Nicaragua Boaco Camoapa
$65,000 needed of $130,000
Implementing Organization
World Renew
Program Summary
Located in the mountainous central region of Nicaragua, this program works with farmers to recognize challenges that arise from a changing climate due to trends in deforestation and identify farming techniques and crops that help them have more resilient livelihoods. Families are increasing their resilience by participating in regional farmer field schools, savings and internal lending communities, community seed banks, business workshops, and leadership training.
Mayeli's Story - Nicaragua Boaco Camoapa
Jose's Story - Nicaragua Boaco Camoapa
Success Stories
Loner Gains Community Through Ag Training
José has spent his entire life working in agriculture, and preferred to keep to himself. When the program came to town, his two children eagerly joined. He thought they’d be wasting their time. They asked him to come and support them, which he reluctantly agreed to do. He had no idea what big changes were in store for him.
He’d never had the opportunity to go to school, and he had always farmed the way his parents had taught him. Even though in retrospect he sees that his farming practices were insufficient, he believed he was doing fine. Moving forward, in fact. However, right from the first training sessions, which he attended for his children’s sake, he began learning improved practices, how to enhance his crops and how to take better care of his land. He realized how useful this knowledge was, and began to get motivated.
Today, says José, “I’m not only an active participant in the Farmer Field School, but I’ve also learned to appreciate my community and to work for its progress. The transformation has been so profound that my neighbors chose me to represent them, something I never imagined possible.”
He admits that the training opened new doors for him, and he now takes part in important community decision making and promotes cooperation among his neighbors. Not incidentally, his corn and bean harvests have significantly improved.
The most valuable thing he’s gained, though, is a deep sense of belonging. “Learning to work as a team and overcoming my fear of participating in meetings has been life-changing. I feel I’m contributing to the well-being of my community and the people I care about most,” says José.
Nicaragua Boaco Camoapa Program
Led by World Renew
Women Draw Strength from Their Savings Group
Daysi remembers her childhood as a beautiful period when her parents were able to devote a lot of time to her and her siblings. She’s proud that she’s been able to do the same for her own children, despite many challenges along the way. It all started when she joined a group of women as a member of a Savings and Internal Lending Community (SILC) when her oldest son was just a baby.
Daysi once believed that the only way to financial security was through a man. Life didn’t work out that way for her, but through the SILC, she developed a savings habit that helped her make solid choices. She launched a small natural products business with the money she’d saved, and it now provides her with a stable income.
What surprised her was how utterly her SILC would change her life. As she acquired skills and experience, she became more and more confident, eventually serving as her group’s secretary, promoter and then president. She honed her leadership and financial skills, and finally she realized she had a gift she never knew existed: an ability to inspire and support other women.
She learned to negotiate, mediate, and contribute to collective decision making that strengthened her SILC and also made raising her children easier. She never refers to herself any longer as “just a limited, single mom.” She sees herself as a capable entrepreneur in control of her future.
“The most profound transformation is the example I now set for my children: a woman who faces challenges with courage and conviction,” says Daysi. “I broke the cycle of economic dependence that burdened generations before me, and today I make choices from a place of freedom. I have peace of mind; I know I can handle emergencies and enjoy small pleasures without guilt or anxiety.”
Daysi continues, “Even my personal relationships have improved, thanks to the shared values cultivated in my group. My SILC helped me move from mere survival to a place of self-determination. Today, I understand that true independence isn’t just about having money. It’s about using it with intention. Every step I take is proof that when women are given real opportunities, we do not just improve our own lives—we transform the world around us.”
Nicaragua Boaco Camoapa Program
Led by World Renew