April 2017 Program Roundup
April 24, 2017
Ghana
This month brought about the true convergence of the conservation agriculture training and Savings Groups. We saw the development of trust and relationships with both farmers and our teams on the ground. Now, momentum is growing and one of the savings groups has divided themselves into two agriculture sub-groups with the goal of learning conservation agriculture and working toward an improvement in their yields.
Overall, Savings Groups are showing great success. One Savings Group was able to loan more than $1,300 during their monthly loan meeting. This may seem like small change, however, considering the average wage in Ghana is less than $4 per day, the impact on businessmen and farmers becomes clear. This truly is a new level of opportunity and goes a long way in creating “impact that lasts.”
Bauya & Lunsar, Sierra Leone
Bauya and Lunar are gearing up for the launch of a new groundnut seed loan program across nine Savings Groups. Seeds have been purchased, and land is being prepared. Excitement is growing in our field officers, who are recognizing the potential impact for those participating.
As the new planting season begins, farmers are seeing how composting can double their investment. The compost will be an integral part of the upcoming season.
Dominican Republic
The students from the Dominican Republic took a field trip to a bank to better understand the process of opening accounts, depositing paychecks and saving money. Led by Joanna, the trip was informative and engaging for the students. They were attentive and asked many questions, marking an increase in maturity and responsibility.
Panama
The two Just Hope interns, Olivia and Audrey, wrapped up their final training with students in Malambo. They shared advice on topics such as, “how to present yourself in a professional manner,” and “how to answer difficult questions about your history and family life.” In Panama, part of the interview process involves answering questions about your upbringing. This can be particularly difficult for the students who have grown up in orphanages. However, with the help of the interns, they were able to turn their past and current situation into a positive experience, highlighting challenges they’ve overcome.