Latin America & Caribbean Affiliates
Regional Overview
In a region rich with natural resources, culture, and history, Latin American and Caribbean businesspeople in the 21st century are finding abundant opportunities to fulfill their calling as Christians.
Today, Partners Worldwide walks alongside business people in Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Haiti, providing over 4,000 members of many different sectors with access to capital, training, mentoring, and advocacy. Small and medium business owners utilize loans to enhance value-added production and agribusinesses. Entrepreneurs and business people learn about effective and ethical business practices based on a biblical worldview and peer mentoring relationships. People also share the tool of training and networking to learn from one another, and to grow as individuals, communities, and nations.
Honduras - Stewardship of Christian Ministries
Tegucigalpa
Stewardship of Christian Ministries (Ministerios Cristianos de Mayordomia) promotes income generation, savings, and business growth among over 1,000 entrepreneurs in Nueva Suyapa, a marginalized neighborhood outside of Tegucigalpa. For over 15 years, MCM has facilitated community development programs in education, healthcare, counseling for domestic violence victims, as well as mentoring and training for micro entrepreneurs. Since 2005, North American businesspeople of Partners Worldwide have helped grow the SME loan fund at MCM and have mentored many SMEs that excelled in the micro-credit program and have the capacity to expand beyond traditional micro-credit and create more jobs.
To read more about the work in Latin America, visit our blog by clicking here.
Stories
Doña Reina achieves sweet dreams for her candy business
Friday June 22, 2012
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NUEVA SUYAPA, Honduras—- “There is no cost on dreaming,” says business owner Doña Reina. “That’s why I like dreaming for my family and the things I can accomplish through my business.”
Next generation of entrepreneurs become local mentors
Monday December 5, 2011
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TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras—- Business professor Rafael Nuñez works hard to equip the next generation of entrepreneurs in Honduras. Yet, within courses he offers, he found over the years that the classroom isn’t always the best place to teach marketing and entrepreneurship.
A growing tortilla business employs women
Sunday July 25, 2010
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The “missing middle” of small and medium businesses faces many challenges in Honduras. One of these small business owners is Alba Caceres. In 1990, she was in dire need of a sustainable income, and took a last chance to launch her own micro business, Tortilla Alba, to make 5,000 tortillas by hand over the fire each day.
Today, Alba employs eight people, including her husband, Ramon. Before sunrise each morning, they start producing over 4,000 corn tortillas, a staple food in the Honduran diet. The business then distributes the fresh tortillas to local restaurants and vendors for breakfast and lunch. By early afternoon, they distribute a second round to city vendors who sell late into the evening.
Volunteer Opportunities
MCM needs team members open to participating in group mentoring and training through an existing global business affiliate. Key skill sets include general expertise in entrepreneurship and business as well as comfort in educational/training settings. Individuals are also needed to partner with local affiliate leadership in the areas of loan management, loan and risk analysis, loan collections, general micro-finance management, strategic planning and sustainability. Functional understanding of Spanish is highly desired.
If you're interested in these opportunities, please contact our Latin America Regional Facilitator, Bob Vryhof.