English
PortuguesNicaragua
Pro Mujer
Country background:
Nicaragua is a representative democratic country, the largest nation in Central America, and has an estimated population of 5,750,00 inhabitants. According to the United Nations, 28% of the population in Nicaragua live in poverty (2006 est.), unemployment is 3.1%, and another 46.5% are underemployed (2007 est.). A large segment of the economically poor in Nicaragua are women. In addition, a relatively high proportion of Nicaragua's typical families have a woman as head of household: 39% of urban homes and 28% of rural homes.
Organization:
Pro Mujer's mission is to provide Latin America's poorest woman with the means to build livelihoods for themselves and futures for their families through micro-lending, business training and healthcare support. Pro Mujer developed its sustainable integrated credit and training methodology in Bolivia in 1990 and has successfully replicated the model in Nicaragua in 1996, Peru in 1999, Mexico in 2001, and Argentina in 2005 Over the last eighteen years the Pro Mujer network has disbursed US$488 million in small loans – ranging from $50 to $1,500– with an average loan balance of US$236. Pro Mujer Nicaragua was founded in 1996 and has been serving approximately 20,000 women. The current Loan Portfolio is of USD $3.3 million and the repayment rate is 99%.
Project Overview:
Pro Mujer Nicaragua Project beneficiaries: 3,000 women, 12,000 family members and clients. More than 80% earn less than USD $2 day and 70% are aged between 18 and 45 years old.
Project Goals:
To improve health and prevent illness among clients in Managua and surrounding area in Nicaragua.
- Educate clients about reproductive health;
- Early detection of cervical cancer and breast cancer;
- Prevention of sexually transmitted diseases.
In order to achieve these goals, Pro Mujer Nicaragua has the following strategies:
- Conduct 1000 health training sessions for clients
- Conduct 12 training sessions for health promoters
- Establish self-help groups on domestic violence;
- Establish 10 alliances with health and legal services organisations;
- Produce 700 cervical cancer examinations;
- Provide 1200 gynaecological consultations.
Event where money was raised:
DLA Rhythms of Latin America Nights, raised £3,000 and welcomed 1150 visitors.