Joleny, 22, lives with her family in a rural community in Nicaragua where residents have limited access to formal financial institutions. When she was 19, with support from World Renew, she and other members of her community established a Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA), contributing regularly to a shared savings pool. Once the pool grew, members were able to take out low-interest loans.
Joleny now serves as the president of her VSLA. At first, she felt overwhelmed stepping into a leadership role at such a young age, especially since none of the group members had prior leadership experience. Despite her uncertainty, she accepted the challenge.
Over time, Joleny grew into her role and began to thrive. “I faced the difficulty of leading people older than myself, but with perseverance and dedication, I have gained people’s respect and support,” she shares. She has seen the VSLA bring meaningful change to her community, fostering a culture of saving, planning, and organization.
In addition to her involvement in the savings group, Joleny participated in a Farmer Field School program through World Renew. There, she learned practical farming techniques to improve crop yields. Through loans from the VSLA, she has been able to apply these new skills directly. “I have been able to access loans to purchase agricultural inputs and seeds to invest in our bean and corn crops, which help us strengthen our economy and provide us with greater financial stability,” she says.
Through opportunities like these, young women like Joleny are discovering their strengths and stepping confidently into leadership roles. With access to knowledge, resources, and support, they are investing in their futures and helping their families build pathways out of poverty.
As this work continues, we hold in prayer communities like Joleny’s. We pray for continued opportunity and resilience for individuals building their futures through savings groups, for confidence and wisdom for emerging leaders, and for strength and encouragement for community members, staff, and partners working together to create lasting change.
