Young People are Transforming Their Communities
In an area with limited road access and few opportunities for youth, Jason has found a path of personal and collective growth through his participation in a community-based youth empowerment initiative.
Jason, the eldest of three siblings, grew up in a family that depended on the cultivation of corn, beans and dragon fruit and his father’s work in a quarry. Due to the lack of access to formal financial services, his family had to rely for years on informal loans with high interest rates. They were under constant financial pressure and had little ability to save. Any emergency, such as illness or educational expenses, meant falling deeper into debt.
In 2022, Jason was invited to a community meeting facilitated by local partner CIEETS that included a component on youth organization. He was intrigued by the proposal: to form a group of young people aware of their community’s challenges and committed to making a difference.
One of his first steps out of family debt was joining a Savings and Internal Lending Community (SILC). SILCs foster self-esteem, build values, and facilitate family unity and access to money in the community. SILCs are increasingly becoming the focal point for actions to strengthen food security, Farmer Field Schools, youth involvement, and risk management.
Jason participated in building a community garden, where he learned the value of shared effort. He also became involved in launching a community pig-raising business called “Cerdos Felices” (Happy Pigs). Its young members take on real responsibilities and share in collective commitments. This initiative has not only provided him with income, but also helped him develop leadership, teamwork, and management skills.
Jason says, “Today, I feel useful. Heard. I know that what I do matters. Before, I just casually knew the other young people from the neighborhood—but now we feel like a family.”
Nicaragua Carazo Diriamba Program
Led by Church World Service and Local Partner Centro Intereclesial de Estudios Teológicos y Sociales (CIEETS)