Friday, April 19, 2013

Reconociendo el Alto Llamado a los Negocios


Durante muchas décadas, el llamado hacia los negocios ha sido visto como un llamado al arduo trabajo y al materialismo; llevando a aquellos involucrados a una vida egocéntrica y poco espiritual.
En los últimos años, hemos podido ver como estos paradigmas han sido desafiados por la conciencia de los principios bíblicos del trabajo y de cómo los recursos de los negocios pueden ser utilizados al servicio del reino de Dios.
Partners Worldwide en Honduras a través de sus afiliados locales MCM y DN ha sido intencional en poder transmitir estos valores a su red de empresarios. En Honduras, la perspectiva materialista de los negocios es preeminente. Sin embargo, en el área rural y sectores marginales los negocios son básicamente “un medio de supervivencia para poder traer pan a la mesa”.
En las diferentes capacitaciones de negocios que ambas de estas instituciones realizan, se comparte un tiempo devocional donde se inspira a empresarios a incorporar valores del reino en su negocio y a poder ver la oportunidad de bendecir e impactar a través de relaciones con proveedores, clientes y empleados.
Asistentes a retiro-Marzo 2013
Esta pasada semana santa, el grupo de la universidad de Taylor compartió junto a un grupo de 28 empresarios de Olancho, Tegucigalpa y Nueva Suyapa un retiro empresarial/espiritual con la finalidad de compartir principios de mercadeo, contabilidad y operaciones para mejorar los negocios, pero también con un enfoque espiritual.
A través de dinámicas de grupos de apoyo, oración, fogata y tiempos de alabanza, los empresarios, fuera de su entorno convencional, pudieron sentir la libertad de meditar, conocer a otros empresarios y también tener un tiempo de esparcimiento en medio de los bosques de El Hatillo.
Ramon Almendares, propietario de Tapiceria Almendares, dirigiendo cantos de alabanza.
Leda Rivera, asesora de créditos del fondo PW de Diaconia Nacional, comenta “Los empresarios compartían conmigo lo especial que se habían sentido, y como han podido encontrar dignidad en el trabajo que ejecutan, que si bien es cierto provee para sus familias, implica mucho mas que eso, y tiene un impacto mayor del que jamás hubieran considerado”.
Durante este retiro dos personas se reconciliaron con Cristo y una de ellas quien estaba desanimada por factores externos de su negocio y lo había cerrado, reabrió su negocio diciendo “durante estos dos días me he sentido inspirada y con nuevas ideas para implementar”.
Reconocemos que nuestra labor restante es ardua y que estamos solo iniciando en el camino de crear una “cultura de capacitación” pero nos brinda gozo el saber que el impacto que creamos en cada uno de los participantes va mas allá de ayudarles a elaborar un estado de resultados, una hoja publicitaria o a conocer los costos unitarios de sus productos. Nuestro trabajo en la capacitación es también poder abrir los ojos de aquellos que han menospreciado su trabajo en el negocio y poder ayudarles a tener un sentido de dignidad en lo que hacen.
Agradecemos a cada uno de los grupos como Taylor University, el afiliado global de Pella, mentores e instituciones locales como la Universidad Autonoma de Honduras quienes a través de su recurso humano, financiero y su conocimiento hacen posible dichas capacitaciones.
Equipo de Taylor, UNAH y microempresarios.

Recognizing the Higher Calling of Business



For many decades, the call to business has often been seen as a call to hard work and materialism, leading those involved to a self-centered and unspiritual life.
In recent years, we have seen that these paradigms have been challenged by the awareness of the biblical principles of work and how business resources can be used in the service of God's kingdom.
Partners Worldwide in Honduras, through its local affiliates Diaconia Nacional and Stewardship Christian Ministries, has been intentional about transmitting these values ​​to its network of entrepreneurs. In Honduras, the materialistic perspective of business is prevalent. However, in rural and marginal business sectors, business is basically "a mean of survival to put food on the table."
In business training classes that both of these institutions lead, they share a devotions time with the purpose of inspiring entrepreneurs to incorporate kingdom values in their business and to see the opportunity to bless and impact through relationships with suppliers, customers and employees.
Attendants to Taylor University Training
During Holy Week , a group from Taylor University shared a time of a business/spiritual retreat in order to impart principles of marketing, accounting and operations to a group of 28 businessmen from Olancho, Tegucigalpa and Nueva Suyapa. This retreat had a dual purpose of encouraging business development as well as spiritual growth.
Through dynamic support and prayer groups, worship, and a bonfire, entrepreneurs got outside their conventional environment and felt free to meditate, meet other entrepreneurs and also have a leisure time in the forests of El Hatillo.
Ramon Almendares, owner of Almendares upholstery,
leading worship songs during the retreat.
Leda Rivera, loan officer of the PW fund administered by Diaconia Nacional, says, "Entrepreneurs shared with me how special they felt, and how they recognized the dignity of the work they do. That, although it provides for their family, business involves more than that and has a greater impact than what they had ever recognized before. "
During this retreat two people reconciled with Christ and one who was discouraged and closed her business due to external factors reopened her business saying "these two days I have been inspired with new ideas to put into practice."
We recognize that our remaining work is arduous and we're just starting on the path of creating a "training culture" but it gives us joy to know the impact in each of the entrepreneurs goes beyond helping them to develop a balance sheet, create a flyer, or know the unitary cost of their products. Our work in training is also to open the eyes of those who have disparaged their work in business and to help them have a sense of dignity in what they do.

Entrepreneurs, team from the National University, and Taylor team.


We thank each member of the groups such as Taylor University and the Honduras Pella Affiliate, as well as mentors and local institutions such as the Autonomous University of Honduras who through their human, financial resources and knowledge make these trainings possible.

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Cuenca Partners in the News

Last Saturday marked the end of a three-week training seminar for Ecuador affiliate Cuenca Partners.  The following story was published in local newspaper El Tiempo on Monday, March 4:

Business Course Dedicated to Local Businesspeople
Gabriela Granda leads part of the seminar taught to businesspeople.

Cuenca Partners is an international movement of businesspeople and professionals who create and give continuing support to sources of employment using the business knowledge and resources of its members on a local and international level.  The 24-hour training organized within the seminar “The Business Plan for PYMES” concluded yesterday.  The course was oriented toward businesspeople who wish to improve the administration of their businesses or entrepreneurs who are beginning a business, helping them to learn to create a holistic business plan.  Ten instructors participated, developing twelve topics such as marketing, SWOT analysis, Business as Mission, Setting goals, pricing, bookkeeping, paying taxes, and other services.

Susana Calle, who hopes to start a business in the food industry, comments that the learning acquired is very clarifying for entrepreneurs, helping them to understand the necessary immediate actions and mid-term actions to make their ideas a reality.  At the end of the training, the participants have the possibility of receiving mentoring to implement the business plan, as indicated by Carissa De Young, Cuenca Partners coordinator.

Cuenca Partners en Las Noticias


El sábado pasado fue la clausura del seminario de tres semanas para el afiliado de Ecuador “Cuenca Partners”.  A continuación la historia publicado en el periódico cuencano El Tiempo:

Thursday, February 21, 2013

"The Blessing" of Land Ownership.


God is at work in Nicaragua. It is such an honor to introduce you to the beneficiaries of the newest land bank via our partnership with AMC (Local PW Business Affiliate) in a rural area in North-Central Nicaragua. This group of farmers has just started on the path to landownership thanks to God's provision through the Land for the Landless Farmers program.  Please welcome them and pray that they are blessed with good health and good crops as they start a new life at “La Bendicion” (The Blessing).
La Bendicion is one of seven Land Banks benefiting landless farmers in rural Nicaragua.  In addition to land ownership, they also receive training and support in appropriate farming techniques, crop diversification, and a host of other topics focused on helping them maximize this opportunity for their families and their communities. 
Since they were selected to participate in the program they have all been working hard on their parcels. And while the road to La Bendición is probably the most difficult access road in the area, the farmers see it as the road to heaven.   
At Partners Worldwide, we have seen that land ownership accompanied by access to a number of other complimentary opportunities has the potential to transform the outlook and reality of entrepreneurs like these.  For this new group of farm partners, the ground work has been laid and we are resting in the Lord for good harvests and marketing opportunities. In due time, we trust that poverty will soon be a shadow of the past in their lives.
As you pray for the farmers please also lift up the many members of the Land for Landless Farmers program as we seek to create a healthy environment for this new family of farmers to become agents of economic transformation for their families and communities.
Partners Worldwide - Nicaragua

"La Bendicion" del Acceso a la Tierra.


Dios se manifiesta a traves del Trabajo en Nicaragua. Es un gran honor presentarles a los benficiarios del banco de tierra que recientemente se inauguro en la zona norte-centro de Nicaragua a traves de nuestra alianza con AMC (Afiliado local de Negocios de PW en Nicargua). Este grupo de productores acaban de enrumbarse hacia el camino que los llevara a ser propietarios de La Tierra que actualmente habitan gracias a la provision de Dios a traves del Programa "Tierra Para Los Sin Tierra". Demosle la mas cordial Bienvenida y oremos para que  ellos sean bendecidos con buena salud y buenas cosechas en este comienzo de su nueva vida en "La Bendicion".
La Bendicion es 1 de los 7 bancos de tierra que benefician a productores sin tierras en areas rurales de Nicaragua. Adicional al acceso a la tierra, reciben capacitacion y apoyo en temas como buenas practicas agricolas, diversificacion de cosechas y otra gran variedad de temas enfocados en ayudar a los productores a poder maximiar esta oportunidad de acceso a la tierra para beneficio de sus familias y sus comunidades.
Los productores han estado trabajando arduamente en sus parcelas desde el momento que la recibieron y a pesar que el camino hacia "La Bendicion" es probablemente la via de acceso mas complicado de la zona, ellos lo consideran el camino que los lleva hacia el cielo.
En Partners Worldwide hemos visto que el acceso a la tierra combinado con el acceso a otro numero de oportunidades complementarias tienen el potencial de transformar el entorno y la realidad de emprendedores como estos. El trabajo de campo ya esta hecho para este grupo de productores, ahora confiamos en que Dios pueda seguirles bendicion con buenas cosechas y oportunidades de mercado para sus productos. En su debido momento esperamos poder ver que la pobreza sera una sombra del pasado en la vida de estas familias.
Oremos por los productores al igual que por los miembros que forman parte y hacen posible el programa de "Tierra Para Los Sin Tierra" de manera tal que juntos podamos crear un ambiente saludable para estas nuevas familias de productores y que puedan convertirse en agentes de transformacion economica para el bienestar de sus familias y comunidades.
Partners Worldwide - Nicaragua.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Meet Reina Romero-Part II


In the January story from Honduras, we met businesswoman Reina Romero and learned about her dream of building a business of piñatas and her love and passion for serving others.  Reina is sensitive toward the needs of others and takes every opportunity to help those around her.

This is an action shot of Reina facilitating training for women from a solidarity group loan of Diaconia Nacional's banking program. These women gather Tuesday mornings at the Nueva Suyapa Christian Reformed Church from 8:00am to 12:00pm.

Reina is teaching the technique to cut the paper to cover the pinata.

This Tuesday, we had the opportunity to join them to get to know them a little more. The seven women in this group were anxious and eager to learn!  The facilitator was also very enthusiastic and shared, "What I like is that these ladies come with all the desire to learn, and that gives me so much joy and satisfaction. I want to offer them other courses where they learn to make other miscellaneous and special gifts for different occasions like Mother's Day, Children's Day and special holidays."

Most participants had never received a piñata course except for Reina Zelaya. When asked why she was taking the course, Reina expressed, "This course has been very helpful, and although I had previously taken a very basic course, I'm learning more! By making the piñata I can practice the theoretical concepts. I have been a seamstress since 1990 and have always loved crafts. In addition, this course will help me as another source of income. One cannot guarantee a high demand and fast economy in the sewing industry, so during low seasons and tough times, I can make piñatas, and then sell them to feed my family. It's good to attend these courses because as women, we must learn all different types of business ideas that will allow us to provide for our family."

We know that just like Reina, there are many other entrepreneurs that are not only receiving from affiliates supported by Partners Worldwide, but are giving back to their communities and use their talents to serve others.