Nicaragua Community Development

Over the last nine years, Opportunity’s Community-led Economic Development program in Nicaragua has shown that blending the best community economic development strategies with microfinance can accelerate a community’s exit from poverty. We partner with local leaders to provide sustainable, value-added economic opportunities while empowering local leaders to tackle chronic issues in their community. To impact 100 million lives by 2020, Opportunity International must learn to mobilize entire communities as change-agents in their own economic future. Our work in Nicaragua is showing us how to engage beyond our financial clients. Entrepreneurship Technical School was established to empower rural youth for a brighter future. It provides 214 students with a relevant education preparing for careers in tourism or agriculture, the country’s two high-growth industries. The school is building four agricultural businesses whose revenue will cover the school’s costs and create a learn-by-doing environment for the students. You can help: • Complete the final classrooms and preparing for the first graduating class in 2016 • Maintain a student national test grade average of 92 (27 points above the national average) • Provide computer and English language courses to assure students are job-ready The Agricultural Program is increasing small-scale farmers’ crop yields and market options. More than 1,000 Nicaraguan farmers are benefiting from technical assistance, access to markets, or loans. They have achieved yield increases averaging 30%. The goal is to reach nearly 200 additional farmers in 2015. In addition, Opportunity has industrialized a processing plant to increase the market value of yucca grown by local farmers. It processes yucca to extend its fresh time from 24 hours to seven days. Opportunity has an urgent funding need to finalize the plant and conduct testing before January harvest, which will help more than 1,000 farmers increase the value of their yucca and improve their incomes from the upcoming harvest.