Voices of Financial Independence

Here’s how USAID is working with AMEXCID to empower Central American women

In the heart of Central America, where the lush landscapes of El Salvador and Honduras meet, a movement is unfolding.

At the forefront of this movement is Sembrando Oportunidades (sowing opportunities), a pioneering initiative born from the partnership between the USAID and the Mexican International Cooperation Agency for Development (AMEXCID) to address the root causes of irregular migration.

Underlying drivers of irregular migration like violence and a lack of employment and educational opportunities disproportionately affect youth and young women. Sembrando Oportunidades is a catalyst of change and opportunity for women seeking to escape the grip of poverty and inequality.

Women face more challenges to obtain employment or engage in further education because of their care duties. On the agriculture side, women are more affected due to traditional female roles and social norms that prevail in Central America, preventing them from working the land or even owning it.

USAID and AMEXCID developed the joint initiative Sembrando Oportunidades in 2021, seeking to provide economic opportunities to the most vulnerable populations, including youth and agriculture producers.

Through a combination of vocational training, entrepreneurship courses, and job placement programs that can last from four weeks to two years, Sembrando Oportunidades is empowering women to take control of their future and forge new paths for themselves, their families, and their communities.

Through this program, USAID fosters economic growth in Honduras and El Salvador where opportunities are scarce, while creating an inclusive and equal society for generations to come.

Meet three of the women who have participated in this program.

Ingrid Fernandez: A Stylist with a Dream

Ingrid Fernandez, a 22-year-old woman from El Salvador, received training in styling and cosmetology, setting her on the path to entrepreneurship.

“I thought they wouldn’t accept me because I’m a mother of young twins, but it was a wonderful course that will be very useful to me,” she shared.

Today, she runs her own business by providing mobile hairstyling and makeup services for people at home. Ingrid’s journey is an example of the ripple effect caused by empowerment, as she has also created opportunities for others in her community.

“Before the course, I peeled fruits and made tortillas at my mother-in-law’s store,” she explained. “Now, I generate my own income using the skills I learnt.”

Zuany Copland: Nurturing Entrepreneurial Dreams

Zuany Copland, a 29-year-old entrepreneur from Siguatepeque, Honduras found her calling in business after completing the six-week Certified Entrepreneurship Course funded by USAID. She had launched her own venture specializing in gifts and personalized presents, and used the course to acquire more skills to manage her business effectively.

“In my experience, having launched my own business prior to this course was an advantage. It equipped me with the essential tools to efficiently manage and optimize operations. Additionally, I gained insights into business strategies, fostering partnerships, and delivering superior service and quality to ensure customer loyalty. Overall it taught me how to provide the best service and quality to secure customer preference,” Zuany mentioned.

Before enrolling in USAID’s entrepreneurship course, Zuany started a small business specializing in gifts and personalized items in Siguatepeque. “This course helped me identify how the services my business offers align with the target market I want to reach,” she said.

With this training, Zuany learned to grow and improve a business, estimate finances and costs to identify profit or loss zones, and make the venture profitable.

Magaly Melendez: From Nanny to Bank Teller

Magaly Melendez, a 26-year-old from Mejicanos, a municipality in San Salvador, El Salvador, pursued a career in banking through the Bank Teller Course offered by Asociación Bancaria Salvadoreña (ABANSA), a Sembrando Oportunidades partner.

“On the first day, I vividly recall joining six other women as we started our training sessions led by bank personnel. We weren’t certain if we would be selected. Despite our previous attempts at job applications, which resulted in silence, the support provided by USAID offered a glimmer of hope,” she stated.

Magaly decided to look for an opportunity as a cashier, as the uncertainty of temporary or informal jobs was no longer sustainable.

“I was working as a nanny and decided to quit, so I asked a friend who had worked at Super Selectos [a supermarket chain] to help me get in. This friend had seen the announcement for the Bank Teller Course and gave me the information, so I applied,” she shared.

Magaly secured a job as a cashier at Banco Cuscatlan, transforming her life and showcasing the potential of partnerships in creating sustainable employment opportunities for women in Central America.

“Because of this job, my husband and I are now dreaming of having our own house and car one day. I aim to grow in my banking career and become a branch manager,” she said.

Forging the Future with Perseverance

Through USAID’s support, these stories of resilience, determination, and empowerment stand as tangible evidence of what joint efforts in bilateral cooperation can accomplish to address the root causes of migration.

The Mexican government is also addressing the structural causes of irregular migration by implementing its largest development projects in Central America, Jóvenes Construyendo el Futuro and Sembrando Vida through the Mexican development and cooperation agency, AMEXCID. The initiative was based on the framework of the Comprehensive Development Plan for Central America prepared by the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in December 2018.

Through coordinated efforts and common priorities, the United States and Mexico work to maximize their results by increasing economic opportunities for farmers and youth in Central America. This initiative is focused on assisting youth and farmers in areas of high out-migration.

In addition, empowering women has a multiplying effect across their families and communities, laying the foundation for a more inclusive and prosperous Central America for generations to come.

“Having opportunities like these reduces the likelihood of us wanting to leave our hometowns in search for better futures abroad. These training programs provide new knowledge for understanding our potential within our communities,” Zuany says.

About the Author

Francisco Cedeño is the Communications Specialist for USAID’s Alliance for Root Causes and Opportunities (ARCO) activity, implemented by Chemonics International.