Ana, 37, is a borrower who lives in L. Alcarrizos, Dominican Republic. She is the coordinator for her group, Emprendedoras (Entrepreneurs), and her story is representative of those in her group and other Dominican and Haitian borrowers at Esperanza International.

Ana and her husband live with their three children in a simple home in L. Alcarrizos, a crowded suburb of S. Domingo, the capital city of the Dominican Republic. Life in urban areas of the Dominican Republic is overcrowded and can be rough, with no potable running water, frequent power outages (if one has power to begin with), and inadequate access to healthcare, among other dangers. Despite these difficulties, Ana runs a successful business selling milk products, specifically yogurt, which is a favorite cold snack in the Dominican Republic. With this loan, she will purchase milk and sugar to make her yogurt.

This is Ana’s very first loan with Esperanza International. With access to capital, she hopes to continue to grow her business. Ana’s dream is to someday finish her home with the profits from her yogurt business. A common construction method in the Dominican Republic is to build in sections as money becomes available, and she looks forward to additional income so that the building process is faster. Ana explains that she dreams not just to have a house, but also to have a true home in every sense where her children can grow up and live securely.

Esperanza International seeks to free children and their families from poverty through initiatives that generate income, education, and health, thereby restoring self-worth and dignity to those who have lost hope. Esperanza International have over 8,500 active associates in eleven offices in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Thank you for lending to Ana and the Emprendedoras group!