strength to reach out one more time to his final hope for help.

Orlando’s reality was but one among far too many desperate situations in the villages surrounding La Unión in the weeks following the hailstorm of April 2, 2012. The resulting food crisis pushed these people, already living on the margins, over the edge. No matter how hard they worked, the huge obstacles they faced could not be overcome. 

Fortunately for Orlando and the people of Chimizal, San Agustín, and Lepagual, a community of people led by Michelle Noordhof, METAD, and their donors embraced these villages and saw that they didn’t have to suffer, for there were those capable of offering a hand in their time of need. This group of people showed the humanity that is oftentimes elusive in our world. Their initiative made all the difference at this critical moment in the life of Orlando, and that will never be forgotten.

Now there is again hope that better times may lie ahead. Fields are once again being tended, and the bean harvest is a mere 70 days away. The food aid that is being delivered will serve as a bridge through these tough times. Though Orlando lives in poverty by any economic measure, he feels rich today, and it shows. 

Orlando is smiling again. Thank you to everyone who helped ease the suffering of a deserving people. It was truly appreciated in ways I am unable to express.

Orlando Cantellano

Written by Jeremy Miller 

Photo by Lennie Zhu

Hailstorm La Union: The Recovery Process Begins

It has been just over a week since the hailstorm in La Unión. Over 300 houses were damaged, water sources are still contaminated, and an estimated 250 acres of coffee farmland were heavily damaged. However, the recovery effort has begun and the people are doing their best to cope. I would like to take a moment to discuss the effects, both short-term and long-term, of this hailstorm. First the immediate effects and recovery effort that is beginning.

Many homes have been repaired, with roofing material made available through the local government. However, there are still many homes that are waiting for materials for arrive, and there is a need for more to be purchased. We are currently working with the local government to get better information so that we can become a part of this recovery effort.

Dozens of  people in the town of Chimizal have gotten sick since the hail storm, and contaminated water is the most likely culprit. A health team from the local government is in the process of getting water samples to find out the exact contaminants in the water, and once this information is available UMF will be coordinating with water engineers in Honduras to determine best way to improve filtration and support this community in gaining access to clean water.

Another immediate impact of this disaster is that the water sources in the towns of Chimizal and Quiscamote have been damaged, leaving very little water arriving to the towns. We are working to get water engineers to analyze the sources and propose ways to improve access.

There are both short and long-term effects of this storm on the coffee farms of the affected villages. Fortunately we were near the end of the harvest, but there were still large amounts of coffee lost when it was knocked from the trees and ruined. This means that many farmers lost 10-20% of this year’s income.

Looking long-term, there is both good news and bad news. The good news is that farms are still alive, which means the rebuilding process won’t require complete replanting, a process that would involve large investments and would leave farmers without a harvest for three full years. The bad news is that most farms will not have a harvest this coming year. This, combined with the low prices and loss of coffee during the storm, means that many farmers are sitting with little money saved and a greatly reduced income for the coming year. There are two major issues that this will create for the people of La Unión over the next two years.

First, farmer owners have been left without money to invest in their fields. It will be a two-year recuperation process, and there is currently no local access for money to facilitate this process.

Second, many people rely on day labor for the majority of their income. Since farm owners are not going to be able to fully farm their fields, the amount of work available for day laborers will be drastically reduced.

These issues may also lead to other, secondary effects. First, if farmers have no way to recuperate their fields and no access to work, there is a strong likelihood that they will have no choice but to sell property to feed their family. This would leave them with no means of producing income in the future. Second, disaster relief experts have expressed to UMF that, with the scarcity of work available, there is a high risk of mass migration out of these towns.. If a farmer cannot find work in his village, he will be forced to leave his family and look for work in other villages around La Unión, Honduras, or outside of the country. If this happens, it could have devastating effects on the villages and families in them.

We at UMF are working to put together a long-term plan to support these villages. We have spoken with community leaders in several affected villages, and will be spending time in the coming days speaking to community members to find out the best way to partner with them to address both short and long-term problems. Potential ideas that we have already discussed include:

·         Opening a new loan fund for affected farms that would last for several years, helping farmers bring their harvest to its pre-storm production.

·         Making solar dryer materials available as part of these long-term loans. Many solar dryers in these communities were destroyed, leaving farmers without the ability to properly process their coffee. Twelve farmers affected sold high-quality coffee to UMF this year—including Bernardo Ponce, Rigoberto Paz, Antonio Castellanos, Filadelfo Juarez, and others—and we want to ensure that they are able to produce high-quality coffee in the coming year, even if it is in much smaller amounts.

·         Starting family gardens to help provide food for families that are unable to earn enough money to provide proper nutrition for their families.

We will work to continue developing long-term solutions as we help address the immediate needs of these communities. We appreciate the thoughts, prayers, and help that our supporters have given and ask that you consider ways to get involved in supporting these communities in their time of need.

Hailstorm Hits the Communities of La Unión

This past week, a sunny afternoon turned tragic in La Unión as the most intense hailstorm in La Unión’s history fell down upon houses, inhabitants, and farms. Hail the size of lemons and oranges carried enough force to punch through tin roofs of homes. Many people were caught outside during the sudden onslaught of hail and sustained injuries. Thankfully, nobody was killed. Although the storm hit all of La Unión, there was one area of communities which sustained the largest amount of damage.

Hail punched holes through the roof
of a house in Chimizal

In the town of Chimizal, many families have moved temporarily into the school building because the storm left their houses uninhabitable.

Farms sustained significant damage during this event. In the areas most affected, any remaining harvest was destroyed and trees sustained heavy damage—trees were left without leaves and both trunks and branches were damaged by the impact of the hail. IHCAFE engineers are in the process of assessing the damage. Initial findings suggest that many trees were not killed in the incident, but there is doubt whether they will produce a harvest in the coming year.

UMF is joining the local La Unión government, IHCAFE, and other institutions in the area in a recovery effort both short and long term. We are still in the process of assessing damage that has occurred and creating a plan moving forward. We will give more information and developments as they are available, but ask that all reading this keep the people of La Unión in their thoughts and prayers.

Hail destroyed current harvest, stripped coffee plants
of their leaves, and left trunks and branches heavily damaged.
In background, banana trees and fences have been snapped
in half

A healthy coffee field near Chimizal before the hailstorm
(note: not the same field as above picture, but
included for comparison)

Small Farmer, Big Plans: Part Four

Continue reading the incredible story of our partner farmer, Antonio Ponce Bautista, in Fresh Cup Magazine:


In the fourth installment of this five-part series, big things are happening. Toñito's coffee is processed, roasted, and then cupped (evaluated at IHCAFE - the Instituto Hondureño del Café). His coffee receives very positive feedback and is selected to compete for the Honduran Cup of Excellence and SCAA's Coffee of the Year. Additionally, it is roasted and used by Josh Longsdorf, of Detroit's Anthology Coffee, at the North Central Barista Championship in Chicago.


However, Toñito's plans to export his specialty-grade coffee to the States are threatened by rain, road conditions, and other factors. Click here read more about this precarious journey...


For an introduction to the series, watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0O0tjK3k8E