Measurement

The SEW staff, board of directors, and participants are committed to tracking our progress and efficacy over time. Hence, we developed a set of measurement tools to assess the organization’s programs, progress, and contributions to society.

Measurement allows us to share what we are doing with people who are interested in life in El Salvador and ways to enable women to earn a living outside of formal employment channels, which in the case of El Salvador are dominated by maquilas (factories).

Measurement also serves as a guide for the staff, board, and participants to see the degree to which our vision is being realized.

Our Approach to Measurement: A Mosaic

We adopted a systems approach to measurement, which pieces together various facets of Salvadoran Enterprises for Women. An image that comes to mind for us is a mosaic in which each piece contains its own beautiful image but when carefully coordinated with the other pieces, creates an illuminating whole that is greater than its parts. We include the following pieces as integral to Salvadoran Enterprises for Women:

mosaic pieceGrants
Grants serve as seed money to help women get started in a business endeavor. The funds also support our staff members in the U.S. and El Salvador. Salvadoran Enterprises for Women awarded grants to twelve women’s groups in 7 Salvadoran communities. Each year 78% to 88% of the organization’s revenues directly supported programs in El Salvador.
mosaic pieceHistory/Herstory
Our history/herstory is rooted in the work of the School Sisters of Notre Dame who became active in El Salvador during the 1980-1992 civil war. Through relationships established during this time, Salvadoran Enterprises for Women partnered with the Center for Exchange and Solidarity (CIS), a nonprofit in San Salvador, to build community, promote solidarity, and foster a strong U.S.—El Salvador partnership. In 2003, Salvadoran Enterprises for Women was recognized as a 501(c)(3) public charity by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
mosaic pieceJob Training
Job training is also an integral part of Salvadoran Enterprises for Women. Training enables women to learn both general skills to start and run a successful business and specific skills in a particular occupation and/or craft. On-the-job training is provided in the local community by SEW and CIS staff members, local and national trainers, volunteers, and collaborators.
mosaic pieceAlternative Economics
SEW aims to provide alternative economic opportunities to mitigate the impacts of poverty and global capitalism on the day-to-day lives of people in El Salvador. We want to enable people to start small businesses to earn a little money from which to feed their families. Local businesses also allow women to stay close to home as opposed to moving to major cities to work in housekeeping or maquilas (factories) or to emigrate to the United States in search of gainful employment.
mosaic pieceHuman Essence & Values
The mosaic also includes a host of factors that comprise the human essence and values undergirding Salvadoran Enterprises for Women such as consciousness raising, empowerment, collaboration, self-determination, solidarity, justice, community building, and dignity. The human essence is grounded in the shared values and beliefs of the founders, board of directors, staff, and participants, and helps explain why we do what we do.
mosaic pieceCrafts
SEW works with CIS to support the production, export, and sale of crafts made by Salvadorans. Begun in 1991, craft sales continue today as an important part of the work of Salvadoran Enterprises for Women.
mosaic pieceStories
Lastly, the mosaic includes stories as recounted by the participants, board members and staff working directly with groups of women who receive grants from Salvadoran Enterprises for Women. The stories remind us not only of how small business development helps improve the quality of life for participants but also how difficult change, education, and growth can be for people who are impoverished.