Blog

I wholeheartedly believe that microfinance is one of the most powerful and sustainable economic development solutions that exist to uplift… more

Tomasa has been taking and paying back loans from Adelante on and off since 2013. She initially used funds to… more

A few weeks ago I had the privilege of participating in a mini Adelante Impact Tour. I taught at Espiritu… more

Reyna Gomez lives in Malguara, Intibucá. She has worked on inherited land from her father since she was little. With… more

Adelante Youth Ambassadors are young global citizens who work individually or in groups to share their experience or invite affiliates… more

Adelante’s Well-Being Officer, Mercedez, is a force to be reckoned with. The role of Well-Being Officer is traditionally held by… more

Orbe Oneyda has a thriving pulperia located along a busy thoroughfare in La Ceiba, Honduras. She has taken out a… more

Amparo is a newer microloan client of Adelante. She started her own bakery in 2015 after working in other bakeries… more

Microfinance may not be a panacea for the poorest of the poor, but the hand up (vs handout) is a… more

When Adelante borrowers successfully pay off a micro loan, they are qualified to take out another. Over the last decade,… more

The last time we visited Mirna she had a thriving pig farm and carniceria, and a growing clientele buying her… more

Gender and cultural norms can affect natural disaster response, which can become barriers to women and slow their recovery. For one,… more

Near the Cacao Lagoon 30 km east of La Ceiba, past the communities of Corozal and Sambo Creek, off the… more

Rosa Imelda Majia Caces lives 45 minutes east of La Ceiba not far from the ocean in northern Honduras. Her main… more

In 2020 we adjusted to the unique conditions by restructuring 1,033 loans. We also utilized our in-house custom software (SIACC),… more

Alma resides in one of the areas most affected by Hurricanes Eta and Iota which hit Honduras in November, 2020.… more

Adelina is a 73-year-old entrepreneur and the proud owner of a bakery business that has sustained her for many decades.… more

On the rural plains of southern Honduras resides 25-year-old, bean and potato farmer, Ricarda Martinez. She lives in a small… more

Aurora had never dreamed of owning a business. Before the stroke, she worked as an elementary school teacher and had… more

Maria Gudelia Perez Miranda is no stranger to adversity. Five years ago, she tragically lost her business and those most precious to… more

When Daisy was 11 years old, she found a L.10 bill (less than $0.50) and had an idea. She bought… more

Cinthia never imagined running a business. She worried easily and was frightened by the risk. But in 2015, a friend… more

Marisol lives in a rural community high in the mountains of southern Honduras. She’s 36 years old and has four… more

Being a Credit Officer is a demanding job, but Wendy makes it look easy. She joined our team in the… more

Isabel is a 42-year-old business woman living in the community of Cacao on Honduras’ northern coast. She has five children… more

Happy International Women’s Day! Not a day goes by that we aren’t inspired by women across Honduras who fight to… more

46-year-old Yeniz is soft-spoken, quick to deflect compliments with a humble smile. But underneath her modest exterior lies fierce resilience. … more

Life on the mountainous farms outside of Intibucá is far from easy, but you wouldn’t know it with Joaquina as… more

On 8 July 2017, Adelante Board member Bob Sample and his friend, Sue Davis, hosted a house party fundraiser for… more

Charles is an exemplary Adelante team member who has worked in the main office in La Ceiba for more than… more

Last week, organizations from all corners of Central America and the US came together for the Sustainable Honduras Conference. Throughout… more

What would you do with $130? When Juana received a $130 loan, she used it to completely transform the quality… more

“I love the work that I do,” says Oneyda, who was able to start working when she first took out… more

Wuilmer Miranda is an exemplary credit officer from our El Progreso branch office. He joined Adelante 5 years ago, starting… more

“Unidad, disciplina, trabajo y valor. ¡Unidad, disciplina, trabajo y valor!”  I never expected that four simple words could be so impactful… more

Her family once suffered from hunger. Now this entrepreneur creates healthy food access in her community… Francisca, an entrepreneur from… more

Adelante is not just about credit. We also use educational workshops pertaining to business administration skills to fully equip our… more

Eyes that so quickly turned to the U.S. border during the height of this summer’s migration crisis have just as… more

Maria learned how to cook as a young girl by her mother’s side. As an adult, Maria now honors her… more

It’s been a couple months since the last time I was in Choluteca and I was excited to join one… more

When Adelante started in 2000, the first loan was disbursed to a group of five individuals comprising of four women… more

What kind of world do we want to live in?  Some may say one with less traffic on a morning… more

In the spring of 2013, Ben Sherman, an unassuming yet vibrant photographer traveling to capture culture throughout the world, came… more

Microfinance can be a tad bit confusing when you first hear about it. In conceptual terms, microfinance means providing small… more

The members of our present and past staff, Board of Directors, and circle of supporters have contributed time, support, and… more

Our clients at Adelante inspire us every day through upholding our values of unity, discipline, hard work, and courage. It… more

You can’t teach what you don’t know. This is why we invest in our employees with as much care as… more

The word chikungunya originates from the Kimakonde language of Tanzania, where the illness was first documented in the early 1950s.… more

Lisa Green is a certified financial planner who specializes in empowering women through credit access, and is one of the… more

Dear Friends of Adelante, For our 15th year anniversary, I have the opportunity to reflect on the wonderful and rewarding… more

The changes that I’ve witnessed at Adelante since I arrived in 2012 have been astounding: our loan portfolio has diversified… more

In the last few months Honduras has suffered the most severe drought the nation has faced in the last 50… more

“I love my work. My daughters, my family… All I do is for them,” says Betulia. She lives near the… more

Many of the women that I have met during my travels in Honduras have stories of family disintegration caused by… more

Honduras has been ranked one of the most difficult countries in Latin America to be a mother according to Save… more

With one of Modesta’s freshly made tortillas, it’s impossible not to fall in love with quesillo. She and her husband,… more

In a small village along the northwest coast of Honduras you can find Waldina, Ana and their nontraditional family striving… more

A third of Honduras’ population faces underemployment, materializing in both insufficient job vacancies and underuse of skills. Even for those… more

Peaceful marches are transpiring all across Honduras this week to call for justice. Excitement flooded the streets of La Ceiba… more

The National Congress of Honduras recently passed new legislation promoting equal pay for men and women performing equal work. Since… more

Zulma always brings her products with her… she never knows when she might find a new customer! Launching a business… more

“…I try to make them laugh, which always helps! It’s about being positive and continuing to improve.” – Orlando España,… more

In a recent RESULTS national conference call, Nicholas Kristof, of the New York Times, opened his comments with the remark… more

Happy Month of Microfinance! The month of April is being dedicated to client-centered microfinance models. This movement seeks a dialog across… more

A Guest Post by Bob Sample For the past three years, I have been privileged to serve on the Board… more

Countless communities in Honduras have been devastated by the great outward migration over the course of this year. Odilia’s community… more

For anyone who keeps up with Nicholas Kristof’s journalism, some of the stories that he brings up in the book… more

I can think of few authors that could open Adelante’s Book of the Month Club better than Nicholas Kristof and… more

Elena has a laugh so positively joyful that it is impossible not to join in. Her humor and immense spirit… more

Our Credit Officers are the boots on the ground for Adelante Foundation. They are the field workers who directly serve… more

To culminate Breast Cancer Awareness Month, members from our Adelante team joined in the National Committee of Breast Cancer Prevention… more

Today we celebrate and champion entrepreneurial women like Doña Onis, who are working to provide educational and economic opportunity to… more

When I ask older clients how many children they have, the answer isn’t always as straightforward as one might expect.… more

Today, Adelante celebrates World Food Day with the announcement of our new agricultural loan directed to smallholder women farmers in western… more

Happy Children’s Day! All this week, celebrations packed with games, gifts, and piñatas swinging from trees can be found at… more

In order to empower Honduran women to make sound business decisions, Adelante is providing financial education lessons to its clients.… more

While capturing some of the most perilous quarters of San Pedro Sula, photojournalist Ross McDonnell covers chilling realities afflicting many inner-city… more

On my first day of field visits, we zoomed down the Pan-American Highway past scenery Hondureño of makeshift homes and… more

August 2012 I moved to Honduras to work for Adelante as the International Development Coordinator. Eager to enter the workforce… more

In August we announced a new Secondary Education Loan Product which will be incorporated into our portfolio at the beginning of next… more

The bus stop at San Pedro Sula was like the inside of a glove compartment on a hot day, teeming… more

Investing in the local economy According to a study published by the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development), in… more

“If we had more money, I would fix up the house. We don’t have enough bedrooms and the [bedroom] walls… more

This type of landscape is something you certainly won’t see in Texas. It doesn’t take long to learn that life… more

January 25th is officially celebrated to commemorate the Honduran women’s first socio-political feat in 1955. It was this year that the Catrachas (slang for… more

Adelante was founded with the focus of serving impoverished communities in rural, rather than urban areas. The poverty that affects rural parts… more

On September 14, 2000, Adelante Foundation disbursed our first loans to women in rural areas outside of La Ceiba. Thirteen… more

Elsa Marina is a hard working entrepreneurial mother in the department of La Paz who has continued to offer her… more

The surge in unaccompanied minors making their way to the United States from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador has brought… more

Social Performance. In microfinance, you hear this term quite a bit these days. From the SMART Campaign, the Social Performance Task Force, Truelift… more

The surge in unaccompanied minors making their way to the United States from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador has brought… more

Poverty: This is a word that each person defines differently. We are often found guilty of associating the word with… more

Last week I had my first field visit to Choluteca, Honduras- the place I like to call the Texas of… more

After being in Honduras for almost three weeks, I have found that the country is very different from what I… more

Roatán receives thousands of tourists each year but the island’s largest peak season is now, with Semana Santa (Holy Week)… more

At the end of March, Adelante and Marie Stopes Honduras held a health workshop for the clients in Puerto Cortes.… more

They say that the realization of gratitude increases happiness. As I reflect back on the last six months of my… more

Having now interviewed several dozens of female clients near La Ceiba and Olanchito, I am getting a better picture of… more

Aida has been with Adelante for five years now and has been happy to slowly increase her loan amounts over the course… more

The smell of fresh bread is in the air and Maira is hard at work producing more! Maira makes her… more

Carmen is a client from the department of Atlántida who bakes bread and pastries for a living, a business that she has… more

Glenis is an Adelante client from a small rural community in Colon. For her assembly’s bi-monthly assembly meetings, Glenis’ house… more

I met Erika during our Jewelry Making Workshop in Intibucá during October, our most recent offering from our Product Innovation Workshops. At… more

In Honduras, the month of April has been named the month of African Heritage. The legislative decree 330-2002 calls for… more

Last month, Adelante’s Board got a chance to visit a few clients of ours outside of La Ceiba. Not only did they get… more

Earlier this month I wrote about the importance and hardships of pursuing a hygienic living environment for rural Honduran families in Choluteca and how… more

As one of two new Development Interns in Adelante’s La Ceiba Headquarters, I recently ventured out to La Masica, Atlántida for my… more

“Unity, discipline, hard work and courage – This is our way of life.”  With this lively introduction to my first… more

The twin cities of La Esperanza and Intibucá were already in full holiday swing last week. With many locals, I… more

When meeting someone here for the first time, two of the first questions that are typically asked of me are… more

Cositas is a small store in El Progreso, Yoro that sells materials and accessories for jewelry making. Just a few… more

This month we would like to introduce you to Gabriel Gomez, our 2012 recipient of the “Best Credit Officer” award.… more

Last Friday, Adelante celebrated International Women’s Day with our female main office staff and a group of ceibeña women looking… more

It’s no secret that the world’s poor lack many things. Access to suitable housing, sufficient and nutritious food, clean water,… more

I recently visited a rural area outside the city of Choluteca where we are opening a new assembly. Three of… more

Between living within a machista Honduran society and working for a women-oriented microfinance institution, I have found myself leaning more… more

In the Western region of Honduras known as the Lenca Corridor, extreme poverty is widespread.  As part of Adelante’s Education Program, women from… more

At bi-monthly assembly meetings, Adelante clients receive the support they need to succeed in their micro businesses. A fundamental part… more

Did you know that education is an integral part of our loan program? We’re well known for granting short-term loans to… more

Marta Rosa is a new client from Choluteca on her first loan cycle. She became a part of Adelante to increase production of enchiladas… more