Mercedes on the Move
Adelante’s Well-Being Officer, Mercedez, is a force to be reckoned with. The role of Well-Being Officer is traditionally held by men due to the higher risks involved with traveling daily in remote regions via motorcycle. This does not deter Mercedes though. She started out as an educator at Adelante, providing training and resources to women participating in Adelante’s Solidarity Group Loan program and is not afraid to travel long distances to connect with the women in her loan portfolio.
We shadow Mercedes on her route. She rides ahead of us, leading the way. I wonder how she keeps those white jeans clean. She has a large photo of her and her daughter affixed to the bike extending the length between the seat and speedometer. Several days a week she visits dozens of borrowers, checking-in to learn how their respective businesses are going. Over the course of a few hours of us accompanying her, we meet several women she regularly works with. Mercedes clearly has a strong bond with the clients. They shake hands, slap backs, and often hug. In one instance Mercedes sits in a chair next to one of the clients that she’s known for several years and holds her hand. Adelante Well-Being Officers do more than approve and collect loans, their function is based on relationship building. They offer one-on-one mentoring, and check in physically at least once a month with clients in their portfolio to learn how women and their businesses are doing.
When asked about her experience working with Adelante over the last 16 years Mercedes shares, “I’m so grateful. Thanks to the employee education support from Adelante, I was able to obtain a college degree in Pedagogy and Education Sciences. Due to income earned while working with Adelante, I was able to build my house! And my greatest blessing…my daughter, I have been able to give her what she needs to thrive. On top of helping my family, it feels so good to be able to support the many women from neighboring communities and be a part of their growth and learning.”
We celebrate Mercedes and her 16 years of service to underserved entrepreneurial women in Honduras. Adelante is so fortunate to have qualified, capable, hardworking staff that are passionate about helping their countrymen and women.
