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The root causes of extreme poverty go deeper than lack of capital. Borrowers and their children need education as well as vocational and spiritual training - giving them access to practical information and skills.
Literacy courses are offered to expand their knowledge and understanding. Many of our clients never received formal schooling as children. We teach them to be literate and numerate in order to break the cycle of poverty. We work with public and private institutions from government programs to local school districts to ensure the children of our clients have the academic opportunities they need to overcome pursue their dreams.
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Vocational training programs are available for clients and their families as well as the general public. Esperanza families are able to take classes for free to learn how to use a computer and basic software applications. Thanks to software donations and curriculum development by Microsoft®, our clients learn how to navigate Windows™, operate Office™ applications and learn from the Encarta™ encyclopedia. Children, adolescents and adults take classes in groups of 20 on average from experiences teachers including Esperanza staff. They learn specific skills that will help them be competitive in finding jobs and contributing to society. Thanks to facilities, hardware and Internet access provided by one of Esperanza's partners, the Dominican Institute of Telecommunications (Indotel), students benefit from high-quality Computer Technology Centers developed by Esperanza, Microsoft and Indotel.
Literacy courses are provided that utilize workbooks that teach essential life skills on top of reading, writing and math skills. Illustrations and stories in the workbooks demonstrate healthy lifestyles including proper hygiene practices, home and community sanitation methods, maintaining a balanced diet, how to seek medical care, as well as how to treat your family and members of your community, which our staff encourage to improve physical and social well-being on top of intellectual needs.
Each entrepreneur also works with their loan officer to create a business plan and developing their proficiency in a specific trade. Our staff are continually engaged in workshops and training sessions provided by partner organizations and consultants to give them the information they need to pass along to their clients. Whether our clients are making candles, selling fruit and vegetables or manufacturing furniture, they receive the skill set to make them successful including budgeting, pricing, accounting, marketing as well as logistics of where to buy prepare and sell their products or services. |
