Now that I have pictures, I’d like to share the story of one Esperanza client.
Meet Nancy, pictured here with her loan officer (and friend, mentor and pastor), Ycedro.
Fifteen years ago, Nancy didn’t have a business. She did have a daughter-in-law, though, who suggested she at least start selling juices to earn a little extra money. So she took a loan from Esperanza for equipment, and that juice stand has grown and grown and grown…
To a colmado (corner store)…
And a nice home…
And a four-plex that she rents out (It’s the orange building behind Nancy down there)!
There is even room to grow plantains.
Two of her children are still in school. One is finishing high school and another is headed to college. Esperanza helps with school loans!
These are two of her sweet grandchildren. Nancy has changed their lives by participating in Esperanza.
And if you ask Nancy if this is all, she laughs. She says NO! Her first priority is a second location for another colmado. The street she is on is pretty quiet, and she knows she needs more traffic to keep growing. She would also like to add more employees. She has one employee now but will need to hire more with the opening of a second location.
It started with a juice stand and a loan, and a lot of elbow grease. But Nancy’s life is more stable, more powerful, less vulnerable thanks to Nancy’s hard work and the opportunities the small loans of Esperanza afforded her.