Calnali Microfinance Project/El Proyecto Microfinanciero de Calnali
Fact Sheet/Hoja de Datos
Table of Contents/Tabla de Materias
Current Initiatives/Iniciativos Actuales
Travel to State of Hidalgo/Viajar al Estado de Hidalgo
Success Stories/Casos de Éxito
Images of Calnali/Imágenes de Calnali
Title of Project: Calnali Microfinance Project
Mission: The mission of the Calnali Microfinance Project is to create a pool of funds that can be used to provide small loans ($200-300) to citizens of Calnali and neighboring small villages. These loans will enable the people of Calnali, primarily women, to create small enterprises so that they can become self-sufficient, provide for their families, offer needed products in their communities and share their traditional crafts throughout Mexico and the world. The project also includes training for the participants, not only on their particular craft/endeavor, but also basic money management and business management. Calnali has approximately 15,000 citizens.
Significance: The first microfinance project of the Rotary Club of Indianapolis.
Partner Rotary Club in Mexico: Rotary Club of Huehuetla, State of Hidalgo, Mexico.
Partner Rotary Club in the U.S.: Cottleville/Weldon Springs, Missouri
Beginning Date: Project funding approved November 2009; applications taken for first loans in July 2010; first loans granted in Summer 2010.
Ending Date: Microfinance projects are intended to be ongoing.
Project Leader: Professor Sara Anne Hook (Rotary Club of Indianapolis and IUPUI).
Other Major Participants: Dr. Sarah M. Stelzner, Dr. Diane E. Lorant and Mayuri Jindal, Indiana University School of Medicine, Dr. Lawrence I. Goldblatt and Dr. E. Angeles Martinez Mier, Indiana University School of Dentistry, Ms. Meghan Cross, Ms. Gabriela Mendoza and Ms. Ashley Oliver, IUPUI Center for Service and Learning, Dr. Dawn M. Whitehead, IUPUI Office of International Affairs.
Major Funding: Rotary Club of Indianapolis, $5,000 in 2009-2010; $5,000 in 2010-2011, $5,000 in 2011-2012, $5,000 in 2012-2013, Rotary Club of Cottleville/Weldon Springs, Missouri, $2,000 in 2011-2012 (to be used only for direct loans to citizens).
Matching Funds: Binational/Cross-Cultural Health Enhancement Center (BiCCHEC), Indiana University School of Dentistry (to support other needs of the project).
In-Kind Contributions: Friends of Hidalgo (use of their facility for training, meetings and other events).
Fiscal Agent: Pro Mujer, Mexico Office. Pro Mujer is a highly successful microfinance organization in Latin and South America and will take responsibility for ongoing oversight of the funding as well as provide training and support to the loan recipients. A representative from Pro Mujer will make regular visits to Calnali to provide support to recipients of the loans.
History: Several schools on the IUPUI campus have been working in Calnali, Pachuca and the State of Hidalgo since 1998. The microfinance project is a logical extension of those efforts.
Current Focus: After traveling to Calnali and in talking with leaders from the community, there are three main targets of the loans:
School uniforms: Children who do not have the prescribed school uniform are not allowed to attend school in Calnali and purchasing the uniforms is beyond the means of most citizens. Women will be trained on how to sew the uniforms and would be granted small loans to buy a sewing machine, along with fabric and notions to make the uniforms, which would then be sold in the community, enabling the women to pay back the loans. A woman might choose to request another loan so that her daughter could be trained and provided with a sewing machine. Thus, a home-based business that would support a family is created and children in the community can now attend school.
Traditional embroidery and beading: Calnali and surrounding villages are known for their beautiful embroidery and beading – on garments and accessories, such as purses. A woman would be trained in how to do this fine handwork and then would request a loan to buy fabric, thread, beads and other supplies. She would sell these goods locally, but also through the Internet and in fair trade stores.
Pottery: The area around Calnali is known for several types of clay. Citizens would be trained on how to make the kinds of items that people in the area need for cooking and serving food. Loans would be requested for supplies as well as the construction of small kilns to fire the clay. In the future, the intent is to design a line of pottery that would feature the bird of Calnali and the flower of Calnali, to create of brand of this design and to market this line of pottery throughout Mexico and beyond.
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