Women Federation Marcelina de los Santos (FEMUSA)
Block Factory: With SDOP’s help this federation has purchased a truck and an electric generator. The factory is now employing 6 people and producing 2,500-3,000 blocks per month. They are also selling sand, gravel, cement, and re-bar. Some of the funds from the project go back to the Federation for new projects. Before the partnership with SDOP they were only able to produce about 700 blocks per month and could only work when the city’s power was on.
Youth Group: Sixteen youth in this project received training in jewelry making. Eight of these students are making and selling their jewelry to put themselves through college. The classes have helped the students see possibilities for a brighter future. Eight of the youth are working in the preschools run by the Federation to help serve and educate the next generation.
Cheese Factory: SDOP’s funds provided a building, ovens, materials and a motorcycle. Now 8 women are working in the project, none of whom previously had jobs or income. They produce cheese, yogurt, cookies, and caramel candies. The project is going well, but they are fearful about what the cholera scare will do to their sales, as fewer people are willing to eat things bought on the streets.
Testimonies
“We were losing money on the block factory because the cost of renting tractors to move the blocks was too high. We had to rush together to work when there was electricity and we often lost whole batches of materials when the electricity went out. It was a huge headache! Now we are independent and are able to make money to improve our situation. I have been able to add a small addition onto my house and I am helping to build a small church near my home.”
- Paula Rodriguez (Argentina)
“I am grateful for this project because the money I have earned has allowed me to go back to school to earn my high school diploma which I hadn’t been able to do. I hope to be able to go to the university one day and become a nurse. I want to be an example of hard work and life-long learning for my kids. Before this project we were silent and hidden in our community. If you aren’t making money you don’t have much say in your life, but now that we are making an income people see us differently and we have a voice in our homes and our communities.”
- Miriam Castro
