In 2021, Iris received a $1,300 microloan from MiCrédito, WCCN’s local partner in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. With that support, she expanded her inventory and attracted more customers, boosting her weekly income from $200 to as much as $500. The loan also opened doors beyond business. For the first time in her life, Iris began saving money and was able to purchase a small plot of land in Honduras.

As WCCN’s Communications and Social Impact Manager, I recently embarked on a transformative journey during our study tour to Nicaragua...