In the mountains
of Boaco, three tiny communities have begun a
process of transformational development that
today includes leadership development, health
improvements, spiritual growth, and now,
economic opportunity. The process began four
years ago through the implementation of the
Community Health Evangelism strategy, in which a
group of Christian leaders was organized in San
Juan, San Juan Aventura, and San Andres to share preventative health principles and the gospel
message of reconciliation with their
communities. Over time, as these leaders went
door to door and invited people to attend
meetings and gain new knowledge, incidence of
common diseases like malaria and the
complications experienced by many rural pregnant
women decreased.
In 2005, FH Hunger Corps Shannon Ahern founded NicaMade and began a relationship with these
three communities and their leaders, giving them
an opportunity to learn a new skill (creating
painted metal artwork) and to provide
much-needed income to support their families,
who live in an area of high unemployment. The CHE leader in San Andres says, “[NicaMade] has
opened the channels by which employment has come
to our community. There isn’t any work here.”
What little work can be found is largely
seasonal, such as cutting coffee at harvest
time.
The metal artwork group (now 17) received
classes and mentoring for six months from 2
Nicaraguan metal artists in order to learn how
to make designs on metal and how to use the
paints. They began by creating bookmarks and
small cards, but now make crosses, decorative
boxes, and magnets as well. One woman says, “I
feel happy because this is a new experience, and
in addition to learning, we can share our skills
with others.”
These
artists, men and women of various ages from the
three communities, work together on a regular
basis to produce the products to sell through
NicaMade. All the money the group makes is split
equally among the participants. Ivania describes
the difference this project has made in her
life. “I used to have to work away from home all
day making and selling enchiladas--and my
husband was only coming back every 15 days. But
now I can work at home…and I have learned how to
save, because before I spent every penny I made,
but I have learned that’s important to save for
emergencies.”
Learning to save is one of the themes covered in
the monthly classes on Christian businessprinciples given by NicaMade. In explaining the
importance of the training, one woman said, “You
can’t have a business without the right skills.
This helps us with both angles—physical and
spiritual. It enriches our understanding of
what, how, where, etc. we are going to do.”
One community leader reflected on the wholistic
approach of NicaMade. “What would good would it
do me to have this opportunity to work to
support my family if later I arrive at the house
and I go use the money to drink, and I don’t
help my family. But if I accept these physical
and spiritual teachings, I am learning to
responsible with my house, my children, my
family, my community. For this reason, I think
it’s important to have this link between the
formation of people and business enterprises.”
A university student shared, “It has helped me a
lot. With the little that I make, I can pay for
part of my monthly costs of studying so that my
parents don’t have to pay it.” In addition to
the economic benefits the group is receiving,
they also emotionally support one another.
Elizabeth says, “When we get together it’s like
we are one family. When we are working, there
are moments of silence, of laughter [and] as far
as problems go, we sit down to come to
consensus, to figure out how to fix mistakes and
continue improving.”
“We feel content, and above all we
give thanks to God and those who have brought
this project to the community.”
