In
October of 1997 Rotary Foundation approved a model
for Microcredit programs with Rotarian funds.
The main idea was created so that Rotary clubs
and Districts could access fund for microcredit
programs with international clubs and its communities.
This idea was then applied in Honduras through
a 3H project, where an institution managed by
Rotarians was created to administer microcredit
funds as Uniendo America Foundation.
In
1998 Helmut Seidel, Rotarian from Club Tegucigalpa,
initiated the recruitment of Rotarians and clubs
willing to participate and dedicate their efforts
to undergo a challenge in microbanking. In October
of 1999, Uniendo America de Honduras was created
with the participation of 11 Honduran Clubs
and 19 North American Rotary Clubs Sponsors
for Honduras.
To
start Uniendo America worked together with CARE
INTERNATIONAL in communities affected by Hurricane
Mitch, totaling 12 microbanks. Since then 40
more banks have been created with the 3H funds
and 13 others with funds through Matching Grants
(SAN MIGUEL DE HEREDIA / LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA
D.5170 and MARCALA / NEW LONDON, D.5600) Direct
Donations (NUEVA TEGUCIGALPA / COEUR D ALENE
and HAYDEN, USA), as well as a local institution
(Asociación de Lotificadores). There
are other clubs with Matching Grants and direct
donations in progress to support this growing
and successful project.
All
together we have 65 microbanks in 7 areas of
the country working with Uniendo America and
more than 40 applications from communities wanting
to be beneficiaries of this program. For the
near future we expect to continue expanding
with the help of Rotary Clubs and other institution
wanting to contribute to fight poverty in Honduras
and give this individuals another opportunity
to improve their quality of life.