Programs / Business/ Communities / El Ojochal «

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About El Ojochal

El Ojochal is a community with a population of 209 people living in approximately

50 homes.  It is an extremely rocky community, belonging to the municipality of

Amapala in the department of Valle.  El Ojochal is primarily an agricultural

community, mainly harvesting corn and melons.  Many community members

also work in theshrimp industry, although this work is seasonal.  In El Ojochal,

there is a school which has kindergarten through 6th grade and an active

Water Council, Basic Sanitation Committee, and Caja Rural.  El Ojochal was

inaugurated in August 2014 to be a holistic community since Medical/Dental,

Water, Microfinance, Public Health, and Architecture Brigades have all

successfully transitioned out of the community.

 

El Ojochal's Economic Challenge

Many of the community members in El Ojochal grow corn on their own land. 

When they have surplus crops, they sell them. They also work on local shrimp

farms and watermelon plantations. This is not stable work, however, as they only hire on a daily basis.

 

Prior to the creation of the community bank, community members could not access formal financial institutions. They were inaccessible due to distance and cost. They also generally did not approve loans to community members as they do not have a fixed income. This made it very difficult for local microenterprises to grow and thrive.

 

Microfinance & Business Consulting in El Ojochal

Community members in El Ojochal  hope to receive financial training and business consulting to create new businesses.   Recognizing new businesses' potential success and the impact that it could have on the lives on its owners, many community members strive to open new businesses and microenterprises.

 

One of the cornerstones for the success of future projects is the sustainable nature of a community bank: investments are approved through loans granted to community projects; interest is then paid back on the loans—both large and small—and 100% of profits stay in the community, enabling the funding of more loans for more projects in the community. Capitalization of the community bank is directly linked to the development of El Ojochal; the growth and success of their community bank means growth and success for the community.

 

Current Status

Last Visit: February 2015

The Microfinance and Business Team is currently following up at community bank meetings to ensure the sustainability of the community bank, following-up with existing microenterprises, and working with community members to devise new ones.

 

Visit Other Programs in El Ojochal

Global Brigades strives to implement a model of Holistic Development in communities through a system of collectively implementing health, economic, and education initiatives to strategically meet a community's development goals. Learn more about the other programs being implemented in El Ojochal:

 

MedicalDentalEngineering MicrofinanceWaterPublic Health ArchitectureCHW