Cristian’s family relied entirely on her husband’s income. It wasn’t for lack of effort, but in rural Nicaragua, one income is rarely enough to cover the cost of living. For years, Cristian lived with a persistent, quiet fear for her two children’s future. She knew she was capable of more, but she lacked the direction and confidence to get there.
Through the Giving Machine program, Cristian received the essential tools to restart a broiler chicken business, an endeavor she had attempted years prior without success. But this time, the tools weren’t the headline. The real shift came through practical business training and one-on-one mentoring.
“I discovered how capable I am,” Cristian says. “I learned to manage the raising of chickens, keep strict records, and take care of every detail.”
The results weren’t just about poultry; they were about precision. By applying professional business logic to her small farm, Cristian didn’t just grow chickens, she grew a profit. She successfully completed her first production cycle, achieving high yields.
Today, Cristian is more than a farmer; she is a leader. She is passing these self-reliance skills to her children and serving as a volunteer mentor to other women in Las Crucitas. For Cristian, the Giving Machine provided the spark, but the mentoring provided the fuel that turned a small backyard coop into a foundation of greater self-reliance.
