Rockin' Out Microloans & Sendin' Mama Some Love

Hey there DiscoverHope family,

Can you believe it?  May is almost over and our month of celebrating mothers is coming to an end.  Don't fret though, you still have a few days left to send a little love to the mothers in your life by making a donation in her honor at www.lendhope.org

HELP US ROCK OUT MICROLOANS FOR WOMEN IN POVERTY ON JUNE 15!   
What: 5th Annual BAND TOGETHER FOR HOPE
When: Friday, June 15, doors open 8pm 
Where: Ruta Maya 3601 S. Congress
Presented by: Consuela & VerdTek
Featuring: Soniquete Duet & a sexy, Latin-Flamenco-Rock Headliner (it's a secret until June 3!)
Ticket Info: $20 - tickets go on sale on June 3 at www.lendhope.org or pay at the door. 
Make sure to follow us on Facebook , Twitter (@discoverHOPE), and LinkedIn for on-going event updates.

Check out last year's pictures and GET EXCITED!!!  

Hannah Dismuke
Band Together for Hope
Social Media & Web Intern

MEET OUR SUMMER INTERN!

Hello DiscoverHope friends and family!  My name is Hannah Dismuke and I will be working as the new Social Media and Web Intern this summer along side the wonderful marketing committee for DiscoverHope's 5th Annual Band Together for Hope fundraiser.  I could not be more excited to start a new chapter in my life through this opportunity.  I am currently a senior entrepreneurship major at Baylor University where I have competed for four years on the Lady Bear soccer team and participated as an active member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority.  Although I have a passion for athletics, photography, cooking and all things Texas, my heart truly lies in serving others.   Ever since I heard about DiscoverHope, I have entirely bought in to the mission for women in poverty to create their own prosperity through microcredit, entrepreneurship, and training.  My entire life I have always had big dreams and my greatest hope for the small role I will be playing for this incredible venture is to make the dreams of other women come true as well.   

Peace,
Charlotte
Development & Marketing Manager 

Celebrating the Joy of Motherhood in Cajamarca!

Good Morning DHF Family!

After getting some much needed rest and relaxation, I’m excited to share the highlights of our 2^nd Annual Mother’s Day Celebration. Yesterday was a refreshing and very gratifying reminder of why we dedicate so much time and energy into our village banking project here in Cajamarca, Peru. Our women are simply amazing and true testaments of what it means to sacrifice and persevere all in the name of motherhood.

To sum it up in a few words, it was afternoon of pure fun and relaxation. For three hours, more than 215 women from 22 village banks were able to forget about the stresses of raising a family and running a business and simply laugh, play, and spend quality time with their fellow bank members. Women played familiar games such as the egg toss, the balloon run, and  the three legged run. They also enjoyed artistic numbers prepared by kids who attend HopeHouse childcare services on a regular basis. The event culminated with a raffle in which we gifted two large baskets filled with rice, sugar, cooking oil, and other essential food staples. I've included a video of the event so you can see first hand how the events unfolded.

Organizing such an event was a huge challenge and required the help of our two Village Bank Promoters, HopeHouse Assistant, a Multicredit Intern, and yours truly. By the end of the day, we had filled 235 glasses of chicha morada (purple corn refreshment) and prepared 250 sandwiches, 300 appetizers, and 350 alfajores (small cookies filled with manjar blanco or dulce de leche).



HopeHouse Kids dancing a huayno for our moms.

For this blog entry we thought it would be interesting to share the thoughts and opinions of our two Village Bank Promoters, Bertha and Graciela, about the event. Both spend the majority of their day helping our members manage their loans and savings accounts and organizing personalized business consultations when challenges arise. Due to the nature of the work, the two have developed a close working relationship with all of our women.

 Bertha’s Words:

“Today was such an amazing day for me. When I visit the women’s businesses, they often share the hardships of being a mother. Many of our women are single parents with three of four children. In life we always need a moment to forget our problems and simply relax. Today seeing the faces of our women with smiles and laughter made me feel happy and proud to be a part of this incredible project. Happy Mother’s Day to all of the moms in the United States!”

Graciela’s Words:

In Peru, Mother’s Day is one of our most important holidays. A mother is the heart of a family.  She is responsible for raising the kids, maintaining the household, and often the primary bread winner. Today I was happy to be a part of the event. I had so much fun planning the activities and dancing with the women. I am use to seeing our women hard at work at their businesses and to see them laugh, dance, and play is refreshing. I’m so appreciative that DiscoverHope is helping the women of Cajamarca progress and provide a better future for their children. “

I’d like to end the blog entry thanking all of you for your generous support throughout the year. Our Mother’s Day Celebration would not be possible without you. As you prepare to celebrate the mothers and grandmothers in your life, I hope you also remember the women of Cajamarca who think of all of you on a constant basis.

Best,

Des