In addition, following repayment of their loans, Citi offers 40 percent of its best clients opportunities to purchase shares in the company itself, establishing them as client-owners. In addition to providing access to much needed capital, the program also provides comprehensive, needs-based, training in business management and record keeping. Loan recipients include seamstresses, hairdressers, restaurateurs, and other micro-enterprises. The cooperative has gained a monopoly on sewing uniforms for schools, hotels, restaurants, factories, airlines, and others throughout the country. They have also recently negotiated a contract with a clothing company in Portugal.
Vanilla growing has a high profitability.
Influenced by the initial success of the Society, at least 650 additional members of the community have adopted this crop. Because of the effective extension work on how to grow vanilla properly, the beans are meeting international standards and fetching a very good price. In fact, the American spice giant, McCormick, is reportedly buying the Society s vanilla beans. The project has provided employment for its nine members, fifteen employees, and over 28,000 hours of work for temporary workers. Additionally, funds were used to provide feasibility studies, training in management, bookkeeping and financial reporting, modern agricultural techniques, food transformation and conservation.