The Sky’s the Limit for Community Youth
In 2019, when Ferman was still in his late teens, he started on a trajectory of self-improvement by joining a Savings and Internal Lending Community (SILC) through the program, and he hasn’t stopped yet.
At first, he found the rules, discipline and responsibility required of SILC participants challenging to follow. Participants meet weekly in self-selected groups to save small sums of money that, over time, become enough to start and maintain small businesses and cover other needs. He stuck with it, and soon he was elected bookkeeper and secretary by his fellow members.
At the same time, he and his peers were learning life skills and various sustainable farming practices adapted to their local climate. Soon he signed up for a course in developing a business plan. Ferman enthusiastically developed a plan focused on bell pepper production. He used the money he saved in his first SILC cycle to start the business of growing, harvesting, and marketing his peppers.
By controlling expenses and employing best practices for his produce, he managed to establish his business. Over time, he began cultivating different crops on his land and has consistently achieved good harvests.
Ferman feels more confident since he started selling his wares in the community and has an established customer base. He says the program has improved his standard of living and provided him with the necessary tools to thrive on his entrepreneurial journey. Thanks to the training and support from he received, Ferman has become a young leader in his village. He has participated in risk-management workshops and collaborated on developing a community action plan for when disaster inevitably strikes.
Ferman acknowledges that the program has shaped him and other young people by providing them with the tools and know-how required to lead and succeed in their communities.
“My way of thinking today is different. I have the necessary resources to farm and participate in community activities. All of this has contributed to my personal development, knowledge, and skills, and I feel very happy.”
Nicaragua Boaco Camoapa Program
Led by World Renew