CHOI Training Event - Day 1

AS YOU MUST KNOW, the non-profit organization called Chimbote Oportunidades Ilimitadas - CHOI, was promoting a Training Event headed to clients of its Micro Lending program and those interested in getting to know a little more about how to start a small business or improve the one existing in order to generate self-sustainability and independence and so getting better their living quality for them to live with dignity. The event was planned taking into account one of the goals of CHOI, which is to finance Small and Medium enterprises and also to train microentrepreneurs; since we consider these factors as priority issues for development of families and their communities, letting us to continue working together.

So, within this framework, the two-day training started from Friday, February 26th, 2010. The first session was held that day and the second one on Monday, March 01st, 2010 at 3:30 pm. The event took place at La Casa de la Juventud (Youth house) located in H-4 Antenor Orrego village - Chimbote, a place lent by municipality and where all of CHOI programs are running at the moment. The main speakers the first session were Mr. Orlando Bermúdez (Peruvian, CHOI administrator) and Mr. Thomas J. DeMarco (an American volunteer from Minnesota-USA.

The first speaker, Mr. Orlando Bermúdez, started his presentation introducing people get involved in the event. He took his time to develop the first theme of the agenda which was Presentation of the Civil Association CHOI "Chimbote oportunidades Ilimitadas" (Chimbote Unlimited Opportunities). He was talking about the early days of CHOI and its main goals. Also he shared about CHOI programs such as: Chimbote Healthy Port, Dollars for Scholars and Leaders for Tomorrow, University Library, Pre-University Academy, Micro Lending, etc. and other possible proyects as papercrete (paper + concrete) to make bricks.

The second speaker, Mr. Thomas J. DeMarco, an American volunteer who is studying Administration of Non-profit Organizations, International Business and Spanish Language, was sharing with attendees about the second theme Importance of Teamwork. He spent some time in Republica Dominicana doing Community Work with local residents. There he was supporting people, by sharing very important information, for them to be able to form their own small business using their gifts, talents and abilities.

In this event he also shared many of his experiences on his work in Republica Dominicana in order to motivate and train attendance. Thus, the first session was held and attendees were very pleased with all information they received that day.

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Micro Lending: Story 5

DEYSI VEGA RIOS IS A 40-YEAR-OLD LADY. Her husband's name is Cruz Valdiviezo Paz and is 43 years old. Both have 3 children: 15-year-old Carolay, 12-year-old Jeanpierre and 7-year-old Benjamín. They all live in H-19 San Miguel humble village in Chimbote-Perú. Five years ago, in 2005, she started sewing and making some clothes for those who asked her using an old sewing machine. She only counted on her personal efforts and assets. She started working sewing in a small market called "Los Israelitas" located in 10 de Setiembre neighborhood near her house.

Even though she did her best to save some money and so to equip the best way her small business however she could not do it because all the money she earned was used to face family expenses. At that time she need urgently a looping machine and a coater machine for her small business to begin to grow and this way generating its self-sustainability. It was necessary for her to get a loan to be able to buy these machines otherwise her small business would noe emerge.

On this context and through a friend, she heard about a non-profit organization called CHOI here in Chimbote and located near her house offering micro loans, through one of its programs, for those needing a micro loan to improve their small business. So, she went to the office of the Micro Lending program and after getting to know a little more about the program she applied for a micro loan.

She received her first micro loan on April 20, 2006 and she used this resource to buy some working materials she need urgently. She applied for the second micro loan and received it on December 27, 2007. She used it to buy haberdashery (thread, buttons, little scissors, etc.) So, now she started selling haberdasheries. Her small business was going well and she applied for her third micro loan which she received it on November 27, 2008 which she used to buy a looping machine.

She applied for the fourth micro loan and received it on December 28, 2009 and she could buy a coater machine. Her small business started growing little by little and she moved to another market located in La Victoria neighborhood where she has her stand located at a corner. Thanks to micro loans received from the program her small business is going well so far. She doesn't have to worry about giving maintenance her machines becuase her husband does that work since he is an expert in sewing machine maintenance.

In a near future she would like to be a provider of clothing for institutions such as schools, universities, enterprises, etc. and she is working hard to get that goal. Presently she makes clothes for those who ask her. Also she has, in her stand, a business of phone call and her older daughter works with her.

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Micro Lending: Story 4

THROUGH THIS NEW POST, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL the story of another entrepreneur person who, with a bit of support and encouragement, is becoming a person who is overcoming difficulties in her family life. She was born here in Chimbote, Perú. Her name is Vilma Carbajal Mercedes and is 35 years old. She lives in F-5, 10 de Setiembre human settlement, a place located among many poor neighborhoods in Chimbote. She is a single mother and has 2 children. A boy named 13-year-old Jeancarlos Rocha Carbajal and a girl named 12-year-old Dayana Rocha Carbajal.

As a single mother she had to work hard to provide for her children and herself. Twelve years ago, in 1998, she did her best and was able to get $50.00 and with this money she started selling lingerie, underpants, socks, etc. She bought these products from a supplier here in Chimbote at first but after some months she herself started traveling to Lima (capital of Perú) to get her products to sell since she got them cheaper there. At that time she had no her own house so, because of this, she had on mind to buy a land to be, in time, the family house.

She could come true her dream so she bought a land and even got her ownership title on January 30, 2003 but this, some way or another, affected her small business financially speaking because she had to take money of her business to be able to buy the land. Even so she did not give up and kept traveling to Lima to buy merchandise but it was evident her small business was not going very well as before, on the contrary it was urgent to get financial suppor to refloat the business.

In these circumstances she, through some neighbors, heard about the Micro lending program of CHOI and talked to its director about getting a micro loan for her small business. The program, on behalf of its director, was willing to assist her so, Mrs. Vilma received her first micro loan on February 06, 2004. With this help she was able, little by little, to refloat her small business.

She applied for another micro loan, the second, and received it on November 26, 2004. Things started going well and she applied for her third micro loan and received it on July 27, 2006. As the time went by the small business was growing and she was encouraged to apply for her fourth micro loan which she received it on July 27, 2008 but after some months she received the micro loan, in January 2009, unfortunately some thieves stole all her merchandise. In this situacion the micro lending program gave her some facilities and addicional support for her to face the difficult moment and also her financial duties.

Because of her persistence and perseverance she could overcome those bad times and her small business started growing little by little once more and so, she applied for her fifth micro loan which she received it on December 16, 2009. Presently she continues to work hard to make her business successful. Her small business is located inside her house. She is very thankful to the micro lending program for all the support she received.

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Inviting Training

THE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION Chimbote Oportunidades Ilimitadas (CHOI), through its Micro Lending program, has organized a training event headed to customers of the program and general public; it means, to all people interested in establishing or improving a small business through which they are able to generate self-sustainability and independence seeking this way getting better their quality of life. The event will take place in La Casa de la Juventud in Antenor Orrego village (where CHOI and the offices of its programs are located), on Friday February 26 and Monday March 01, 2010 from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm.

Speakers will be Mr. Orlando Bermúdez (director of CHOI), Mr. Percy Segura (leader of Micro Lending program) and Mr. Thomas DeMarco (a volunteer from Minnesota-USA). So, in order to publicize the event Mr. Percy, Mr. Thomas and me (Pablo Beltrán) had to go to the customers' houses to let them know, in advance and through an invitation document, about training. We went through several neighborhoods or villages to fulfill our goal. That was a long day but we can get to many houses. Here are the topics of the event:

• Introducing Chimbote Unlimited opportunities - CHOI: Benefits for clients and Micro lending association.

• Importance of Teamwork.

• Business Clinic - Marketing for Entrepreneurs.

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