La Ceiba, a University of Mary Washington-based collegiate microfinance institution, premiered a film of its operations on Tuesday, March 20 as part of its spring fundraising campaign.
Founded in 2008 by Shawn Humphrey, associate professor of economics, La Ceiba provides financial, social and educational support to communities in El Progreso, Honduras, in partnership with Students Helping Honduras and UMW. The film explores UMW students’ recent trip to Honduras.
“Each year, upon our return from Honduras, my students and I confront the difficulty of fully articulating our experience to family and friends,” Humphrey said. “They care about what we do and are curious to know all about it. However, despite what we say, nothing seems to fully capture the texture and emotional impact of Honduras. This film does it for us and we are so excited to share it with the UMW community.”
La Ceiba hopes to raise $5,000 by the end of the semester to fund the four areas of its program: loans, income generating projects, education and social support. Since its inception, La Ceiba has provided more than 75 personal and business loans to clients in Honduras. Esfuerzo de Amor, an income-generating project operated by La Ceiba, is line of clutches, earrings, headbands and other products handcrafted by Honduran women from 100 percent post-consumer snack chip bags and soda labels.
For more information about La Ceiba, visit http://laceibamfi.org
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News release prepared by: Brynn Boyer
