Honduras is THRIVE-ing

By Jose Luis Figueroa, Sr. Technical Advisor, Food Security & Livelihoods

As we near the end of 2019, Honduras continues to make headlines in the US. Ongoing political issues affect the citizens of the country, but although the political landscape remains a challenge, very encouraging news is coming from World Vision’s THRIVE project.

In Honduras over 50% of the population resides in rural areas, making agriculture an indispensable strategy for supporting livelihoods and the well-being of millions of families and their children. THRIVE in Honduras started in the middle of fiscal year 2017, and in two and half years, progress has been considerable. Through THRIVE we have already reached 17,020 smallholder farmers and 44,277 household members. For these families, saving capacity has increased by 68% through savings groups, and productive capacity has increased by 52% through producer groups. Through an Empowered Worldview, participants are also addressing family and community needs, with a special focus on children rights and gender equality. 

In the middle of an El Niño year that affected most crops in the country (and worldwide), THRIVE producers have been able to enhance their irrigation capacity through complimentary funding from Walmart. The multinational retail corporation already purchases produce from THRIVE farmers through signed contracts, but it is also now investing their corporate social responsibility funds for irrigation technology through THRIVE. For smallholder farmers like Jose Santos Garcia from La Campa, Lempira, irrigation represents year-round vegetable production that allows for his seven children to go to school. Santos proudly states that: “my children will have better opportunities in life with the income we now have, since before I couldn’t put them through school.”

A key issue that continues to surface in the news is migration from the country towards the US. For 44,277 Hondurans like Hugo Rivera from San Marcos, Ocotepeque, THRIVE represents an economic opportunity he could never have dreamed of before. Hugo made $2,000 from coffee sales, and $600 more from vegetable production during 2019. In Hugo’s words: “We are now fulfilled as a family, and the plan to go to another country has stayed in the past.”

In Honduras, in the middle of political turmoil, THRIVE continues to deliver the World Vision promise of life in all its fullness!

VisionFund's Newly Designed Website

World Vision's global microfinance network VisionFund International is pleased to announce the launch of its newly designed website: visionfund.org
 
The new site showcases the work that VisionFund is doing in its areas of expertise in development and inclusive growth, from financial products to livelihood solutions: credit, women's empowerment, impact, innovation, fragile contexts, insurance, rural agriculture and savings.
 
The site includes changes to navigation with a better user experience on both desktop and mobile. Updated features include a map showing where we work, newsroom, publications, microfinance client impact stories from across the globe, and thought leadership blogs via the VF View section. All articles also have integrated social media buttons for easy sharing.
 
“As an impact-driven organization we are blessed to see how every day our financial inclusion work paves the way for life in all its fullness for vulnerable families on the journey out of poverty,” said Michael Mithika, President and CEO of VisionFund International. “VisionFund is proud to be serving over 1.1 million clients in rural communities across the world, through a network of 28 microfinance institutions. Our new website is a celebration of this work, as well as a platform for our partners and supporters to have easy access to information pertaining to the organization and our work.”

Strong Women Strong World New York is almost here! 

In celebration of 15 years, this years event will take a look back at the birth of the Strong Women Strong World movement on World Aids Day in 2005 addressing how HIV/AIDS shed light on gender inequity disproportionately impacting women and girls. We will address the current refugee crisis of the day and celebrate the progress being made with World Vision and key partners to lift women and girls out of severe and disadvantaged circumstances. For more information or to register for the December 6th  event go to the SWSW Website.

Upcoming Calendar Events

• Vision Trips (please contact your World Vision representative about participating):
• Rwanda (April 27 - May 1, 2020) Join us in Rwanda to see the great Women's THRIVE work happening there and how VisionFund is helping shape the future of women. 
• Tanzania (July 6-12, 2020) Join us as we celebrate all the progress we have had in Tanzania through our THRIVE work! 
• Strong Women Strong World (December 6, 2019) - New York REGISTER HERE
• Honduras National Director Jorge Galeano Regional Tour (January 27-31, 2020) - California
• Florida Summit (February 6-7, 2020) - Naples, FL REGISTER HERE
• Every Last One Conference (March 6-7, 2020) - Dallas, TX REGISTER HERE

Prayer

PRAISE

• Praise for the great THRIVE work in Honduras that is equipping people to stay in their communities instead of migrating for work.
• Praise for the early return of our colleague Cory Trenda!

REQUESTS

• Pray for the continuation of funding for Honduras THRIVE so that more people will have the opportunities for life in all it's fullness right in their own community.
• Pray for all of our upcoming events and that the right donors will be at the right events as God leads them to partner with us.
• Pray for the ongoing health & treatment of Christopher Shore as he continues battling colon cancer.