Delia Cristian Bautista

Delia is a “feriante.” This means that once a week she travels four hours outside the city of Ayacucho, Peru to the “ferias” (rural markets) to buy the products which she brings home to sell to her urban community. The products she buys and sells vary, however the one thing she always sells is cheese. She loves the specific type of Ayacuchano cheese which is white and has a very strong taste salty, made from cow’s milk. The cheese is made in small blocks which she loads into her three buckets to sell. Along with cheese, when animals are available in the markets, mostly sheep and pigs, she also brings these home to sell the meat, a more profitable venture. Delia has many regular clients that depend on her for their weekly supplies of cheeses and meats, she explains, and she delivers these products straight to their doors.

This mother of two beautiful girls has been practicing this trade for as long as she can remember. Her mother was involved in the same venture, and she grew up traveling back and forth between city and countryside, learning the tricks of the trade. As a professional goal, Delia explains that for her entire life she has dreamed of owning her own small grocery store. An additional dream of hers is to one day be the owner of her very own home, to which she would attach the small store. Because she has been saving diligently for the past 8 years, Delia explains that she has been able to buy a piece of property, and as her capital continues to grow, she will soon be able to begin construction on her home and grocery store.

Delia says she feels very happy to have been a part of her village bank for the past 8 years. She has learned how to save her money and she has learned how to better maintain her home through the weekly lessons. With the $400 loan Delia is requesting, she will invest primarily in her cheese business, being able to buy and sell larger quantities, accumulating a larger clientele. She will also invest the money in transportation between countryside and city, which is an expensive element of her business.

Subscribe