Fundación Paraguaya

Fundación Paraguaya is a micro-finance organization based in Asunción, Paraguay, but it is also much more...they have a huge focus on social development and their vision is "that it is possible to eliminate, and not just lessen, poverty." Not only do they provide loans to low-income families working in the informal sector, but they also follow up with opportunities for training and advisement.

In order to get a loan, a woman must form a small group to participate with her. These are usually close friends and family. Essentially, they are all co-signers, and are each held liable for the full amount. The group decides how to divvy up the funds among themselves...perhaps the newest member in an established group gets a smaller portion at first in order to prove herself. This mentality of shared fate encourages them to overcome problems together. The loans are usually for about a year, and are due at the end of the period rather than at monthly due dates. Once paid back, the group is eligible for another loan.

We had the opportunity to visit one of these groups in their neighborhood during one of their monthly meetings. Most of these women were part of an extended family whose main business is weaving straw hats. They sell these unfinished products to a local factory, who goes on to customize and distribute them. Many of the women also had side projects as well, and we were able to see a small store that one woman had set up in her house. Another sells vegetables. This particular group has been together for 7 loan cycles, and has grown from 16 to 22 members.

At this meeting, a field officer checked in with them and discussed the theme of child education and well-being. They also recapped a recent contest based on re-purposing recycled materials. Those projects were proudly on display...ranging from decorative vases to baskets to piggy banks.

I was impressed with the initiative that these women showed. They've come up with interesting ways to provide for themselves as well as be there for each other and better their community. Something else that they thought up was using WhatsApp as a tool to document and educate about domestic violence within their community.

Fundación Paraguaya has spearheaded some other interesting concepts as well. Read more about the Poverty Stoplight and the San Francisco Agriculture School.

San Francisco Agriculture School

If you ran a school in which tuition fees only covered 4% of the budget, would you be nervous about its profitability? At the San Francisco Agriculture School, this isn't a problem in the least. In fact, this school is totally self-sustaining and profit generating.

In a rural low-income town outside of the capital city of Asunción, Fundación Paraguaya has blended the social development goals of a quality high school education with entrepreneurship and hands-on work experience. This model allows graduates to either continue their studies at college, or have the tools to create an income in their own community. Students here rotate through various sectors of agriculture operations as well as hotel operations. You can stay at the Cerrito hotel on your next vacation, or book it as a conference center if you'd like!

The main entrance and hotel lobby

The Whole Foods group getting a tour through the campus

Some friendly faces

Enjoying cheese made on-site by students

Poverty Stoplight

Fundación Paraguaya developed a really cool tool called the 'Poverty Stoplight' to use with their clients. It is both a metric and a methodology based on a self-assessment survey. It opens up conversation about where it hurts, and helps families identify specific problems to overcome. The process gives families a way to visualize their strengths, which in turn builds motivation to realize their potential.

Here is a 5 minute video describing the Poverty Stoplight in more detail:

Yerba Mate

On our first full day in Paraguay, we received a demonstration on two traditional ways to enjoy yerba mate.

Yerba mate is a tree that is native to the South American rainforest, and can grow up to 30 feet tall. Its leaves are dried, sometimes over a smoking fire, and enjoyed as an energizing tea. There is a strong social aspect to serving and sharing yerba mate.


TERERÉ

Tereré is like an iced herbal tea. You fill a mug with mate leaves, and pour cold herb-infused water over it. The flavors depend on personal preferences...mint, lemon verbena, lemongrass, boldo, and anise are popular choices. Usually the youngest person in the group is the designated server. Once the first cup has been drunk it is refilled and passed to the next person, and so on.

COCIDO

Cocido is a smoky sweet hot beverage. You start by putting the dried leaves and sugar in a pot. Using tongs, you pick up live embers with tongs and use it to stir the contents to toast and caramelize. Leaving the embers in the pot, you add water and bring it all to a boil. You strain it before serving and it becomes a delicious winter drink.

Whole Foods Market Team Member Volunteer Program Overview

What an awesome way to spend two weeks!! I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to travel to Paraguay with nine other Whole Foods Market employees as part of our company's volunteer program. It was educational and exciting! We got to see firsthand how micro-financing is put to work in communities where Whole Foods Market sources products. Here are a few other key players who were involved:

Whole Planet Foundation - A private, nonprofit organization established by Whole Foods Market® and dedicated to poverty alleviation. They aim to empower the world’s poorest people with microcredit in places where Whole Foods Market sources products.

Fundación Paraguaya - A self-sustainable, non-governmental organization. Since its foundation in 1985, it has spearheaded microfinance and entrepreneurship in Paraguay. They are not seeking to alleviate, reduce or combat poverty; they plan to eliminate it! 

Guayaki - A company that produces Yerba Mate with a focus on environmental conservation and social development.