Apoyo a Gente Emprendedora Celebrates 20 Years with Graduation Ceremony

Apoyo has been actively engaged in providing business training and non-interest-bearing loans to future entrepreneurs -- primarily from the countryside -- for more than 20 years! More than 1,200 persons -- primarily women who head their households in rural villages -- have attended Apoyo’s business training, seminars and workshops over the past 10 years.

The Rotary Club of San Miguel de Allende-Midday has been partnering with Apoyo for the past five years via Apoyo’s microlending program. The Club has now obtained a Rotary Foundation Global Grant to partner with Apoyo to expand their vocational training program in order to increase the number of graduates in an increased number of vocational training areas. 

Graduating on August 21 from Apoyo’s vocational training program were about 25 new plumbers, graphic art designers, customer relations professionals, and business entrepreneurs.  Some of the graduates graduated from more than one course! “It was a very moving experience to see how proud the graduates and their families were,” said Rotary Member Pat Laird, who interviewed three of the graduates.  

Marisol Gonzalez is a single mother who works as a cook and baker in a restaurant and is in the process of having a house built. She completed the course in plumbing although she does not plan to be a plumber.  “I wanted to understand the processes and materials needed to build my house so I might better communicate with the workers,” said Gonzalez.

A happy result of the course is that she learned to fix things around her house.  Gonzalez felt a huge sense of empowerment recently when the pump on her water tank broke and she repaired it.  She is considering taking more business courses and is thinking of consulting, supervising and becoming a property manager in the future.  

Mayra Hernandez is an elementary school teacher and artist.  She has a side business face painting.  She completed a graphic design course to increase her art income and teach art to her students.

Mia Hernan took the graphic design class to help promote her business selling kitchen supplies.  She runs a Saturday popup store near the Don Volente restaurant. “Mia’s  posters are impressive,” said Laird. Hernan also makes lovely dolls. 

Congratulations to all the graduates, and deep thanks to all the Rotarians here and elsewhere who made these successes possible! If you know someone who might be interested in one of Apoyo’s free courses, direct them to Apoyo’s Facebook presence.