Vicenta Aurelia is 39 years old and a single mother of one adult and independent child. They live in Las Gilces de Crucita, a few minutes from the capital, in a small town of fishers. Its primary source is artisanal and industrial fishing and agriculture.
Vicenta Aurelia goes out to purchase fish every day and at her house processes sardines or herrings for ceviche (they are small fish, 12 centimeters, and full of bones). She cleans them, filets them, and cures them or cooks them with lemon. Then, she places them in containers in portions for sale and later delivers them to some stores in the locality and also sells from her house and to merchants who come to her house. She also sells every day, leaves them on credit, and on Saturdays and Sundays works at collecting.
This loan is to purchase fish, disposable containers, lemons, and cooking utensils, to pay the electric bill, etc.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva volunteer Wendy H. View original language description.