Las Mujeres Unidas Group

Panilus Elda is a mother of two young boys (ages 2 and 9). She moved to the small community of Momjor, just outside of Puerto Plata just several months ago, where she lives alone selling clothing on the streets. She made the move, leaving behind her two children to live with their grandmother, so that she would be able to find a way to pay for their education. When asked if she would like them to come and join her here in the Dominican Republic, she quickly responded, “No”. While not many complete the education system in Haiti (for lack of funds), it is a far superior education to that of the public schools in the Dominican Republic. Panilus has left everything she knows to fulfill her dream of putting her children through school in Haiti. The money from this loan will be used to buy more pants, shirts, and shoes to sell on the streets of Momjor. Panilus hopes that someday she will be able to afford the rent of a small store to sell her clothes from.

Panilus Elda is just one member of the 10 person micro-bank, Las Mujeres Unidas. Each of these unique Dominican entrepreneurs unite in solidarity, allowing them to access funding that they would otherwise never be able to receive on their own. The concept of this group bank paying their loan together is to reduce the risk of one person defaulting, as the others members gladly help cover one another’s payments in order to receive their next loan together.

On behalf of Panilus, Las Mujeres Unidas, and the entire team here at Esperanza International, we thank you for your support and awareness of the global issue of poverty, in which your efforts are helping to make a difference.



About Group Loans
In a group loan, each member of the group receives an individual loan but is part of a group of individuals bound by a group guarantee. Under this arrangement, each member of the group supports one another and is responsible for paying back the loans of their fellow group members if someone is delinquent or defaults. Learn more

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