TAE and MEN are business training program used by the managers of Cause for Hope to train with hands-on experiential exercises and actions including business simulation, group-work, facilitated discussion, and business-plan writing. These programs includes training in some of the following areas: Business Basics, Business Simulation, Business Budgeting, and Business Planner. MEN is a new hands on business training program designed to assist more advance Cause for Hope clients. Together, these components comprise a comprehensive and advanced micro and small enterprise business training curriculum.
These business training classes are taught by our managers during indivudual and group settings. They are designed to teach a participant the basic aspects of running a business. All participants who want a loan to run a business must participate in at least one of these programs. If clients already have a sucessful business they may qualify to receive their loan but must take on going classes immediately after receiving their loan. Those who have not had any business experience must take a set of courses before receiving a loan.
Success Stories
Lorena Real Guevara, left her native land of Nicaragua to find employment in La Union, El Salvador. One day, Lorena decided to open a small business to help support her small expenses. She thought that a french fry store would be a very good business. After time, she realized that her business was not earning enough and began to doubt if it was possible to succeed. She contacted CFH which trained her and tought her the importance creating reports and a budget. She was tought to save and seek out the best location and practices for her business. With time she received 2 micro-loans. These loans helped to strengthen her business. Now she owns a steady business. She has savings that she can draw on in times of emergency. She realizes the separation between her business budget and that of her home.
Lorena mentioned: "Thanks to the Foundation Cause For Hope to help us with training and loans. We are able to now be self-reliant. Now we have savings, which helped when my refrigerator broke. I was able to buy another without it affecting my business.
Her business now sales refreshments and fried potatoes and is located in the bus station. Changes like these in the lives of these persons is what motivgates the Foundation to work with passion and to be witnesses of how a person can achieve self-reliance. 
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Name: Francisco José Hernández
Moncagua, San Miguel, El Salvador
Help received: Cause for Hope has trained him in the Small Business, Time Management, and Finances courses and has provided mentoring on how to start a business. He started a business of merchandise distribution to mini-markets with a loan from Cause for Hope.
Temporal Impact: Before CFH supported Francisco, he used to make $100-$200 a month. Now that he has his own business, he is able to make an average of $400 a month and has over $200 in savings. |
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Name: Concepción Hernández
Las Flores, Masaya, Nicaragua.
Help received: Concepcion started a mini-market selling mostly grains. He and his wife were trained in the Small Business Program and received a microloan from Cause for Hope.
Temporal Impact: They used to make $60 a month and did not have savings. Now they make over $375 a month and have over $200 in savings. They feel this will enable them to offer a better life for their two sons.
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Name: Guillermo Vasquez
Mazatenango, Guatemala
Help received: Guillermo heard about the Cause For Hope Foundation and participated in the Small Business Training, Micro-Credit Program, and learned how to improve his small business, manage his profit, evaluate the market conditions, offer sales of the products that are not selling, buy wholesale products, etc. He has also received two microcredit loans from the foundation.
Temporal Impact: Guillermo previously earned $150 monthly; he has now tripled his monthly income to $450. With his new income, Guillermo purchased a pickup truck and is saving to buy a house. Guillermo has also helped a friend start a similar business.
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Name: Roberto José Martínez
City: Managua, Nicaragua
Help Received:
Roberto José Martinez, was unemployed for over two years before learning about Cause For Hope, he is an Accountant. His age has been an obstacle to get a job in the private sector. He enrolled in the TAE (Small Business Training), MEN (Business Improvement Workshop) and a micro-loan was granted.
Temporal Impact:
He used to have a small Cyber Cafe. Now with the training and microcredit he opened a Cyber Cafe again. He had no income, now his income is $800 per month; his savings were $0.00, now he has a savings account with $210.00. His goal is to have $ 1,000 in savings to expand his business; he wants to open a computer & business school for the youth. Through his efforts and CFH assistance he has become self-reliant.
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Leon, Nicaragua
Pablo Castro:
3 years ago Pablo was discouraged with his economic outlook, Now with extra time because of his business successes, he diligently serves in his local Church as a counselor in the Branch Presidency. His wife, Miriam Castro, and 3 kids talk about how their Dad and/or husband's entire life has changed. Pablo Castro is no longer discourage with life, thanks to CFH's mentoring, he now operates a fish pond business and a farm business. P. Castro has received 2 loans from the Foundation, which have facilitated his sustainable progress as a successful small businessman. He took TAE (a business training classes from CFH) and attended training at a vocational school in Managua to learn how to raise fish in his man made fish ponds. He will raise over 300 fish per pond every 6 months (he now has three ponds)- profiting over $400 dollars per pond harvest. He has room for additonal ponds on his land; he and his family have been blessed by the dignity of work and self reliance. His neighbor calls his successful friend, a miracle of self reliance and personal dignity. |
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Name: Dalila de Ramírez
City: Quetzaltenango, Guatemala
Help Received:
Her main activity is the breeding and sale of pigs, even though this is a tough job; she performs her tasks with pleasure and love. She has participated in different workshops such as the 5 Steps to Succeed and Self-Employment Workshop. The micro-credit granted by the Foundation has helped her generate more income for her family.
Temporal Impact:
She has implemented the basic principles to obtain new customers and achieve self-reliance in her life.
Due to the swine flu, sales were really low for some time, but she knew how to deal with this difficult situation and today has a very profitable business.
Before CFH assistance, her income was $13 a month and her savings were $9.00. Now she makes $237 a month and has $319 in savings. |
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