BEGINNING THE PROCESS IN A NEW COMMUNITY: LA GALLINA
In 2018, PML expanded its community development work to two villages that neighbor San Carlos: the village of La Gallina (“The Hen”) and La Reforma (“The Reform”). Many of the concerns of the residents in these communities are the same as those of San Carlos: access to reliable health care, quality education, safety and housing.
Rosa began with reflection sessions that provided a warm, trusting space to gather thoughts and concerns in the most efficient way. Four small groups formed, composed mostly of women who are heads of household. They shared that they previously lived by the adage “every man for himself,” but now appreciate the comeraderie and opportunity to have their voices heard. In just a few years, La Gallina has made many positive steps forward.
ROAD CLEAN-UP CAMPAIGN UNITES
The first bonding experience the women took on was to clean up the two kilometers of secondary road at the entrance of the community. After 20 years of neglect, it was overgrown with brush and had become a hangout for disreputable activities. Private trucks were coming from León to dump garbage. The area posed a health hazard due to broken glass, garbage contamination, and standing water that provided a breeding site for mosquitos.
Fifty-six participants helped clean up the area, bringing the community together and demonstrating their ability to organize and accomplish an important project. An additional benefit was creating community good will: they cut branches that hung over the roadway, chopped them into manageable pieces, and gave the wood to a couple of men in the village who sell firewood for income. Now everyone feels safer walking home, especially at night.
PROPERTY TITLES
Currently, the residents are working to obtain property titles for their homes. Since most of the land was in the hands of a former cooperative, the families have banded together to solicit individual legal ownership. They are doing this work as as a group because the dismantling of the cooperative was made at one time and they believe this is the most effective approach. Having a registered land title to their home is necessary for residents to improve their homes.
BUILDING A BRIDGE
A top priority for La Gallina families is to replace a rickety, cobbled-together pedestrian swing bridge leading into the community. The structure is jokingly referred to as the “Thirty-Year Bridge” because every time there has been an election during the last three decades politicians have promised a new bridge in exchange for their votes, but to no avail.
During the rainy season, the water sometimes reaches the height of the bridge and even trucks are unable to get across the riverbed. The ideal solution would be a sturdy enough structure so that vehicles can pass over the river and pedestrians have enough space, on the side, to walk safely. An action committee was formed and they advocated for a new bridge with local officials. The municipal government and other relevant institutions are aware of the need and supportive, but due to the pandemic and recent hurricanes, there is no money available.
After one important meeting with city leaders, PML’s Director of Community Development, Rosa Lira, led an evaluation process. Residents expressed satisfaction that they had been heard, presented a united front, and received commitments of support from city council members. The action group continues to make follow-up visits to government institutions to make sure the project is not ignored.
Small Business Loans & Initiatives are a great success!
Despite the pandemic, PML Director for Community Development Rosa Lira and intern Gabriela Paredes continue to safely facilitate meaningful conversations among rural residents in La Gallina on how to confront economic insecurity and loss of employment. Following a year of small group meetings to consolidate community trust and consensus, the women were eager to take on concrete initiatives to increase family income from home-based businesses. With a modest amount of seed money donated by PML, an astonishing amount of activity began to take place in 2020!
Impact of Small Business Loans from pml
A total of $2,565 in business loans was distributed to 21 women in 2020. Most loans were under $150 for part-time side jobs including
-clothing sales (new and used)
-sales of goods like perfume, plastic household items and cooking utensils
-food sales of items such as light bakery, tortillas, nacatamales, enchiladas, and rice pudding
-six “pulperias” – home-based storefronts - received loans to expand product offerings to include meat and fresh vegetables.
100 % of PML’s Loans Repaid
Loans are customized according to individual circumstances and provide a reasonable repayment schedule. Repayments of principal will be returned to the fund for future loans. The low 2% interest rate payment goes to a designated fund for future infrastructure improvements benefiting the whole community. On the day the first payment was due, 100% of the borrowers made timely payments and continue to meet their obligations. Residents are committed to this loan program because they created a committee of residents to oversee the operation. They feel they are paying back their community, not a faceless institution.
Raising Animals
Loans totaling $1,350 were provided to raise backyard animals. These loans went to five women and one man. Some of them bought pigs or chickens, and others purchased feed or supplies to fix pens and coops. Those involved already know how to care for animals, but needed a boost to get the business off the ground.
Sewing Skills
PML provided $800 to buy two sewing machines and fabric for sewing class. Nineteen women prepared documents and convinced MEFCCA, a government institution that promotes small scale rural business, to send a teacher out to the community. They all graduated from the Level I sewing class (pattern making) with the help of advanced students staying after class to tutor those falling behind.
Baking Skills
PML provided $200 to purchase a countertop oven, mixer, and pans to assist 25 women in a dessert-baking class. Students divided into small work groups, rotating to learn how to make different baked goods. If a product doesn’t turn out, the group must make it again, otherwise the teacher won’t take a photo—the stamp of approval. In spite of sharing limited equipment, there is a spirit of camaraderie and a unified goal of everyone achieving success. Their teacher admitted that initially she didn’t want to travel from the city of Leon to out-of-the-way La Gallina. But despite the lack of resources, the teacher said that they are the most motivated students she has ever had!
These graduates decided to stay in their small groups and sell their goods in the community.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT LA GALLINA
The community configuration of La Gallina, like that of San Carlos, has roots in the agrarian reform following the 1979 revolution, when land was dedicated to farm cooperatives. The population increased in 2013–2014 as individuals received titles when cooperatives disbanded and the land was redistributed to private owners. Property allocation was under the jurisdiction of the Indigenous Community, yet it is important to note that some of the largest farmland plots went to certain individuals.
Two Small Farm C0mmunities Left Behind: La Gallina & La Reforma
The area is used for agriculture, but major landowners gain an advantage by farming large tracts with more access to resources and better efficiencies of scale.
The small farmers of La Gallina have suffered, like most small farmers throughout the country, and eke out a subsistence living. They are limited to cultivating small crops of corn, sorghum, vegetables, and bananas, and raising barely productive livestock.
Initially, the villages of La Gallina and smaller La Reforma felt like a single community. This situation deteriorated over time, and worsened when cooperatives were broken up. The land was divided into political territories of La Gallina 1, La Gallina 2, and La Reforma, arbitrarily structuring leadership positions. The residents have expressed frustration with a lack of representation and abandonment by public service institutions.
La Gallina elementary school has served as the headquarters of local government for both municipal and indigenous representatives, but weak organization has left residents complaining of the absence of community integration and total exclusion of the most vulnerable families.
With PML accompanying the community as they advocate for change, daily life is improving.