Nueva Vida Group

Thank you for your loan. It has been disbursed to the Nueva Vida group, consisting of Adline Eldanite, Adline Leclare, Martha Canpano, Beba Mende, Margalie Petit, Cheli Alse, Myrlanda Jan, Evna Alexandre, Ana Chupeta, Nadia Pierre, Rose Tryilla, Aida Reyes, Aloude Logen by Esperanza International, a partner of HOPE International in Dominican Republic. We are excited to watch this business grow. Over the next 6 months, Esperanza International, a partner of HOPE International will be collecting repayments from this entrepreneur and posting progress updates on the Kiva website.

Dear Kiva lenders,

A couple months ago (in February) during a very rainy day, I had the opportunity of visiting Munoz. It is a small batey outside the main city of Puerto Plata. We visited to hear from them the impact of the "40 Days to a New Life" program in their lives. Hearing the meaning they have found through an income-generating activity that does not demean themselves.

The first person we could find at her house was Nadia Pierre. She was part of this Kiva loan as well. She was home with her husband (who was aware of her former activities) and they have decided to start a business together. Nadia has used her profits for a down payment on a motorcycle. She stays home with the kids while her husband is a motorcycle taxi driver in the Puerto Plata city. Nadia says she feels better that she doesn't have to work anymore and can stay home.

Some others came around and the church guard opened the church so we could meet there (away from the cold pouring rain that had been falling all week). It is truly heartbreaking to hear the conditions in which some of these ladies found themselves before. I had never cried hearing the story of a micro entrepreneur. I did that day.

Some of the program participants had decided not to take a loan at the end of the 40 days; they were expecting for the others to finish paying back this loan so they could join the group. They've seen that their friends can do it. This has given them the boost of confidence they were needing to take the next step.

We asked them which are some of their dreams. Many said to go to school. Others, to send their children to school. Some said to have better houses. Others said they'd like to make their migration situation legal in the Dominican Republic. Becoming a Dominican citizen is a long, expensive process even for citizens of more "favored" countries", and is not always easy. But they recognize it would improve their lives and open many opportunities for their children, so they intend to aim for it somehow.

The stories of Nadia and the other members of the Nueva Vida group are probably some of the most inspiring I have ever heard. These fearless micro entrepreneurs are truly admirable. Their example has been so powerful, other replicas of this program have been executed in other branch offices of Esperanza, such as Samana.

In the picture, from left to right: Nadia, her husband and myself, outside Nadia's house in Munoz.

Thank you for supporting this Kiva loan!

Sincerely,

Analin J Saturria - Kiva Coordinator for Esperanza International.