Bitelia Vega lives in Buena Vista, a community located on a mountain in the department of Yoro. Families in Buena Vista practice an agricultural way of life: farmers produce coffee, corn, beans and vegetables which they sell in nearby communities. Alfalit, a World Renew partner in Honduras, has been promoting sustainable agricultural practices and economic growth initiatives among farmers in Buena Vista, with a special emphasis on supporting women in income-generating activities.

Alfalit, a World Renew partner in Honduras, has been promoting sustainable agricultural practices and economic growth initiatives among farmers in Buena Vista, with a special emphasis on supporting women in income-generating activities.

Some years ago, Alfalit helped this community to organize a village savings and loans (VSL) group, which allows its members to save collectively and offer each other small loans for agriculture, especially for the cultivation of coffee, which represents the higher income crop for farmers in this community. Bitelia and other women are members of the village savings and loan group.

Two years ago, at a community meeting, Bitelia and nine other women announced their intention to start a group business that would allow them to generate additional income for their homes. They hoped to raise broiler chickens and so requested a loan from the savings and loans group, as well as training from Alfalit. Full of excitement, the women started their business, hoping to support their household economies. Bitelia’s husband was very supportive and offered to help her in the construction of the chicken coop. Soon, Bitelia was able to successfully sell chicken meat in the community and make a good profit, part of which she put back into the savings and loan, planning for family emergencies or household improvements.

One day, Bitelia’s 16-year-old son Odilson suffered an accident while working in the field. He works as a day laborer cutting coffee and had accidentally cut his face with a machete, causing a very serious injury. Odilson needed to be taken to a hospital — 45 kilometers away. Bitelia was forced to hire a driver, a costly expense that most families in Buena Vista simply cannot afford. However, Bitelia was able to pay the driver with the money she had saved by selling chicken meat. Bitelia was also able to pay hospital costs and medicines for her son’s recovery.

Bitelia tells this story with great emotion and gratitude for the support she received in starting her business. She is now a volunteer with Alfalit and serves as a wonderful example of possibility to other communities. Bitelia shares her knowledge with other women and motivates them to start a business as she did. Her broiler business is growing every year and has become self-sustaining as Bitelia and the other women in her group have learned to reinvest a portion of their earnings to maintain the business.

Pray for Honduras

  • Please pray for the success of the Transition Plan for Growth in World Renew’s Honduras office
  • Continue to pray for Honduras’ social and political landscape, especially the government
  • Pray that our political leaders would take seriously their responsibilities to our country and their fellow citizens regarding human rights, justice, and transparency.

Blessings,

Carlos Guzman

Alfalit staff
World Renew Honduras Partner