Adding to basket
Lilian is a member of the "Los Principiantes" (The Beginners) community bank in the city of Linares. She has been in the handicrafts business for twenty years, making decorations such as paintings and boxes made from wood and cardboard. She also restores antiques and furniture.
Lilian has a workshop in the area behind her home where she makes her products. She started working independently when she learned to paint on fabric through a free course. Over time, she did some research of her own and learned other techniques for using other materials, perfecting her work. She currently has several customers who work for well-known businesses in her city.
Lilian will use this loan to buy materials. Her dream is to have a larger vehicle for transporting her merchandise so that she can sell her products more easily. Lilian's is the only source of income for her household. She has five children but now only lives with her two youngest who are 20 and 17. Fondo Esperanza's loans have been very useful for Lilian since she has been able to grow her business, investing in more materials. It has also been pleasant for her to share with her fellow group members and to learn how to run her business during the group meetings.
Linares is an important urban center in Maule region which is located in the country' central zone. Farming and wine production are important activities in this area and a lot of the products are exported. Some of the main crops grown here are cereals (rice, wheat, corn and oats), vegetables (beets, cabbate, lettuce, chard and other vegetables) and fruit. Linares is the main rice-producing province in Chile. In fact, 78% of the national production of this cereal is grown in this province, especially in the town of Parral.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva volunteer anonymized. View original language description.
