Commitment to Measurable Results:
Though we are a lean not-for-profit organization, Namaste delivers outstanding outcomes through precise data collection and analysis. Our custom-designed database, PROSPER (Poverty Reduction Operating Software that Plans, Evaluates, and Reports), tracks over 500 data points per client. We use QlikView, the world’s leading business intelligence software, to analyze this data, allowing us to measure monthly changes in income, business growth, confidence, decision-making power, and other metrics of women’s economic empowerment. This system also enables real-time monitoring and quick program adjustments.
Cuchubal Match Program
In 2023, more than half of the women who applied for our program were ineligible due to high levels of debt. Many of these women became trapped in debt cycles because they lacked financial literacy (understanding interest payments) and were desperate for immediate cash. Burdened by poor credit, they are often excluded from traditional funding sources and economic development services. In response to this alarming trend, Namaste launched the Cuchubal Match (CM) program as a solution for women who have been impacted by or are vulnerable to predatory lending.
To date, the CM has achieved the following outcomes:
- Invest their group savings funds into their businesses
- Increase cash flow and business sustainability
- Create and follow a budget
- Pay down their debts
- Establish positive financial habits, reducing dependence on loans
- Build confidence in achieving economic security
- 100% of participants have established the habit of saving on a monthly basis.
Our Cuchubal Match has been overwhelmingly successful, with 100% of our participants saving every month, building community, and mastering the skills to achieve long-term economic independence.
The Impact of Our Creating Prosperity Program (CPP)
Our signature Creating Prosperity Program (CPP) has transformed the lives of over 5,000 economically disadvantaged women who run small, informal businesses out of necessity.
- On average, women who have completed two nine-month cycles of CPP have seen their profits increase by over 100%.
- 88% of graduates have implemented sustainable business practices recommended by their Namaste business advisors.
- 90% of graduates have learned to maintain accurate financial records.
Equipped with skills to earn more money throughout their lives, our graduates achieve dreams they once thought impossible. These women reinvest their profits into their families, improving access to education, nutrition, and healthcare.
Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) Education.
Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) education is the cornerstone of Namaste’s work.
We aim to make our WEE education accessible to as many women as possible, equipping them with the skills to earn their own money, make informed financial decisions, avoid predatory lending, and pursue their dreams.
- Our new WEE video library, featuring five-minute culturally relevant and practical videos on essential financial literacy, business skills, and self-care, is freely available on YouTube. Here are the videos we include in our WEE workshops.
- In 2024, Namaste’s Community Mentors will facilitate free WEE workshops, educating approximately 400 marginalized women on critical themes that impact their economic security.
- 100% of WEE workshop participants make their own WEE plans including SMART goals, budgets, and savings plans to bring their dreams to life.
- 85% of WEE workshop participants will report increased confidence in their ability to achieve economic security.
Annual Businesswomen’s Conference
Since 2007, over 1,000 Namaste clients have gathered at Lake Atitlan for a transformative three-day event. Participants engage in workshops on women’s issues and entrepreneurial support. Many attendees describe this event as a highlight of their lives, offering a rare opportunity to connect and learn outside their daily routines.
Hear from Olga, a participant of our 2024 Conference, about her experience at the event.
Personal Stories of Impact
While data showcases the effectiveness of our programs, the true impact is best seen in the stories of the women we serve. These resilient women embody Namaste’s vision as they grow profitable businesses and pursue their dreams.
Maria
Eva
Lesbia
Maria Luisa
Maria Zenaida
Check out our most recent impact reports
Donate today to equip economically vulnerable Guatemalan women with the skills and resources to grow sustainable businesses, achieve economic security, and break generational cycles of poverty.
