A life changing experience...

I have been infatuated with Latin America since I was a little girl. It has always been my dream to utilize my degree in finance, my passion for microfinacing, and my undying love of the region, in order to help the beautiful people of this global community that we live in. Over the past few days, tears of joy overflowed on various occasions with the realization that I was fulfilling this life-long dream of mine. It is not a feeling I can accurately capture in text but I can only compare it to the calm within the eye of a storm. I was full of emotions, mainly overwhelmed with joy, but inside I felt a peaceful, joyful sense of relief. These tears of pure joy took place when I was visiting with clients.

Merlis, her 2nd son, myself

On Thursday afternoon, I left the Cartagena Opportunity International office located in the region of Santa Lucia, in order to meet with potential clients. I was accompanied by Sandra, an Asesor Comercial, and Jefferson, the head of the Cartagena office. After reassuring them I did not bring any valuables, we headed to a barrio called Ceballos, which is located within Sandra's defined zone. Upon arrival, we stood on the side of a dirt road and were approached by a shirtless, barefoot man. He notified us that the group was waiting and politely led us to the home of the potential clients, where we were greeted by Merlis Angulo, a 23-year old woman who lived in the home along with three other families. She told us that she learned of Opportunity International from neighbors and she was hoping to form a Grupo de Confianza in order to obtain microfinancing. Merlis introduced us to other members of the community who cautiously gathered on the porch of her home. Plastic chairs of various colors were brought from within the home and from neighboring houses. Sandra taped a large piece of paper on the side of the home. Kids played soccer in the street barefoot. Chickens, kittens and stray dogs roamed in and out of the homes to the street. The neighborhood knew of our presence and paid special attention to me. With cautious steps, more and more people, mostly women, joined the porch with paperwork in hand. I later learned these were copies of their cedullas, or IDs. The women came prepared for the meeting. I felt Jefferson's eyes every once and a while and gave him a smile, assuring him that I was comfortable.

Sandra

1st meeting with clients

Sandra began the meeting very sternly, stating that the minimum for a group is 15 people and that they needed to get more people to come if they were serious. She set the tone that the members of the group would be responsible for complying with the policies set forth in order to achieve successful formation of their group. Everyone listened very attentively as additional people trickled onto the porch with copies of their IDs. On the large piece of paper, Sandra laid out the valores, or values, of Opportunity International. These include: compromiso (compromise), humilidad (humility), respecto (respect), integridad (integrity), mayordomia (stewardship), and transformacion (transformation). While Sandra presented on these topics, it was amazing to see how very serious and attentive the entire audience was despite kids crying on their laps, animals roaming between their legs, men pushing wheelbarrows full of fruit for sale, and kids playing in the street. Every member of the audience was on the edge of their seat, exuding genuine excitement to be receiving this presentation. Their behaviors would be equivalent to a room full of grad students receiving a lecture from a world famous professor. I found their attentiveness inspiring and very gracious.

The kids of Ceballos

Sandra proceeded with the same diligence and seriousness as a famous professor, describing the prerequisites for the Grupos de Confianza. These prerequisites require members to be living in the same neighborhood as each other, for at least two years, with a business. Keep in mind these businesses could be as simple as selling chocolate from their kitchen, making hats with palm branches, repairing ripped clothes, etc. Sandra also explained that every member would be required to make punctual payments, or no one in the group would receive money. She said that they would need to pass a credit check - which was more or less a verification of their name, address, and date of birth - and would start with a small amount of credit which would grow if they made punctual payments. Sandra stressed the fact that this was an opportunity for transformation, not charity. She made it clear that the members of the group would need to guarantee one another and, therefore, must know each other well. In order to demonstrate this point, she began by asking an older woman for her name, amount of time she had been living in the neighborhood, and su negocio o actividad (their business or activity). After getting this info, she looked around the group and asked if any they knew this woman. The entire audience laughed, retorting that they had known her for over 15 years. After asking a few more women to step forward with this information, Sandra said the next step would be to fill out an application with their basic information, accompanied by a copy of their ID. Sandra, Jefferson, and I began filling out the applications with their minimal information. Everyone had their ID. The meeting went more smoothly than many I had seen in a formal business setting in the US.

Lilibeth filling out her application with Sandra

Lilibeth, Myself, New Friend

While these applications were bere completed, Lilibeth Andrade, a 19-year old mother of three, began painting my nails. I was also given chocolate by another woman. My natural response was to pay and told them that I had not brought my purse. The laughed and said it was simply a regalo (present). I was very grateful to be treated as one of their friends. This is just one of the moments in which tears of joy presented themselves, only to be followed by laughs as Jefferson and Sandra joked that they had been nearly forgotten. We ended the meeting once we obtained applications and ID's from all the woman. Sandra explained that next steps would require them to all be present in four training sessions which would need to occur before disbursement. They were eager to get started and asked if we could return the following morning at 10 am. Sandra said that they would need to reach the minimum of 15 members the following day, and they all confirmed that would not be a problem. On my way off the porch, four of them inquired if I would be back the next day. I assured them I would be. Jefferson and I headed back to the office. Along the way, we didn't need to say much to each other. We peacefully soaked in the warm air and watched the sun set.



Bus ride with Sandra and 2nd meeting with clients



On Friday morning, I got to the office around 8 am which was their hour of reflection. During this time the members of the office meditate, say prayers individually or in groups, and relax. Afterwards, I left with Sandra to be reunited with my new friends and to witness the first of their four training sessions. To tell you the truth, I was so excited that I barely slept the night before. I even bought them small gifts to assist with their business and came prepared with my camera. Sandra and I bought an orange from a roadside stand before jumping on a crazy blue bus that was decorated with more chotskies than a tourist stand in Fisherman's Wharf. I am almost certain an American has never stepped foot on this bus. As Sandra and I arrived, the entire group was eagerly anticipating our meeting. We began by taking a few more applications, reaching the minimum of 15, and Sandra quickly began the next lesson. She described the financing side of the program, including the interest (3.5%), weekly payments, and the self-regulating part of the group structure. She also enforced the fact that all members must be present during the meetings as they were absolutely crucial for the group formation. During this time, I did not say much but as she finished, I described to the group that I would be taking pictures and video, with their permission, which would be featured on an internal website of one of the largest banks in United States. Some shyed away but others jumped at the opportunity to be featured in the pictures. I didn't realize until I began taking them, but many of the woman had never been in a picture before. They did not gather close, nor did they put a huge, fake smile on their face. They waited for instructions. Once they saw the pictures, they were eager to start posing, asked me to take more, and were really giddy. I laughed with them and showed them pictures of my dog, California, my family, and my friends. Before departing, I gave the kids a couple of small bags of Nerds and Gummy Bears. I left Lilibeth with some nailclippers, nail polish, and cuticle cutters to help with her nail painting business. She proudly carried the bag on her arm as she and Merlis escorted us back to the road.



I think the boy in the middle is still licking up Nerds!



Sandra and I ate lunch at Olympia, a large grocery store that had a cafeteria. She told me to sit and watch our purses as she waited in the line. I reflected on my experience in a journal and felt the palpable stares around me. I was not uncomfortable because everyone was just curious about me. They were not mean or rude. In fact, they were very kind and since I was sitting at a table for four and two young woman asked if they could occupy the remaining seats. During lunch, Sandra taught me a lot about the structure of the groups. She told me that each Asesor Comercial received extensive training but despite this she still had a hard time remembering all of the topics she must cover during the four reuniones (meetings). I asked her if she thought a handout would be helpful but she reminded me of the cost and assured me that the audience was more interactive when the lessons were posted on the large construction paper. I took note. Sandra also shared additional insight regarding the various forms required of the members, proudly shared pictures of her new granddaughter, and also told me that many of the successful groups don't want to break apart and get individual loans because they love the unity.

 



Myself, the group, and Maria

 After returning to the office, I had a short break eating gummy bears with Jefferson, before Lesbia, the supervisor of the Asesor Comerciales, came to get me for my next group meeting. This time, we would be heading to a different barrio called Olaya Central, which is well-known for its floods. Due to the condition of the roads, buses do not travel to this barrio and the only way to get there was by taxi. We waited for a short while as various cabs refused to go there. Finally, we found a taxi and when we arrived, we were greeted by a young man. He lead us down dirt filled roads that were in very bad condition. We arrived at the home of a group. This group was already in formation and had successfully made four weeks of consistent payments. The room was very proud, as they should be. I quickly caught wind of the fact that this room was led by an Asesor Comerical named Maria, who had already been there with her clients. Lesbia and I were there to check up on the group, as the supervisors do unexpectedly from time to time to insure they are working well. This group was much more like a family, with the men collecting the payments, the woman chopping fruit, and the younger adults bouncing children on their laps. The group commenced the meeting by showing us their new game; each group member put 2,000 pesos of profit in a box and their name in a bag. They asked if I would draw the name of the winner. I was honored and willingly obliged. This game was very fun for the entire room and we laughed as the winner danced around and called me her savior. She had the biggest smile I had ever seen.

 

Olaya Central

 

Maria and the treasurer



After the game, Lesbia went around and asked various questions to the group. She inquired about the consistency of payments, confirmed them with a record from the treasurer, suggested new ways to make early payments before Christmas, offered advice regarding their businesses, and verified everyone was in attendance. Lesbia was very knowledgeable and it was obvious that the entire room, including Maria, the Asesor Comerical, respected her very much. I later learned from Lesbia that she was once a client of Opportunity International. She used her microloan to grow her business and was offered a job at the company as an Asesor Comercial. She did this for a few years before becoming promoted to Supervisor. Following her survey of the group, Lesbia later introduced me and gave me the floor. I stood nervously. Could you imagine? Me? Nervous? I told the group that I was from the United States and was very honored to be a part of the group. I thanked them for welcoming me to their home. I also explained that I worked for a bank which supported programs and companies who were are trying to improve communities, just like theirs. I told them that many people want to help but just need to know where the help is needed. I acknowledged that they all had legitimate businesses, but just needed capital to help them grow. I saw smiles around the room.  I told them how proud I was that they had finished their fourth week of payments. I ended by stating that the people of Colombia were mas amable (kinder) than any other country I had traveled to. I meant everything I said. As I sat down, the room applauded and I blushed. To me, these people were heroes. I felt unworthy of their warm welcome, as well as the cold coke on ice that they gave me in the tallest, nicest glass they owned. I was merely a guest, in their homes, trying to learn more about the Grupos de Confianza. I was so grateful to be invited to their homes and the business meeting. By attending, I was able to make a list of various ways to improve the processes that drive the credit they were receiving and recycling to their communities. I will present them to Opportunity International this week. It was the clients that taught me more in two short days than I could have ever wished for. I am forever indebted to the extremely welcoming and proud people of Cartagena.

At the end of the meeting, Lesbia gathered the group and told them that I would be back to check on their group and be sure they were doing well. Everyone welcomed me to visit again. Before we said our goodbyes, she led a prayer. She asked for prosperity and success in health and business. She blessed their home, their families, their group, their barrio, and the beautiful city of Cartagena. The prayer was not directed at a particular god or belief, it was a wish for prosperity, happiness, and health for all members in the room. It was very powerful. I left my head bowed a few seconds longer than the rest to wait for my tears of joy to retreat once again.