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Pro Mujer in Bolivia Brings its Services One Step Closer to the Women We Serve

6 julio, 2012

Blog, Events, Voices from the Field

By Paola Carvajal, Communications Manager, Pro Mujer in Bolivia

Neighbors, clients, local business owners and journalists joined Pro Mujer in Bolivia on June 2nd for the inauguration of our newest center, Mosoj Wasi. Mosoj Wasi, which means “New House” in Quechua, one of Bolivia’s indigenous languages, is located in the region of Tucsupaya in the city of Sucre, the fourth largest city in the country.

Neighbors, clients, local business owners and journalists gather for the inauguration ceremony

Pro Mujer is the first institution to enter this area to provide women with the means to build livelihoods for themselves and futures for their families through financial services, business training and healthcare services.

This new center is strategically located on Los Andes Avenue, a busy commercial area on the way to the airport that has great potential because much of the local population falls within our target demographic. We estimate that by the end of the year we will be serving 290 clients, and will work to grow our client base over the next two years.

At the national level, we are in the process of reorganizing our centers in order to achieve greater efficiency. The opening of Mosoj Wasi is a response to our need to be closer to our clients and potential markets. We will offer our services – healthcare, training, and eventually, individual credit – through communal banks, which serve as an important platform for women’s development through group solidarity.

The opening of Mosoj Wasi has also generated employment. We recently hired two new credit officers, one male and one female, and a staff of six who will be managing the office. Soon, this center will be serving our entire rural portfolio, for which we will need to hire one more loan officer.

Additionally, Mosoj Wasi has a fully furnished office equipped with a medical consultation room. For the time being, a doctor will be in the office a few days a week; however, once our number of clients increases, she or he will be there full-time.

Pro Mujer staffers pose with clients after the ceremony

Today, Pro Mujer in Bolivia serves more than 105,000 clients through 71 centers throughout the country. We have been working for the last 18 years in the department of Chuquisaca, where Mosoj Wasi is located, serving poor women. In this region, we have six offices, more than 60 staff members and serve more than 8,000 clients.

Beyond simply providing services, we hope that Mosoj Wasi will serve as source of inspiration to the women of the region to take on the challenges they face every day.