Country Affected: Honduras
Chiquita Community Affected: Tela Division
Total Expenditure: $88,200

 Hurricane Mitch not only destroyed many homes, possessions, and lives but also severely damaged the industry and means for many people to earn income.  The country’s agricultural and other industries were crippled, and with little infrastructure left in tact, surviving industries struggled to ship and receive goods.

 
WE CARE IN ACTION
 

 We Care realized the immediate need to assist people in creating means to earn sustainable incomes, the immediate aid was a short-term band aid but without longer term solutions the communities would constantly rely on aid.

In order to inspire self reliance, We Care teamed with Finca International (http://www.villagebanking.org/) a microfinance NGO dedicated to “provide financial services to the world's lowest-income entrepreneurs so they can create jobs, build assets and improve their standard of living.”    We Care donations were used to make funds available to all associates and their dependents to help reestablish their way of life through small, independent loans.  These loans, as well as training in money management, were facilitated through FINCA. 

In addition, We Care established chicken coops and bakeries with the farm managers throughout the Honduran and Guatemalan divisions.  These projects could employ as many as 20 people in each farm as well as benefit 2,500 associates and their families through reduced prices on eggs and baked goods.  These projects were completed in September of 1999 in La Lima, Honduras.

The bakery en Los Laureles

The oven

WE CARE IN ACTION

As a result of the severe damage to the plantations and changes in local operations, there was a loss of jobs on the farms.  To help this group of men and women transition to new jobs, We Care donated a grant for the development of a small agricultural project for the production of produce and grain, another project for the production of Tabasco pepper, and a third project to operate a store.  For the store operation We Care purchased the initial inventory and the furnishings for the store (scales, freezers, etc).

Total Expenditure: $65,600

 WE CARE IN ACTION 

Additional equipment and supplies were purchased to help provide basic skills and means for the community to generate income.

Typewriters – Eight typewriters were purchased to help the local community in Honduras learn basic skills - $1,700

Ovens & Sewing Machines – Two ovens and three sewing machines were requested to help educate the local community on healthy eating and sewing skills for home use and potentially to create a small enterprise - $900

Total Expenditure: $2,600