Hundreds of programs have been set up by well-meaning individuals to aid people in need all around the world. Most of these programs, however, are designed with the shortsighted objective of “helping people,” as opposed to “helping people help themselves.” Efforts by these good-intentioned individuals need to be directed toward making able-bodied people self-reliant.
Cause for Hope is such an organization that helps people help themselves. Through a multi-faceted approach, the Foundation gives people the tools in order to become successful and independent. Programs like MicroCredit, Small Business Training, Vocational Loans and Training, and Economic Development all help people in Central America gain the experience they need in order to pull themselves out of poverty and into a better situation.
“Today, self-sufficiency is my personal theme. I don’t believe in dependence. I don’t like it,” said Benicio Mayorga of Chinendaga, Nicaragua. “I think people have the capacity and that is how the Foundation works. It doesn’t help to keep giving and giving people. It’s better to give people the tools so they can work.”
The Foundation started in September 2001 with a trip to Central America to determine CFH's first location. Since then CFH has expanded to Nicaragua, Guatamala, Honduras, El Salvador, and more recently Mexico. An active Board of Directors, Executive Committee and many volunteers support it.
It was established as an independent foundation to engage in these programs and to help members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Latin America become more self-reliant and therefore facilitate their ability to receive the full blessings of the Gospel. While not related to the Church in any way, CFH has received encouragement and guidance from leaders in the Humanitarian Department, including guidance on where to locate CFH's first locations.
Frequently the difference between unemployment and finding a job is having some type of marketable skill. CFH uses various avenues to assist individuals to obtain vocational skills. Mayorga is currently studying Accounting with the assistance of a vocational loan facilitated through Cause for Hope. He has also learned the English language through classes offered by the Foundation.
There are considerably greater employment opportunities for those who speak at least some English. Consequently, CFH teaches an English language course using the widely acclaimed curriculum known as “Hello America.” This is a proven program for teaching English as a second language.
“Because of the Foundation I have learned English and I have gotten a better job,” Mayroga said. “If I didn’t have the skills to speak English, I wouldn’t be here in this job.”
There are many success stories of families that have been helped via microcredit loans and small business training. Microcredit lending has been used in developing countries for many years. CFH leverages its knowledge and resources by partnering with other institutions, such as FINCA, that have a proven track record of success in this area.
The Foundation has also learned that success rates increase drastically when individuals receive training on business fundamentals and entrepreneurship. Hence it has adopted and provides training on business fundamentals using a course called Microplan.
A small boutique owner in Chinendaga, Nicaragua is one of hundreds of benefactors from this type of training. She used to have barely enough items to fill her little market space. Now, because of the help she has received in creating a microplan and trainings, she not only has an overabundance of items that she sells but is also the market president.
“They told me it was important to be aware of not only how I dressed, but how my store space looked,” she says with a smile. “I have significantly increased my sales and I am getting ready to pay off a loan for 20 million pesos. I even have more than $2500 in a savings account. I can go out an buy the things I need each day and not have to worry about if I have enough money or not.”
She beams as she tells of her success and she isn’t the only one. Axel Javier Navarez is all smiles as he talks about how his business has seen an increase of more than 100 percent. His store where he sells oil and other incidentals for cars used to be small, “very small,” he said.
“Our lives have changes so much! Before we walked around very serious, but now that our situation is better we walk around with smiles on our faces,” he said. “We can’t help give hope to other people if we are having problems in our live. But now with a better situation, we can give help to other people.”
In many places in Central America the poverty is so widespread and pervasive that it is difficult for members of the church to lift themselves out of poverty. In those instances an additional boost is needed to help the local economy. CFH seeks successful United States business partners to expand into Central America to help members of the church, and others, by establishing factories and other businesses within the local community. Although CFH does not own or operate these businesses, it does assist and facilitate business partners to make this move into Central America.
Recognizing the need for affordable reading glasses in Central America, the Foundation helped Vision Spring to expand into many of the small countries. The expansion not only helped improve the vision of the citizens, but also brought more job possibilities to the people.
Maria Jose Carrera works has a Coordinator for Vision Spring in Chinendega, Nicaragua. She says that one of the most important things her job has given her is stability. It is something a lot of people in Central America are searching for.
“There is a big difference in my life. Before I didn’t even have an income, I didn’t have any way to help my family. Now I can economically help my family,” Carrera said. “My dream is to take this and expand it throughout the country, and then to take it to other countries like Guatemala and Honduras. My goal is to help the sales women have a stable job and income to help their families.”
Job stability and an increase in income, however, is not the most important thing to people in Central America. For many of them there is a higher power that works in their lives.
Wilber Cabrera and his family are an example of the faith of the people in Nicaragua. He and his wife have five children, which is a large family for a poverty-stricken country. He has received help from the Foundation to be able to attend technical courses and also micro credit loans to improve his working situation.
Before he received any help, Cabrera was making about 1800 Cordobas ($89) a month. When he got paid he would pay his tithing first and then do the math for the other bills on the calculator in his phone. He calculated a budget down to the day to feed his family of seven. It always broke his heart when his children would ask to go out and do something as a family. Since receiving help he has been able to more than double his income as well.
“In a country where we have tough economic times, there is not reason to get dismayed,” said his oldest son. “I think it’s part of the plan to progress temporally and spiritually, but money isn’t happiness. We still need to progress, but we don’t need to get attached to money. It doesn’t need to become our god over the God who has power over all.”
Cause for Hope began in September 2001 and has helped hundreds of people through vocational trainings, Microcredit, creating microplans, English classes, and business development in Central America. The Foundation has offices in Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico. It is a 501C3 organization that is supported solely by the donations of generous individuals and people who sponsor cities. For more information about Cause for Hope visit http://www.causeforhope.org.
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