Entrepreneurialism Making a Difference in Honduras!

Chinese Food, Anyone?

Well, you might not believe it, but many Hondurans, tired of the typical local food staples of tortillas, beans, and rice, have an occasional craving for Chinese food! This realization was the seed that caused a Honduran woman, Yolani, to dream of someday owning her own restaurant. But where would she find the resources? Through her pastor, Yolani learned of the CareLink Foundation, and met Jeff Hartman, the President of CareLink, during one of his recent trips to Honduras. Inspired by her story, her passion, (and a really thoughtful and well-crafted business plan!) Jeff agreed to provide funding to Yolani with an interest-free micro-finance loan (Approximately $500.) and Yolani was on her way!

Tapping into Honduran’s craving for unique and inexpensive Chinese food, Yolani converted the front of her modest home into a carry-out Chinese restaurant. Yolani’s husband, a construction worker, was intimately familiar with many of the construction sites in and around Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras, and was able to tap into the lunchtime needs of construction workers who had taken a liking to the novelty and convenience of Chinese carry-out food. Yolani’s husband would visit construction sites in the early morning, delivering flyers and menus. Then, Yolani would accept “WhatsApp” food orders on her mobile phone, and she and her team would prepare yummy Chinese dishes that her husband would deliver to construction sites on the back of his motor scooter. The result? A woman that has been able to transform the life of her family (and employ two other Honduran’s) through the power of micro-finance capital.