"What do you want to be when you grow up?" It is a question that most North American children learn to keep a ready answer for. And thanks to adequate school systems, scholarships, and many support systems, children who work hard often have a good chance to achieve their goal to be a doctor, pilot, or even an astronaut.
In Nicaragua, opportunities are fewer and while children still dream great dreams, their future career might depend heavily on the work their father and/or mother does. For this reason, businesses in Nicaragua often are a family affair. Children from a young age may begin helping in the family business to learn a trade and expand the capacity of the company. With a successful business parents will be able to better support their children and even send them to college. Also, an expanding business may provide employment to cousins, nieces, and nephews so that they may also add to their family income.
After working many years as a cashier, Susan* lost her job and needed a new source of income. She first tried selling cosmetics and then switched to natural drinks. She grew this business into a small carry-out restaurant run from her house. As business expanded, she needed more help, and now she is able to employ her two sisters.
In another family, the father has a mechanic shop. His sons are reaching the age when they can begin working, so he is training them in mechanics. However, it is his wife who keeps the financial records for the business. In this way, the business depends not only on the father's work but on the contributions of many family members.
In Nicaragua, a successful business has the potential to support not only a business person, but an extended family, meaning opportunities for children to get a higher education and for families to improve their standard of living.
*Name changed
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