Kiva Loans for Fundación Mario Santo Domingo (FMSD)

Felipe Santiago : Colombia

Thu, 17 May 2012 09:00:03 PDT

$350 of $625 raised.

Started raising funds on May 17, 2012

Felipe is 44 years old and lives in the city of Cartagena. He makes a living selling fast food and has done this for 3 years when, as an observer, he identified the need to offer a nutritious and delicious fast food product. Initially he only sold patacones (fried plantains) with cheese and fried meat, but he gradually diversified his offerings, adding new lines of products like hamburgers, hot dogs, sausages with french fries, etc. Currently things are going very well for him and in the future a very organized business with more products than a restaurant is seen. His greatest challenge in meeting his growing demand is not having enough working capital to respond to it. This is the reason for which he turns to his Kiva loan with which he will buy raw materials and some fixed assets that he needs for his business, like plastic chairs and tables. The growth of his customers demands this and he is going to respond to it. This is just the successful reason of his Kiva loan, the first funding that he's requested from the Fundación Mario Santo Domingo and with which he will achieve the start of his rising path.

Alix : Colombia

Thu, 24 May 2012 21:00:09 PDT

$125 of $1,700 raised.

Started raising funds on May 24, 2012

Alix, 48, has two businesses. One is making and selling baby clothing by order. The other is selling infant footwear that she buys in the city or orders from samples from the catalogs and distributes to stores throughout the north coast of the country. Alix has received 4 loans from the Mario Santo Domingo Foundation which have helped her to increase her market and her organizational structure. She initially had a very local market and has been able to expand to other regions of the country. Her goal for the future is to have a bar code and sell internationally, initially in neighboring countries until she expands further. Her greatest challenge is competition and the duration of her travels, which allow her to shore up her customer base and increase her sales volume. Currently she is applying for her 5th loan which she will use to buy fabric, lace, elastic, infant footwear and general materials. She wants to get them at the special discounts that her suppliers give when she buys in bulk and in cash. This is exactly the reason that her investment will be successful. She will make baby clothing and buy footwear, which she will add value to with her design techniques and finishing touches.

Pablo : Colombia

Thu, 24 May 2012 13:00:11 PDT

$325 of $1,150 raised.

Started raising funds on May 24, 2012

Pablo invested his previous Kiva loan in improvements to the facilities in his restaurant. Now his business looks more elegant and, above all, it is more comfortable. His customer base gradually increased and now he plans to make another investment. Pablo will buy supplies in large volumes because his new market of customers requires an immediate response. He will be able to do this with his new Kiva loan. Pablo would like to tell the Kiva lenders, "Thanks for the support you have given to me since it has been a great help to my business. I hope that you will continue supporting me and many other micro-entrepreneurs."

Jesús Emiro : Colombia

Sat, 26 May 2012 10:40:03 PDT

$100 of $450 raised.

Started raising funds on May 26, 2012

Jesús, 20, lives in the municipality of Malambo. He has profound admiration for his mother, because she taught him by example, and gave him financial support so that he could become a merchant. He started his retail business more than a year ago, when she gave him some cosmetics products, sweets and soft drinks to sell to help him pay for his university and create a way for him to cover his own expenses. Jesús started out selling to his fellow university students, and later, when he found employment in a company on the weekends, he added other customers among his work colleagues. His goal is to finish his university degree, and he is prepared to do this. At this time, he is applying for a Kiva loan, the first loan that he has taken from the Fundación Mario Santo Domingo, that he will use to buy cosmetic products and perfumes. He can get significant discounts from the catalogs that are promoting their merchandise, and so he will take advantage of these promotions, taking into account the orders he has from his customers. In this season of the year, sales increase because of family parties, religious festivities, etc. This investment is projected to be successful because it is supported by the market demand, and because he has gained the credibility of his customers with regard to the prices of the merchandise that he sells.

Mary Luz : Colombia

Sat, 26 May 2012 17:20:03 PDT

$50 of $850 raised.

Started raising funds on May 26, 2012

Mary invested her last Kiva loan in cosmetics and costume jewelry, which her customers bought, and she turned her investment around quickly. She is currently applying for a new Kiva loan with which she will increase her working capital because she wants to by more products that have been requested by her customers, such as perfume, ladies' accessories, and costume jewelry in general. She plans to have a successful investment because she will take advantage of the sales her suppliers offer for buying in volume and for paying in cash. Mary sends the following message to her Kiva lenders, "Thank you for your help and I hope you will keep supporting us with these types of loans, which are offered with low interest rates."

Violy : Colombia

Fri, 18 May 2012 04:00:07 PDT

$375 of $650 raised.

Started raising funds on May 18, 2012

Violy, 45, lives with her spouse and two children aged 4 and 6. She has a business she started four years ago at a friend's urging because Violy needed to support her household's wellbeing. So she gradually started up and was able to get connected with two organizations that sell products providing a specialized guide. Her main product lines are cosmetics and costume jewelry in general. Since Violy is an enterprising woman she knows business opportunities well when they present themselves, and takes advantage of them. Therefore she also sells drinks and refreshments in general to her neighbors and passerbys who visit her. Her goal down the road is to buy her home and expand her client base. Her great challenge for this latter goal is having sufficient working capital to achieve it. Thus she turns to her Kiva loan, her first financing with the Fundación Mario Santo Domestico. With it she will purchase toiletries and personal grooming products, cosmetics, colognes and other merchandise, given that Mothers' Day is coming up, a time in which businesses get a breath of fresh air if they have enough inventory to be able to impact their clients. So that's what she plans on doing with her Kiva loan: increase her sales and inject that additional working capital.

Yira Mercedes : Colombia

Wed, 23 May 2012 06:00:10 PDT

$150 of $475 raised.

Started raising funds on May 23, 2012

Yira is a 32-year-old married woman. She has an 11-year-old daughter who she dreams of seeing become a successful woman. Her daughter is her motivation for living, as well as her husband's. Yira has her own business in which she sells various merchandise such as comforters, women's clothing, sporting goods, and other items. Yira completed her high school education early. At the age 16, she began her technical career as an entry-level bank employee. She was able to transfer her knowledge into a job for a private company. Two years later, she decided to help her husband with his business in the retail sector. Yira also started her own line of businesses selling detailed items to a customer base that has gradually increased. At the moment, her goal to keep growing has not stopped and neither has the growth of her clientele. However, her operating capital is not sufficient for supporting her dream of obtaining more customers. For this reason, Yira is applying for a Kiva loan, her first form of financing through Fundación Mario Santo Domingo. She will use the money to buy comforters, shoes, household decor products, women's accessories, and other affordable items. These items will be purchased in a city along the Colombian border.

After being adjusted according to the type of business she operates, Yira's financial indicators shows that her accounts receivable period is 16 days, her product rotation period is 7 days, and her sales profitability is no less than 30%. Due to these financial reasons, it is projected that the investment of her Kiva loan will result in successful growth.

Jaime : Colombia

Thu, 24 May 2012 15:30:02 PDT

$150 of $600 raised.

Started raising funds on May 24, 2012

Jaime purchased materials for his production. He found good prices on imitation leather, zippers, and thread, and with these he made very attractive bags and briefcases at competitive prices. This has been what made an impact on his customers, and it happened thanks to his Kiva loan. Currently he is applying for a second loan, with which he will once more purchase materials and an industrial sewing machine to improve his production times and give his products a better finish. His message to the Kiva lenders is the following: "Thank you to all of you for this great support. A thousand blessings and continue supporting the productiveness of Columbia".

Horacio : Colombia

Sat, 26 May 2012 09:40:03 PDT

$50 of $650 raised.

Started raising funds on May 26, 2012

Horacio is a big handsome man who lives in the town of Puerto Colombia, a place located on the shores of the Caribbean sea. He states in a humorous way, as is the custom of the residents of this area, that a sausage prepared by him has "effects that activate the imagination," and the people can't help but smile at that. His business is very well-accepted in the market, because it is known for being a welcoming place with a Caribbean flavor. Horacio has his own business, and he works with his wife selling morcillas (sausages prepared with rice, pig's blood and vegetables), arepas (stuffed grilled corncakes), empanadas, beer, soft drinks and general groceries. For this couple, the business has done very well. But they have a dream of expanding it, and even converting it into an important sausage and cold cut distributor in the region, so that in the future their two children, now 18 and 21, can have a big company. His main challenge, given the expected growth in his market, is that his working capital is insufficient to allow him to buy in greater volume and expand his customer base. This is the reason that he came to apply for his Kiva loan, which will be his first loan with the Fundacion Mario Santo Domingo. With this loan, he will buy supplies to make sausages and fried foods. He will also buy soft drinks and other beverages that he will chill and sell to his customers, taking advantage of the heat and the thirst it produces in this land of beaches, breezes and sea which, in combination with his business experience, will make this investment very successful.

Juan Bautista : Colombia

Tue, 08 May 2012 00:20:03 PDT

$600 of $1,725 raised.

Started raising funds on May 8, 2012

With his previous Kiva loan, Juan bought wax and honeycomb foundation so that he could produce more honeycomb panels. He also purchased equipment for processing, packaging, and labeling the sweet honey that he sells. Juan is currently applying for a Kiva loan so that he can buy a centrifugal machine (for extracting honey) and more honeycomb foundation and tools for making new panels.

His message to the Kiva lenders is as follows: "I am extremely grateful for the overwhelming support you have given me. This opportunity has given people the chance to become familiar with my business. I also appreciate the training and advice from Fundación Mario Santo Domingo."

Stefany : Colombia

Tue, 08 May 2012 10:40:03 PDT

$325 of $650 raised.

Started raising funds on May 8, 2012

Stefany, 22, has a business by means of which she offers the public washing machine rental service; she also has a second activity which is selling beauty products via catalogue. Both activities contribute to family income. She started her business with her mother aiming at helping with household expenses and to be able to continue with her studies. Her initial capital was 300,000 Colombian pesos which gradually grew with her dedication to work; she’s continuing in this same direction. Her greatest challenge is having sufficient working capital to meet her dreams of expanding it and this is why she’s calling on a Kiva loan, her first financing with Fundación Mario Santo Domingo to buy washing machines and beauty products she has pending orders for from her best customers. With this she’ll increase her sales potential while also having a supply of cash to cover her accounts payable. Her goal for later on is to separate her commercial space from her residential space because her entire living room is taken up by the washing machines which does not lead to family tranquility that is so desired.

Diana Janneth : Colombia

Fri, 11 May 2012 10:50:01 PDT

$225 of $1,900 raised.

Started raising funds on May 11, 2012

Diana, with the support from her previous Kiva loan, purchased a machine that she needed for her sewing operation, and she began to outfit her business for its industrial and practical needs. She is presently requesting a loan to purchase an industrial collar machine and a sewing machine. These machines will allow her to transform her operation into a capable small business equipped with modern devices, and will allow her to attend to more clients. These improvements will make her business more efficient and effective for the present and future. Diana is very grateful to the Mario Santo Domingo Foundation and to Kiva for their support of her growing business.

Denis : Colombia

Tue, 15 May 2012 11:30:04 PDT

$250 of $1,200 raised.

Started raising funds on May 15, 2012

Denis is 40 years old and a very hardworking woman who has a family restaurant and tavern, which generates income that goes towards supporting her 3 sons, aged 15 to 21. Her business is located near a Colombian professional football stadium, which is the home stadium of Junior, the team of the city of Barranquilla. She sells ordinary meals from 6 am to 3 pm. From Monday to Friday, her customers are mainly people from the neighbourhood, passersby and construction workers, who buy with ready cash or have a tab. On weekends, her locale becomes a family tavern, where she sells beers and other alcohol to this neighbourhood clientele, which has been built over the years. They know her by now and they frequent her establishment more and more. This growing demand in her market is proving to be to much for Denis's resources: she cannot match the needs of her customers and thus asks for a Kiva loan, which is her first loan with field partner Fundación Mario Santo Domingo. She will use the funds to buy ingredients to prepare food, beverages and fresh drinks in order to be ready for the coming festivities, such as Mother's Day, Father's Day, and Secretary's Day. With the loan, she will be able to buy more supplies, make larger stocks of the products that are the most in demand, and increase her working capital. This is what Denis needs to slowly see her dream of advancing in life come true, since she owns a house, a car and a small business with which to continue improving her life.

Shirly : Colombia

Tue, 15 May 2012 11:50:03 PDT

$325 of $575 raised.

Started raising funds on May 15, 2012

Shirly lives in the town of Baranquilla with her spouse, who is a cab driver, and her two daughters, aged 13 and 15. She is a retailer: she sells discounted products from catalogues or specialised guides and she also buys small articles and small house appliances that she sells on credit to a customer base that was built over the years and that is now growing. She started her business 13 years ago on the suggestion of her sister-in-law. Shirly started by selling perfumes, make-up and accessories from two catalogues, which were the fundation of her business. Gradually, she managed to work with discount sales that she organises every season, for instance this month on the occasion of Mother's Day, Father's Day, and Secretary's Day. Shirly also sells steel jewellery, of which she buys a new stock once a week. Her goal for the future is to buy a house of her own. She and her husband are very determined to attain this goal in order to give their daughters a better quality of life and help them become successful. Shirly is asking for a Kiva loan, which is her first loan with field partner Fundación Mario Santo Domingo, in order to buy discounted merchandise, particularly articles that sell very well this time of year: cosmetics, perfumes, plushies, small appliances, etc. She is confident that this investment will pay off because of her experience, of the orders placed by her customers and of the coming season, which usually sees an increase in her sales.

Rosa : Colombia

Tue, 15 May 2012 17:30:01 PDT

$150 of $875 raised.

Started raising funds on May 15, 2012

Rosa is 43 years old, and with her credikiva loan she bought ingredients and food products, made improvements to a bathroom, and bought a freezer. Now she will use her loan to purchase miscellaneous goods, in order to generate new buying opportunities for her customers, as well as to purchase ingredients in bulk, in order to earn discounts that improve her competitive position and increase her sales. "I appreciate the trust and support and I hope to continue growing with your help. Thank you."

Judith : Colombia

Wed, 16 May 2012 15:20:02 PDT

$175 of $1,150 raised.

Started raising funds on May 16, 2012

Judith is a widow living in the city of Cartagena; she has four children whose ages range between 36 and 50 years. Her business history started 25 years ago when her creative capacity led her to an activity she could use to develop her potential and to generate income. This was how she organized her own workshop and with it has managed to support herself by her own means and to support her home’s wellbeing. Judith doesn’t like to depend on her family and lives proud to know that at the age of 74 she’s still producing money. She helps support three grandchildren’s university expenses and she prays to God that He gives her life and health to see them become successful professionals. Her business consists in manufacturing mops and also various lines of clothing as well as selling assorted merchandise. Her clientele is composed of referrals from customers around her neighborhood and adjacent zones. Her goal for later on is to have a locale and to move her business to a more strategically located spot to increase her market of customers and this is precisely her greatest challenge. At present, she’s applying for a Kiva loan, her first financing with Fundación Mario Santo Domingo that she’ll use to buy fabric to make women’s clothes she has on order and raw materials to make the mops and to increase production in the same ratio her clientele and marked demand has grown; she will also buy varied merchandise to have inventory on hand to respond to the May celebration which means the biggest sales in women’s articles: Mother’s Day. This strategy allows us at FMSD to visualize success for this investment.

Eliecer Enrique : Colombia

Fri, 18 May 2012 12:02:02 PDT

$150 of $400 raised.

Started raising funds on May 18, 2012

Eliecer, 38, is the father of two children who are 9 and 16 years old. He owns a fish shop in Soledad where he lives and has his business that has been in operation from generation to generation; he’s had it for approximately 20 years when he decided to start his own business venture because he likes it and needed to earn money daily to support his children who are currently attending school. His dream for later on is to have a good infrastructure in his fish shop and to have it well-located in a spot near home but his greatest challenge is not having enough working capital to accomplish this immediately which is precisely why he’s calling on a Kiva loan, his first financing from Fundación Mario Santo Domingo through which he’ll buy fish in larger amounts. It will be successful because his sales will increase and with them potentially so too will his income. While this occurs, his accounts receivable rotate every 30 days and his stock turns over daily; he has a profit margin of no less than 7% and these are financial indicators that we can use to project his growth.

William : Colombia

Tue, 22 May 2012 10:00:03 PDT

$100 of $650 raised.

Started raising funds on May 22, 2012

William is 45 years old. He is the father of a nineteen year old daughter and he lives in the southern part of the city, where he has own drink store. The store is part of a family tradition. His parents had a store where they sold basic retail goods and cold drinks. Later, his brother took over the business, which he eventually sold. This is how William took advantage of this strategic spot to start his own drink store. It is located in a high-traffic pedestrian area, which provides his business with a chance to grow. A year ago, William took out his first loan with the Fundación Mario Santo Domingo [Mario Santo Domingo Foundation], which he used to make improvements to his business by cleaning up damp areas so that today he has a more comfortable environment for his customers. Among his next goals is fortifying his marketing strategy by opening a new sales point. He wants to take advantage of his experience to generate more sales and continue growing his business. Currently, he is requesting this Kiva loan, which will be his second loan with the Foundation, to purchase cases of beer, alcohol, and snacks so that he can prepare for one of his busiest times of the year, the month of May. May brings family and religious celebrations, which place a demand on his products. These demands, together with his experience, will make this investment very successful.

Elsida Maria : Colombia

Mon, 21 May 2012 23:30:02 PDT

$150 of $575 raised.

Started raising funds on May 21, 2012

Elsida is 51 years old and lives to the south of the city with her husband and two children, ages 16 and 28. There she has a general store where she sells various products that the neighborhood families need for their homes. She also engages in the traditional trade of making clothes of all types. Her business started when she was a teenager upon finishing her high school studies. She enrolled with the National Learning Service (SENA), a technical education institution that is supported by the national government. Elsida studied sewing and interned at various family-owned workshops. From that point, she began promoting her products at a local market and started to gain many customers. As a result of having all of these customers, she was able to earn income to support her family. She continued on to successfully build her own workshop, which she still operates to this day. Elsida also takes advantage of her usual customers by providing them additional services, such as extending credit to people who she trusts. She gradually organized her general store to the point that she is able to sell a little bit of everything. Her sewing business enables her to participate in trade events such as fairs, traveling craft exhibits, and other promotions.

The growth of Elsida's business is expected to continue, so she is requesting a Kiva loan, her first form of financing through Fundación Mario Santo Domingo. She will use the money to buy an industrial upright sewing machine so that she can continue improving her technique, make productive use of her time, and become more effective in her work each day. At the same time, she will invest in fabrics in bulk so that she can obtain better prices. Her goal is to upgrade her equipment since it is very old and has restricted her on several occasions. Her greatest challenge is dealing with competitors who offer better prices, so she must respond by offering quality service in order to survive in the marketplace.

Miriam Del Socorro : Colombia

Mon, 21 May 2012 15:30:02 PDT

$125 of $1,725 raised.

Started raising funds on May 21, 2012

Miryam used her previous Kiva loan to buy a hair washing sink and a barber’s chair with which she’s improved her beauty salon’s furnishing to provide better customer service. She’s now applying for a new Kiva loan to buy an air conditioner, a display case and a table for manicures and pedicures because she intends later on to perfect her service still more expanding the customer service area and responding to the high demand from buyers of her products who have lately been asking for more brands. Her message to Kiva lenders is the following: “Kivans: I am very grateful to you for having made it possible for me to stay in business and make my dreams a reality. Many Thanks.”

Ana : Colombia

Tue, 22 May 2012 22:10:02 PDT

$75 of $625 raised.

Started raising funds on May 22, 2012

Ana is 62 years old and lives in the city of Barranquilla where she sells lunches and homemade food from her restaurant. She is separated with three children and has been involved with commercial activities since she was very young. Before getting married, Ana worked in a municipality on the border of Colombia, where she worked for 22 years in a store and gained the majority of her business experience. With her current business she has been able to provide her children with an education and bring them ahead in life. She acquired two homes and thus addressed her biggest challenges before moving to Barranquilla. In Barranquilla Ana has had various businesses, including selling stuffed arepas in a busy pedestrian area. She worked this business during night hours and in rough weather, and in addition it was located very far from her home so she wore herself out and decided to change activity. She rented a space where she began selling lunches, and she is still there two years later. Ana's main customers are taxi drivers, masons, and passersby. She has one employee whom she pays daily. Ana works from very early in the morning until 3 pm and sells every day for cash. Her business infrastructure is made up of an industrial stove, six sets of tables, a fridge, and metal shelving. Anna is applying for her first Kiva loan, which is also her first loan through the Fundación Mario Santo Domingo. With this loan she will purchase in bulk ingredients such as rice, grains, sugar, and meat for making lunches. This loan will be a success because through buying in bulk, Ana will be able to reduce her costs and thus be more competitive in the market.

Eugenia Isabel : Colombia

Wed, 23 May 2012 03:40:02 PDT

$100 of $475 raised.

Started raising funds on May 23, 2012

Eugenia is 33 years old. She lives in the town of Soledad with her spouse and her 13 year old daughter. She has a business there with which she makes lunches, snacks and sweets. She started her business 4 years ago, when she sold these products to various businesses with a friend. One day her friend went to live in another country, and the obligation to respind to her clientele became a big challenge. She decided to dedicate herself to one business and sell products for events with her daughter. It has gone well for her with her business and she is able to save money with which she has fixed up her home and buy what she needs. At present she is applying for a new Kiva loan, the first loan she has made with Fundación Mario Santo Domingo, with which she will buy a grinder, a dicer, repair her refrigerator and buy disposable products. Her investment will be succesful because it will improve her working conditions and in this enviroment she will be much more productive and that will impact her clientele, which is what will bring her earnings in the end.

Delcy : Colombia

Sat, 26 May 2012 07:20:03 PDT

$25 of $450 raised.

Started raising funds on May 26, 2012

Delcy, age 47, lives to the southwest of the city with her husband and her 17 year old son. She dreams of seeing her son become a very successful citizen. She has had a small business for six years. She sells cell phone and accessories for cell phones. She also offers telephone call service. Her products are excellent sellers. However, the technology advances, and it is a challenge every day to respond to her clientele with modern accessories and equipment. She makes her purchases two or three times a week, and her inventory turnover is ten days. She is currently applying for a Kiva loan, her first loan with the Fundación Mario Santo Domingo. She needs the loan to buy accessories that turn over more rapidly. She will use the loan to buy accessories and cell phones to respond to the unsatisfied demand in this sector of her market. Making these purchases, coupled with her experience, is what makes her Kiva loan have a high potential for success.

Gerardo : Colombia

Sat, 26 May 2012 16:40:03 PDT

$25 of $450 raised.

Started raising funds on May 26, 2012

Gerardo, 32 years old, lives with his spouse and two children, ages 7 and 13, southwest of the city. He studied until the eighth grade, but then began to work. His father, a mason, taught him how to do that work when he was a very young child. He worked in the trade until six years ago. Now Gerardo has a business recycling cardboard, plastic and copper principally. His business involves buying and selling scrap metal, an activity that generates family income, which has been increasing because his customer base has also been growing. Often he does not have sufficient working capital to make the purchases he needs in order to supply his customers. This is the reason he has approached KIVA lenders with his first funding request through Fundación Mario Santo Domingo. He will use the loan to buy cardboard, copper, iron and aluminum, all products for which he has as clients the large warehouses of the city. And this is just what he will do so that his KIVA loan investment will be successful.

Nimia Teresita : Colombia

Mon, 07 May 2012 13:40:02 PDT

$0 of $400 raised.

Started raising funds on May 7, 2012

Nimia, 63, lives in the city of Barranquilla with her husband, who is retired. They have three children, ages 32 to 39. She has been very active and hardworking since she was very young. With her energy she learned the trade of baking when she trained in the field. Up until two years ago she made pudding and sold it in various stores and to home customers, among acquaintances, family members, and friends. She also learned to make clothing, and she was making clothing, but her husband recommended that, for health reasons, she stop doing this work and dedicate herself to the home. This is why she decided to leave those jobs, looking for a job in which she could produce and be able to to it more comfortably and with greater flexibility. This was how she came to sell products through specialized guides or catalogues. She tried three businesses until she chose one of them because she liked its work method and adapted it to her clientele, which she has built from among her friends and family members, who have referred her to other buyers. This has turned into her sales strategy with her best customers. Nimia grants one-month deadlines to pay for her products. She works alone in her business and permanently visits her actual and potential customers to achieve business competitiveness. In general she maintains no inventory because she sells all the products she requests and works on customer orders. But many times they ask her for products she does not have at the moment, and this is the reason she is coming for a Kiva loan, the first financing she has requested from Fundación Mario Santo Domingo. With it she will buy a variety of merchandise of what most turns over in her business, such as cosmetics, jewelry, costume jewelry, and make-up. She will sell these on order and also keep some in stock, which will allow her to attract a greater number of customers and earn a little bit more money. This is where the success of her investment lies.

Muriel : Colombia

Mon, 07 May 2012 22:00:09 PDT

$25 of $1,725 raised.

Started raising funds on May 7, 2012

With her previous loan, Muriel bought food products, snacks, vegetables, and fruits to increase her sales. She continued to maintain a large inventory because of the loan.

Today she plans to receive a new loan that will supply her with a little more operating capital. She will invest in household products and items that have high turnover, such as fruits and vegetables. Muriel would like to send the following message to Kiva lenders: "I express my deepest thanks for your unconditional support. May God bless you for the good work that is being done in our country, which is in great need."

Osmelia : Colombia

Mon, 07 May 2012 22:20:03 PDT

$50 of $575 raised.

Started raising funds on May 7, 2012

With her previous loan, Osmelia bought a deep fryer and a manual grinder. She also had a natural gas connection installed. Osmelia is very satisfied because she is comfortable and effective in her production.

She is currently applying for a new Kiva loan so that she can buy soft drinks by the case and seating. Her message to the Kiva lenders is as follows: "Thank you for the loan you have made to me. It has served me well because the sales in my business have increased, allowing my family to live comfortably."

Vilma : Colombia

Tue, 08 May 2012 09:00:04 PDT

$0 of $1,200 raised.

Started raising funds on May 8, 2012

With her previous loan, Vilma fulfilled her customers' orders because she was able to buy a variety of merchandise such as clothing, shoes, and cosmetics. As a result, she was able to earn a little more income. She now wants to buy a larger volume of merchandise, especially women's products. Vilma needs funding so that she can place her orders in time for Mother's Day and Secretary's Day, the dates when her sales volume normally increases.

Her message to the Kiva lenders is as follows: "I express many thanks for the financial support I have received. It has helped to increase my sales, my operating capital, and my profits, which have also raised my standard of living."

Maria Eugenia : Colombia

Tue, 08 May 2012 07:40:05 PDT

$25 of $1,825 raised.

Started raising funds on May 8, 2012

María Eugenia, 62, is a widowed woman who has four children and lives in the city of Barranquilla. There she has a little general store and sells a variety of merchandise retail, such as stationery supplies, articles of silver, clothing, footwear, etc. Her entrepreneurial experience dates to 25 years ago when she began selling fried pies, fried foods, and fast food in general. It went very well for her in this and so she planned to travel to a border town where she bought various articles, such as sweaters and bedclothes, at good prices; she sold to customers who had asked her to buy for them. Some time later she got pregnant and was unable to continue to travel. She sought the help of a partner but the business did not work out and it brought her losses. This is why she decided to study cosmetology, and when she finished her studies, she got a job in a beauty salon where she acquired a lot of experience for 13 years. It went very well for her, but her husband got sick and she had to abandon this work to care for him exclusively. When he died, she was alone and she decided to generate income by selling merchandise. She began to travel to the city of Medellín to buy merchandise, and as it went well for her, later she acquired her display cases and she stocked them. Currently she is very highly regarded in her neighborhood. Her main customers are neighbors, family members, friends, and referrals, preferably school and university employees, who buy from her to pay in negotiable installments. In her business she receives her daughter's help taking care of the daily sales in her shop, which require her to be on duty all the time because she does business in cash. They are very close in her family and her children and grandchildren are part of it. She shares all the household expenses with them. María Eugenia has additional income generated from two public-service taxis. She also does hairdressing when she can for steady customers who do not change their beauty service and who have confidence in her knowledge and experience to improve their image. Currently she is applying for a Kiva loan, her first financing from Fundación Mario Santo Domingo. She will buy merchandise for the celebration of Mother's Day, a time in which her sales increase and she adapts her offerings to the needs of her women customers, who buy cosmetics, clothing, footwear, home products, and stationery. And this is precisely the reason for the success of her investment, the product of her Kiva loan.

Eric : Colombia

Tue, 08 May 2012 07:00:08 PDT

$25 of $575 raised.

Started raising funds on May 8, 2012

Eric used his previous Kiva loan to buy supplies such as corn, potatoes, rice and some equipment, such as pots and spoons, in order to make the products that he sells. Currently he is applying for a new Kiva loan to buy supplies again, but in greater volume. Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Secretary’s Day are approaching and these celebrations bring with them many orders for food. This insures that the investment will be successful. Eric’s message to Kiva lenders is the following: “Thank you for helping small businessmen succeed with their business plans.”

Lisbeth : Colombia

Tue, 08 May 2012 07:50:01 PDT

$150 of $650 raised.

Started raising funds on May 8, 2012

Lisbeth, age 46, lives in the Polonuevo municipality. She makes clothes, and her experience dates back to when she worked for a large company making clothes. She has been exercising the art of making clothes for five years. She works independently using the techniques to make lingerie and making beautiful outfits for babies. Her business has been very profitable because she has gradually won over a fixed clientele. She takes advantage of this in order to sell varied merchandise. She added this business in order to generate new income with her great potential to have buyers. Each day they refer new buyers to her. Her goal for later is to organize her shop and to have her own store. However, her greatest challenge is that she does not have enough working capital to achieve her objectives. She is currently applying for a Kiva loan, her first loan with the Fundación Mario Santo Domingo. She will use the loan to buy raw materials, fabric, and supplies. She will buy showcases to arrange her display and increase her sales. She will fill the orders of her most valued customers. Her customers are getting gifts ready to celebrate Mother’s Day. They very surely will do so by giving gifts that Lisbeth has selected. She does so with the quality and tenderness that she is known for, which motivates her customers to buy from her.

Hena Raquel : Colombia

Tue, 08 May 2012 11:30:03 PDT

$25 of $700 raised.

Started raising funds on May 8, 2012

Hena, 77, worked in an office and when she stopped doing so she separated from her husband. Everything became very difficult and this is how in order to generate income she relied on a girlfriend who supplied her with some goods for her to sell. Hena started her business overcoming everything because selling cosmetics and other merchandise wasn’t easy because she wasn’t accustomed to this. But she did it visiting her coworkers and gradually built up a clientele among them. She’d sell on credit and as she collected payments she’d spend it buying downtown to respond to orders. Five years ago she became associated with firms that sell their products via catalogues; she’s with four of them and used income to set up a miscellany store. She bought display cases and stocked them and lately has been selling merchandise independent from the catalogues and is able to stay in business buying items that are on special in order to offer competitive prices so that her customers are able to buy from her. She sells mainly on credit she extends to her clientele and the money is recuperated in a period of about two months depending on the amount of merchandise and the amount of financing. Because she lives renting with her son, she has inventory that she displays at her sister’s house which is near her house. Hena is a very hardworking woman who also earns monthly income which is a profit or percentage she gets from the city’s regional lottery where people who buy from her hope to win a house or a car. Her clientele in this business are people who buy repeatedly so she considers them to be regular customers. She is applying for a Kiva loan at present, her fourth financing with Fundación Mario Santo Domingo that she’ll use to buy good quality merchandise brought from the city of Bucaramanga in Santander Department because good quality leather goods like shoes are made there, also clothes and items she has orders pending for Mother’s Day which is a day when her customers want to be elegant and honor the most beloved being on earth: The Mother.

Fanny : Colombia

Tue, 08 May 2012 11:40:10 PDT

$25 of $650 raised.

Started raising funds on May 8, 2012

Fanny, 42, lives in the town of Soledad with her six year old son who is the motivator of the work dynamic that is her daily routine to make a successful future happen. Fanny owns a miscellany store where she sells varied merchandise like stationery supplies, accessories for women and for the home, clothes, shoes and cosmetics, among others. She’s also a retiree from a firm and decided two years ago to start her own business adventure to provide her son with greater wellbeing. Her main market is people who live around her business and in other nearby neighborhoods who are gradually getting to know her. She sells to them for cash and has some customers located in downtown Barranquilla and in the town of Soledad that she offers credit to. Her greatest dream is to add a second floor to her house so she strives daily to find new customers to generate income that will make this possible. Her greatest challenge is not having sufficient working capital to reach her goals immediately. This is the reason why she’s calling on her Kiva loan, the first financing from Fundación Mario Santo Domingo to buy varied merchandise, perfume, candy, beauty products, clothes and shoes that she’ll buy downtown and other merchandise that are on sale in her catalogues she plans to impact the market with during the month when Mother’s Day is celebrated which is a season of high sales thus insuring that this investment will be successful and she will reach her objective.

Luz Estella : Colombia

Tue, 08 May 2012 10:30:02 PDT

$50 of $650 raised.

Started raising funds on May 8, 2012

Luz, 29 years old, lives in the municipality of Soledad with her husband and their 3 children, ages 1 to 8. Here she dedicates herself to 2 income-generating activities; on the one hand, she sell varied merchandise such as clothes and shoes, and on the other, she sells creole hens. When she was 9 years old, Luz began selling merchandise, attending to the necessities of customers located in her own barrio. Gradually, she reached the outskirts and, very soon, she became known in surrounding areas. Luz' products are sold on credit in customers' homes, twice a week. She collects payments weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, according to what was agreed upon with individual customers. Her purchases are paid for in cash, taking care to cover her accounts, and are made in Barranquilla, some 20 minutes from the municipality where she lives. Luz' goal for the future is to acquire her own home, but her biggest challenge is to acquire sufficient resources to attend to her market, to grow as an entrepreneur, and to be able to achieve her dreams. This is why she is seeking a Kiva loan, the 1st financing she has requested through Fundacion Mario Santo Domingo, which she will use to purchase clothing, shoes, cosmetics and hens. Luz wishes to respond to market demand for one of the biggest commercial days of the year: Mother's Day, a time when her customers want to feel elegant and obtain the best gifts for a marvelous person, the woman who is a mother.

Nidian : Colombia

Tue, 08 May 2012 08:10:03 PDT

$50 of $650 raised.

Started raising funds on May 8, 2012

Nidian is 53 years old and lives in Soledad. She is the mother of three children who are 16, 24 and 30 years old. Nidian has a general store where she sells a variety of merchandise. She also spends part of her mornings preparing and selling lunches. These businesses both make her income which has helped her to improve the well-being of her household. Nidian's life as a saleswoman began six years ago when she started selling products through specialized catalogs. Her business has slowly grown and she has bought display cabinets where she can display her products nicely. In addition, she also sells sweet treats and cell phone minutes which makes her additional income. She makes the most of the fact that she has 'captive' customers who visit her each day. Nidian makes her sales for cash and on credit, after carefully weighing up her customers. She acquires her confectionery products and the supplies she needs to prepare her lunches in Barranquilla city center for cash. She buys the merchandise that she sells through her catalogs on credit. Nidian's goal for the future is to have larger premises which are dedicated to her business. However, her biggest challenge is having enough cash funds to expand her business, respond to her customers and ensure she always has a well-stocked store. For this reason, she is applying for a Kiva loan (her first loan through Fundación Mario Santo Domingo). She will use it to buy catalog cosmetics, confectionery and a larger volume of supplies so that she can produce even more food. Her success with this investment lies in her experience and the fact that her purchase is responding to orders from her customers and her current product turnover.

Alexandra Isabel : Colombia

Tue, 08 May 2012 08:40:02 PDT

$25 of $575 raised.

Started raising funds on May 8, 2012

Alexandra is satisfied with the investment of her previous loan because she was able to buy supplies in large lots and to repair some of her business equipment. This has made her more productive and given her peace of mind. She is now ready for a new Kiva loan to buy supplies and to start a better equipped restaurant in which she and a friend would be partners. Her message to Kiva lenders is that she is grateful for their support and that they should continue funding micro businesses. She predicts their investment will lead to success.

Damaris : Colombia

Tue, 08 May 2012 08:50:02 PDT

$75 of $875 raised.

Started raising funds on May 8, 2012

With her previous loan, Damaris bought supplies and various business equipment that she quickly put to use. This made her business more productive because she was able to adapt her kitchen. Now she is applying for a new loan that she will use to repair washing machines and to buy supplies for her two businesses: food sales and washing machine rentals. Her message to Kiva lenders is: “I am immensely grateful for the loan, which helps me keep my businesses going."

Liz Angélica : Colombia

Tue, 08 May 2012 09:10:04 PDT

$0 of $575 raised.

Started raising funds on May 8, 2012

Liz is 25 years old. She lives in the southwestern part of the city of Barranquilla. She has been selling women's shoes for 2 years since she stopped working as a salesperson in a department store. She received her severance pay and started her own business adventure, investing five hundred thousand pesos COP in the purchase of women's shoes. She took advantage of the fact that she had friends who were going to a popular festival and needed shoes for that occasion, and that's how she started her business. Today she has an established customer base, referred to her through her work and the high quality of the products she sells. Liz's dream is to expand her business so that she has sufficient income, which she will use to purchase her own home and make it possible for her 2 children to get an education. Her children are ages 2 and less than one year. They are the drivers behind her persistent work and that of her husband. Her greatest challenge right now is that she doesn't have sufficient capital to respond to market demand. For this reason she has come to credikiva. This is her first loan with Fundación Mario Santo Domingo which she will use to purchase women's shoes to fill orders that her best clients have placed to wear on Mother's Day and to give as gifts to the most marvelous person on Earth. She believes her investment will be successful because it responds to market demand, which ensures that she will sell her product and serve her most profitable customers. When this happens she will have a profit margin of no less than 32%, so we predict her business will grow.

Loraine : Colombia

Tue, 08 May 2012 09:20:02 PDT

$50 of $650 raised.

Started raising funds on May 8, 2012

Loraine is 20 years old and lives with her husband in the municipality of Sabanagrande, very close to the city of Barranquilla. She has been a salesperson for 2 years, since finishing high school. She was very attracted to sales, because she was able to help out her mother. When she set up her home she decided she wanted to bring in income to improve her wellbeing every day, which she has done. With her husband she has expanded the line of products she sells and she now sells cosmetics and housewares, among other items, which fill the orders she receives every day from her customers. Currently her most important goal is to expand her business but the challenge she faces is a lack of capital to fulfill this dream. She has many orders and has to handle each one skillfully in order to fill them. For this reason she has come to Kiva. This is her first loan with Fundación Mario Santo Domingo, which she will use to purchase cosmetics, perfume, and plasticware. Special dates such as Mother's Day are approaching, and Loraine hopes to have her best sales of the year. She is used to being successful and with her Kiva loan she will increase her capital to serve her customers and successfully use her investment.

Nancy : Colombia

Tue, 08 May 2012 09:30:02 PDT

$50 of $650 raised.

Started raising funds on May 8, 2012

Nancy is 59 years old. She prepares and sells food in a location north of the city. She came up with the idea for her business 6 years ago when she started selling snacks and breakfasts to a clinic located in front of her business. Gradually, the quality of her products created new opportunities, more customers, and more new products. She began to diversify her offerings to meet her customers’ needs and earn more money. Little by little she purchased more chairs, and improved her building space to accommodate more customers. With the help of her sisters, today she is able to meet demand. The business is still growing, but she does not have enough capital to totally fix up her space, which is why she has come to Kiva. This is her first loan with Fundación Mario Santo Domingo. She will use it to buy ingredients in bulk, and to purchase chairs and a stove which she will use to improve her business and its profitability in the short term. This will allow her to meet her obligations and support the desired growth potential of her business.

Maria : Colombia

Tue, 08 May 2012 09:20:03 PDT

$75 of $475 raised.

Started raising funds on May 8, 2012

María used her previous Kiva loan to buy more raw materials than usual. She also bought supplies and some utensils with which to develop her business. She is now preparing to receive a new Kiva loan which she will invest, once again, in buying raw materials wholesale and a few more utensils because her business is growing. Her message to Kiva lenders is as follows: "Thank you everybody for your contributions which help me to increase my business. I have seen how it has grown and I believe that it will grow further still if I can rely on support like yours".

Liria : Colombia

Tue, 08 May 2012 09:50:02 PDT

$0 of $575 raised.

Started raising funds on May 8, 2012

Liria is a 55-year-old saleswoman who lives in the south of the city of Barranquilla. She has three children who are between 31 and 37 years old. Liria makes income selling food products, snacks, meat, soft drinks, tubers and other basic household products that she buys daily, weekly or monthly, in agreement with each supplier. She makes her sales retail and mainly sells for cash. She has been running her business from her home for more than 10 years and it allows her to cover her expenses. Liria lives and manages her business alone. Her goal for the future is to separate her personal space from her business space and she works constantly in order to make the income she needs to achieve this. Her biggest challenge in achieving her goal is that she does not have enough working capital to structure things in the way she wishes. For this reason, she is requesting a Kiva loan (her first loan from Fundación Mario Santo Domingo) in order to gain new working capital to use in her business. She will buy merchandise, acquire a good stock of products, increase her income through having more stock and buy in larger volumes. This is the reason she will succeed with her Kiva loan.

Angel Sofia : Colombia

Tue, 08 May 2012 10:30:03 PDT

$175 of $875 raised.

Started raising funds on May 8, 2012

Angel, 57, makes clothing for the family in her business that she calls Clínica de Ropa [Clothing Clinic] because she also offers fitting and mending. She started her business many years ago with the goal of generating her own income to help support the household. Currently her plans for growth have not ceased, and she needs to grow in clientele and infrastructure. This is why she is coming to request a mixed loan with which to buy a machine to make her methods more effective. She also will buy raw materials to make new designs for which she already has orders. Her long-term goal is to have her own house and prosper with her shop, generating jobs for operators to help her expand the size of her market. Her greatest challenge is not having sufficient working capital to achieve this. With her Kiva loan, she will begin the road to prosperity that she so desires.

Nuris : Colombia

Tue, 08 May 2012 10:20:02 PDT

$0 of $1,000 raised.

Started raising funds on May 8, 2012

43-year-old Nuris is a married woman who has three children between the ages of 11 and 19. Her business is selling products that she promotes through specialist guides or catalogs. She started this business in 1995 when she stopped working for a company and used her severance pay to start up her own business venture. She bought merchandise in other cities in Colombia and started selling it on credit in Barranquilla. Although things went very well, she soon became pregnant and, on her husband's suggestion, stopped working in her business. However, as her son grew up she started working in the business again with renewed vigor and a lot of life experience. She sold products through different magazines which she was offered at her door and, as a result of her sales ability, she managed to increase her customer base and also her purchasing power. Although she sells a small amount of stock, her business does very well because she manages to sell everything she buys, especially during seasons such as the one which is approaching when people celebrate Mother's Day and Father's Day. At these times of year, she does not have enough working capital to fill her orders in a timely manner and thereby strengthen her income. In her business, Nuris' main customers are neighbors, family members and people who she has been recommended to. She sells on credit and collects payments every two weeks. She also buys on credit every 21 days. This Kiva loan is Nuris' first loan from Fundación Mario Santo Domingo. She will use it to buy perfume, cosmetics, clothing and general accessories. This will enable her to fill the orders of her most faithful customers and she will continue earning a little more. Her goal for the future is to have display cabinets, in which to display her products, and well-equipped premises that offer her and her customers a comfortable environment. In this way, she hopes to make enough income that she can offer her children the possibility of studying at university and becoming successful people.

Elvira : Colombia

Tue, 08 May 2012 10:30:04 PDT

$0 of $575 raised.

Started raising funds on May 8, 2012

Elvira, 53, lives with her spouse in the city of Barranquilla and has four children whose ages range from 13 to 32. She owns a sewing workshop that she started twenty years ago with a simple sewing machine she remembers having bought on credit for five-hundred thousand Colombian pesos. Initially she sewed for family members but gradually her neighbors started to find out and this was when she started to develop as a business. She currently has two industrial machines and very much wants to expand her technical infrastructure to attain better productive efficiency which is precisely why she’s calling on a Kiva loan, her first financing from Fundación Mario Santo Domingo to buy a semi-electric, seven-thread sewing machine to better finish her articles of clothing to attain better customer satisfaction. Her goal for later on is to have her own store with clothing designed and manufactured in her shop and her greatest challenge is to have sufficient working capital to invest, to increase her market share and to generate higher income to increase her family’s wellbeing.

Vilma : Colombia

Tue, 08 May 2012 11:50:00 PDT

$75 of $650 raised.

Started raising funds on May 8, 2012

Vilma, 54, is a married woman; she has two children who are 25 and 29 years old. She is a merchant. She sells stationery supplies, ice-cream and catalogue products; she also offers Internet access and photocopying services at home. She started her initial business idea when she resigned from her old job seven years ago. To do so her children helped her out giving her the initial capital to start off. She first started selling minutes and local calls and Internet. A year later she accepted the proposal to sell merchandise via catalogue and has gradually been increasing her assets and diversifying her products to the extent that she now sells via five catalogues. Vilma is very well known in the sector so she doesn’t lack a good clientele. She’s very hardworking; her work schedule starts at 8am. The assets she has thanks to her hard, disciplined work are: three display cases, a freezer, a photocopier, an air conditioner, four shelves, tables and a printer. Her suppliers work with her directly and deliver to her home. She makes her purchases every 21 days and she sells on credit receiving payments either biweekly or monthly according to the characteristics of each customer. She is currently applying for a Kiva loan to buy varied merchandise that her five catalogues have on sale with good discounts to respond to pending orders because she needs money on hand to handle her invoices because she sells on credit and her rotation isn’t fast enough to respond to all the customer orders she has ending for Mother’s Day.

Nanis : Colombia

Tue, 08 May 2012 12:10:11 PDT

$50 of $575 raised.

Started raising funds on May 8, 2012

Nanis is 48 years old and lives on the South side of the city with her spouse and has two children, ages 7 and 25. Her commercial enterprise s the sales of a variety of products on credit via specialized guides and catalogs for those who are interested in her advertising. Since she was very young, she worked as an employee and lately, when she couldn't find work, her business was created as the best way for her to make money to help her family and improve her home. Her goal for the future is to have a shop and achieve business growth, but her biggest roadblock is the lack of working capital to meet her goals. This is the reason that she is seeking a micro-loan, the first financing that she's done with Fundación Mario Santo Domingo, with which she will buy cosmetics, feminine accessories, and stationary to fill her glass cases and to have ready items to give to her faithful customers, especially because Mother's Day is coming right up and the number of sales are increasing. That's why Nanis needs to have a capital fund to respond to this level of demand.

Isabel : Colombia

Tue, 08 May 2012 12:40:03 PDT

$100 of $650 raised.

Started raising funds on May 8, 2012

Isabel is 65 years old. She has a store selling miscellaneous items in the municipality of Malambo, where she lives with her husband. She has 5 children, ranging in age from 33 to 40. Isabel and her husband of more than 20 years have dedicated themselves to commercial activity, sometimes a store, other times stands which they rent in the municipality of Soledad and the city of Barranquilla. With this, they have been able to successfully raise their children, who are now happily married. All of this business experience led Isabel to look for an activity which would produce greater returns with a lower effort due to her age. For this reason, she decided to dedicate herself to selling chemical products, paper goods and miscellaneous items from a sales stand located in her own home. Her business was gradually able to position itself in the market of her community. Up to now, she has received 6 loans from the Mario Santo Domingo Foundation, an organization to which she has been linked for many years, and with which she has been able to grow in her well-being, because Isabel has managed her loans very well. For this reason it has gone so well for her that she was able to acquire her home and educate her children. Today, she is applying for a Kiva loan with which she will buy a floor mat, disposable products, paper goods and natural products, because with these she will stock up her shelves and offer a range of goods that will have an impact on her customers.

Maria : Colombia

Tue, 08 May 2012 18:10:01 PDT

$175 of $650 raised.

Started raising funds on May 8, 2012

Maria is 43 years old. She lives with her spouse in the south part of town. She is a seamstress, and activity she started 10 years ago. After she had worked in various workshops in the city she decided she start her own business venture to become totally autonomous. Right now she has her workshop in her house and works with her sister in a line of casual clothing for the whole family. She also has an industrial line because she makes uniforms for businesses and schools. Her goal is to have her workshop totally organized and have her business registry which will allow her to grow her aspirations for new markets. Her biggest challenge is that her working capital isn't enough to make her dream come true. This is the reason she has turned to a Kiva loan, the first loan she has taken out with the Fundación Mario Santo Domingo. With it, she will buy an industrial overlock sewing machine to do better finishings on the clothing she makes and improve her production time. Her reason for success with this investment is that it will facilitate her making another type of clothing, increase her market and improve her time saving process, which will translate into money.

Maria Manuela : Colombia

Wed, 09 May 2012 19:40:02 PDT

$0 of $575 raised.

Started raising funds on May 9, 2012

Maria is 33 years old and lives to the south of the city with her husband and three children who are between the ages of 7 and 17. There she sells merchandise offered through catalogs and specialty guides that she always has available. Her initial seed capital was 300,000 COP, which she obtained from the hands of her husband. She invested the money in materials, supplies, and equipment for her work of improving people's images. Her business grew gradually and she added products from related catalogs. She has done very well because she provides beauty services from her home. Maria is also an image consultant and sells cosmetic products on credit.

In this business that relies on referrals in order to gain new clients, her greatest challenge is the lack of capital for attracting potential customers. For this reason, she is applying for a Kiva loan, her first form of financing from Fundación Mario Santo Domingo. She will use the money to buy beauty supplies for her work and cosmetics to sell. The reason why her investment will be successful is that she now has a line of credit that will enable her to respond to new customers.

Benilda : Colombia

Mon, 14 May 2012 02:10:02 PDT

$50 of $650 raised.

Started raising funds on May 14, 2012

Benilda, 50, has a 28-year-old son and granddaughter who she lives with in the city of Barranquilla. She is a personal image professional who offers her beauty services to women, men and children at the beauty salon where she lives. She is an entrepreneur who started her own business 20 years ago because of the passion she feels for the work she does every day. Her customers put themselves in her hands so they can walk out beautiful and relaxed, not only because of the quality service she offers but also because of her warmth as a person. One of her goals is to renovate her beauty shop to offer other beauty services, since her shop has enough space; and she also plans to hire a beautician. Her greatest challenge is diversifying her product offer correctly with this new service, and having enough working capital to meet her expansion goals. She is currently applying for a CrediKiva loan which is her first through the Mario Santo Domingo Foundation. It will be used to buy beauty supplies such as hair color, straightener, shampoo, creams and colognes. With the loan she will be able to increase her working capital somewhat and be able to buy more volume and obtain greater discounts from her suppliers. This is why her investment will be successful.

Claribel : Colombia

Mon, 14 May 2012 02:20:01 PDT

$25 of $575 raised.

Started raising funds on May 14, 2012

Claribel, 49, lives in Puerto Colombia, a town on the seacoast, with her husband and two children, aged 29 and 30. For four years she has been in sales and generating enough income to help support the household. Her main products are the different brands of cosmetics that she sells by catalogue. She has four specialized catalogues from multinational companies with whom she does business. Her market reaches customers ranging from Puerto Colombia to the city of Barranquilla which is about 20 minutes away. She asks for a 50% downpayment upon delivery, then gives credit for the remaining value of ordered products. Each customer has a payment plan, with terms no greater than 30 days. Gradually, her orders have increased, especially during celebrations such as Mother's Day, which is approaching. At home she always keeps a stock of the more popular products so that customers do not have to leave empty-handed. She always takes advantage of the sales offered in the catalogues to make an impact on her market. One of her goals is to have a small display case, so she has requested a CrediKiva loan, her first through the Mario Santo Domingo Foundation. She plans to use it to buy a metal display case to organize her inventory and products requested by her customers, such as perfumes, women's accessories, jewlery, etc. The reason her investment will be successful is her great experience, the opportunity to buy larger volumes of sale items and the celebration season, with days such as Mother's Day, Secretary's Day and Father's Day.

Edgardo : Colombia

Mon, 14 May 2012 02:50:18 PDT

$100 of $650 raised.

Started raising funds on May 14, 2012

Edgardo is 45 years old and lives with his spouse and his two children in the town of Soledad, where he makes washbasins out of granite in a space near his home. He sells them to neighbours, family members, and through referrals. They constitute they main customer base, but he also sells his products to a construction company of the area, which places orders in greater quantities than usual. Edgardo's goal is to make his business grow; he would like to hire people as well as to generate more capital to have at his disposal. This is his great challenge and what motivates him to ask for a Kiva loan, which is his first loan with field partner Fundación Mario Santo Domingo. He will use this loan to buy white cement, white and black granite, sand, lime and other raw materials. He will use these to increase his production of washbasins and he will also try to obtain better prices in order to reduce his costs. This is why, together with his experience and willingness to work hard, he is confident his investment will pay off.

Manuel : Colombia

Mon, 14 May 2012 10:30:03 PDT

$25 of $575 raised.

Started raising funds on May 14, 2012

Manuel, who is 51 years old, lives in the town of Soledad with his spouse and his three children aged 23 to 29. He trades in produce and fish, which he buys in the town of San Jacinto in the district of Bolívar, where he comes from. He sells them to shops, retailers and grocery stores of the area and he distributes them in a cart to neighbourhoods in the area. His goal is to make his business grow by buying whole harvests at a time, in order to become one of the major distributors in his district. The main challenges he faces are the seasonal nature of his trade and the fact that his working capital is not enough to meet growing demand. This is why he asks for a Kiva loan, which is his first loan with field partner Fundación Mario Santo Domingo. He will use the funds to buy avocadoes, pig meat, yam, fish, whey, cheese, and sapodilla plum. He is confident he will succeed because this investment will enable him to offer a wider range of products and thus be less dependent on the seasonal nature of his trade. He will have an important working capital and will be able to take advantage of harvesting time to buy for better prices and sell in greater quantities.

Heidy : Colombia

Mon, 14 May 2012 03:00:11 PDT

$100 of $1,425 raised.

Started raising funds on May 14, 2012

Heidy is 36 years old and lives in the town of Soledad, where she sells beauty products as well as tools and professional equipment. Her main products are hair dyes, shampoo, conditioner, lotions, and tools and machines used in beauty salons and educational institutions that teach hairdressing and techniques for improving someone's personal and professional image. Heidy's main goal is to attain smooth growth and to be recognised as a seller of high-quality products. Her main challenges are to gain customers that order in greater quantities and to have enough capital to respond to a potentially increasing demand. This is why she asks for a Kiva loan, which is her first loan with field partner Fundación Mario Santo Domingo. She will use the funds to buy beauty products in greater quantities, which will net her a discount. She wants the range of goods she offers to make an impression on her customers, which will help her sell more, particularly at this time of year, where demand is higher, because beauty salons order more so as to face the demand for Mother's Day, Secretary's Day and Father's Day.

Elezenia : Colombia

Mon, 14 May 2012 02:30:01 PDT

$25 of $875 raised.

Started raising funds on May 14, 2012

Elezenia is 34 years old. She lives in the south of the city with her spouse and two children, aged 6 and 16. There she dedicates herself to improving the personal and professional image of her customers, because she is a beauty stylist, and she also sells a variety of merchandise. Her business began when she was a student, and she dedicated herself to commercial activity, selling Golfi gold jewelry and t-shirts to her fellow students, who paid her in installments. Upon finishing her technical degree as a beautician, since she did not find work, she added personal services to her sale of merchandise, offering haircuts, pedicures, manicures, etc., in customers' homes. Also, on weekends she sells cold drinks. Her goal for the future is to have a shop where she can set up her beauty salon as well as a display area for her products, including beverages and cosmetics, among other merchandise. Her greatest challenge is to have enough working capital to achieve her goal little by little. This is the reason for her application for a Kiva loan, her first financing with the Mario Santo Domingo Foundation. She will use it to buy hair care products, cosmetics, and beverages, to strengthen her three businesses in a season during which her sales usually increase, with the celebration of Mother's Day, Father's Day, Secretaries' Day, etc.

Luis : Colombia

Mon, 14 May 2012 03:00:12 PDT

$0 of $650 raised.

Started raising funds on May 14, 2012

Luis is 28 years old. He lives with his spouse, and he works in trade, selling belts and buckles on a wholesale and retail basis. Since he was a child, this activity has been his greatest skill, for which he has an impressive aptitude. Previously, Luis operated his business outside of an important shopping center in the south of the city, but he was relocated by the local state and he is now set up in a place designated to gather together the mobile vendors. He works from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. from Monday through Sunday, without resting. The competition in this field is intense, but they respect and support each other, and he works with a dedication to service which attracts his customers. His Kiva loan is the first financing he is undertaking with the Mario Santo Domingo, and he will use it to buy belts, buckles, and men's and women's accessories. He is taking advantage of the fact that the season is approaching in which families celebrate Mother's Day, Father's Day and Secretaries' Day, and during this season demand grows and sales increase. This will make his investment successful, and he will be able to increase his working capital slightly and serve his loyal customers. His most significant dream is to be able to have his own home and expand his microenterprise, and for that reason, he is exerting himself without stopping, so that his family will have the well-being he dreams of.

Alirio : Colombia

Mon, 14 May 2012 03:50:01 PDT

$0 of $875 raised.

Started raising funds on May 14, 2012

Alirio invested his previous Kiva loan very well. He bought raw materials and ingredients to make fried food, as well as a storage space and a new container for orange juice. He also had enough to repair his juice cart's bodywork and paint so his transportation looks very good and more useful than ever. Because of this, he feel very satisfied. Right now he is applying for a new Kiva loan to remodel the locale he was awarded with other merchants. He must finish the walls, floors and build a dishwasher so that it will look elegant and get people's attention and interest and get his customers to buy. His message to the Kiva lenders is that he feels very grateful, with his family, for the financial support he has received from Kiva and the Fundación Mario Santo Domingo. His income now has improved as well as his liquidity. He hopes to keep receiving this support.

Fulton : Colombia

Mon, 14 May 2012 11:01:43 PDT

$75 of $650 raised.

Started raising funds on May 14, 2012

Fulton, 56 years old,lives in the city center with his wife and their 3 children, aged 13 to 22. Here they have a business making sandals, and they also sell their customers merchandise that varies by season. They offer their most faithful customers small-scale financing. Initially, Fulton was an iron monger, a skill he learned from family tradition. But the business began to deteriorate and he had to alter his activity and use this trade only occasionally, when a customer needed iron bars for doors or windows. Now these bars are more a matter of decoration. In 2006, his wife took a course through the 'National Learning Service' (SENA) and began making womens' sandals. Little by little, she gained a position among her neighbors and relatives to whom she was referred. Since she lacked sufficient working capital to respond to customer demand or to grow the business, she proposed to Fulton that he join her and invest his capital; she saw that this business would be more profitable than iron mongering. They began together the adventure of capturing the small merchant market in the cities of Barranquilla and, also, Cartagena, which today they have done. Things have gone very well and they have added a display location to their business, attended by their eldest son as administrator, while he pursues his professional studies in Business Administration. At present, Fulton is requesting a Kiva loan, his 1st through the Fundacion Mario Santo Domingo, to purchase, in greater volume, soles, capped heels, leather, and synthetic materials, as well as glue and paint, to give an elegant finish to the new designs they have prepared, especially for the celebration of Mothers Day. This is a season when families increase their purchases of these products, and this will be precisely the reason for the success of their Kiva loan, that plus the family's experience in this business.

Elcida Maria : Colombia

Mon, 14 May 2012 10:40:03 PDT

$0 of $650 raised.

Started raising funds on May 14, 2012

Elcida, 48, lives in the town of Malambo located 20 minutes from the city of Barranquilla. She sells snacks, groceries, soft-drinks and other basic staple items that families buy at retail daily. She’s been in this activity for 14 years having started out selling fried snacks and lunches to help her husband and gradually added other things. Two years later she opened the store taking in to account the neighborhood’s needs. She started her business with a borrowed cooler and credit on a deposit and gradually strengthened it with nine loans from Fundación Mario Santo Domingo an organization with which she gave her business still more structure because she permanently increased her stock inventory and bought her own cooler. Her greatest challenge was when she started to extend credit in order to win over customers and she lost her money because some of them didn’t pay her back which affected her liquidity. But this experience was useful because it led her to be more careful with her management of credit accounts. With her Kiva loan, her 10th FMSD loan, she will buy snacks, groceries, foodstuffs and beverages in larger amounts. She will be successful with this investment because she will attain discounts for buying in volume and for paying cash and will thus be able to offer customers more competitive prices. With help from FMSD she’s managed to build up her credit history which is her best letter of introduction, to formalize her business in the city’s Chamber of Commerce as well as attaining a good education for her children which makes her very happy.

Norma Zenith : Colombia

Mon, 14 May 2012 12:01:06 PDT

$100 of $650 raised.

Started raising funds on May 14, 2012

Norma, 49, is a married woman living in the city of Cartagena with her husband and three children whose ages range from 17 to 22 years. She has a sewing shop she opened in 1986 when she completed her dressmaking courses and with support from her husband who gave her her first sewing machine and a serger sewing machine. She started out doing sewing for her girlfriends until 1990 when with profits from her business was able to set up her shop buying new machines and started manufacturing uniforms, costumes, curtains and comforters. Her main customers are schools, inns, neighbors and family members who recommend new customers to her all the time and that she’s been doing very well with. Her goal is to continue making progress with support from her Kiva loan, her first financing from Fundación Mario Santo Domingo that she will use to buy raw materials to manufacture women’s blouses, dresses, curtains and comforters. She will make this investment on the eve of Mother’s Day because her clientele has already placed orders to be elegant that Mother’s Day and to offer gifts to all the women in the family who are mothers. This project is projected to be successful because of Norma’s experience in this business and also because she’s making the investment at a time when sales usually increase and because she’s responding to pending orders from select customers.

Pedro Gabriel : Colombia

Mon, 14 May 2012 12:01:06 PDT

$25 of $1,725 raised.

Started raising funds on May 14, 2012

Pedro, 28, is a young married man; he has a one year old son. He lives with his family in San Juan Nepomuceno, a town in Bolívar Department, where he has a store where he sells snacks, foodstuffs, beverages and basic staple items every day for cash and in small amounts like families in the area request for their daily meals. His store opened in 2010 with just 10% of his current capital because he’s grown. He’s located in a small, approximately 2 meters by 5 meters, locale. His goal is to make his business grow and his greatest challenge is to have enough working capital to expand and better equip his store. This is the reason for accessing a Kiva loan, his first financing from Fundación Mario Santo Domingo that he will use to buy building materials and supplies to expand the locale. With his Kiva loan his possibility of obtaining a larger number of customers in a comfortable manner will increase and he will have more of the products that are best-sellers on hand which will increases sales levels and this is precisely what his investment’s success is based on.

Leyla : Colombia

Mon, 14 May 2012 12:20:03 PDT

$50 of $650 raised.

Started raising funds on May 14, 2012

Leyla, 47, lives in the city of Cartagena de Indias with her spouse and three children whose ages range from 5 to 21 years. She has a beauty salon here where she offers image improvement services to all surrounding families. The idea for her business arose when she took a barber course at night at the age of 16 while working days because her teacher hired her when she saw her enthusiasm and ability to apply what she learned. She acquired vast experience this way which in time she capitalized into her business like she has to this day. She started out buying work tools with her own income and continued updating in beauty topics so was able to gradually expand her growth possibility buying furnishings to equip her salon. Her drive to make progress led to her opening an academy and she taught courses becoming well-known later on. She then got a job that required her to travel frequently so she swapped her business for a good job but five years after that she returned to her original idea of having her own business. She’s done very well with this one and she also generates income selling merchandise, especially beauty-associated goods. She is a cosmetics and hair-treatments advisor and saleswoman and this is what her customers like best. She is applying for a Kiva loan, the first financing from Fundación Mario Santo Domingo that she will use to buy hair treatments and cosmetics as well as a display case to keep her inventory well organized. The success of her Kiva loan is her vast experience and diminished costs by paying cash and in large volume and this is precisely what Leyla is going after.

Lorenza : Colombia

Tue, 15 May 2012 10:40:02 PDT

$0 of $1,150 raised.

Started raising funds on May 15, 2012

With her previous loan, Lorenza was able to buy various types of merchandise such as cosmetics, undergarments, and other products. She was able to sell and rotate her inventory very rapidly. At the moment, she is preparing to receive a new Kiva loan so that she can take advantage of the high season and the upcoming celebrations of Mother's Day, Father's Day, and Secretary's Day in order to increase her sales.

Lorenza will buy cosmetics, intimate apparel, and exterior clothing. She would like to say to the Kiva lenders, "Thank you for the assistance you provided and I hope that the support will continue."

Juan Carlos : Colombia

Mon, 14 May 2012 23:10:02 PDT

$0 of $1,425 raised.

Started raising funds on May 14, 2012

Juan Carlos lives with his partner in San Jacinto, where he dedicates himself to offering automotive services in a workshop located next to his home. This line of work is a family tradition -- he inherited it from his deceased father and he depends on it financially. He is currently applying for his third loan from Fundación Mario Santo Domingo, an organization that has helped him expand his workshop, own his own house, and make various repairs. His future goal is to have modern machinery, to be able to offer additional services, and to generate jobs so that others can have access to an income to live on. He is currently requesting a "credikiva" to buy motor oil for cars and motorcycles; to buy keys and various tools; and to fix the roof of his workshop. His investment will be successful because Juan Carlos will get a discount by buying materials in a higher volume, thereby decreasing the cost of his services. His work will be more effective with adequate tools and protection from the rain, which can cause dangerous problems with his electrical operations. On top of that, Juan Carlos takes great pleasure in his work. The quality of his work and his dedication to service are the way he maintains his clientele.

Marlene : Colombia

Tue, 15 May 2012 16:20:07 PDT

$25 of $650 raised.

Started raising funds on May 15, 2012

Marlene, age 40, lives with her husband and three children, who are between the ages of 12 and 21. She lived in Bogotá, the capital of Colombia, and that is where she began her business. Through her business she devoted herself to improving the personal and professional images of women, men, and children. She did this by using beauty techniques in a small beauty salon in her house. However, as she had been in love with the Carribean coast of Colombia because of its beaches, breezes, sea, and the warmth of its people, she moved to the city of Barranquilla 12 years ago. That is where she began the same business activity on the first floor of her residence. She set her family up on the second floor, which they rented. Her goal is to manage to adapt an ample place that is well organized in order to provide a comfortable atmosphere for her customers and to have her own home. She is currently applying for her first Kiva loan. It is also her first loan with the Fundación Mario Santo Domingo. She will use the loan to buy hairdressing supplies and to make physical adaptations to the place where she is working. Her reason for being successful with this investment stems from having money to buy in greater volume and get discounts. Also, Marlene has a lot of experience running this business. She will use this experience to provide a pleasant atmosphere for her customers, and she will impress them with her good service.

Lourdes : Colombia

Tue, 15 May 2012 17:00:05 PDT

$25 of $650 raised.

Started raising funds on May 15, 2012

Lourdes is a mother of two children aged 18 and 21 years. She works for a family and little by little has managed to save up and buy her own home, situated in the project of sustainable living "Villas de San Pablo", in the city of Barranquilla, founded by the Fundación Mario Santo Domingo. On the weekends, she works in her own business, selling perfumes and other cosmetics, creams and imported clothing. She buys this merchandise in the city, and it comes from the United States and Panama. She sells these items in her area in her free time. She is seeking a loan to build her inventory, and she will repay it within 45 days. Since her sales increase at certain times of year, often her working captial is not sufficient to cover her customers' demand during these periods. This is the reason she is seeking a Kiva loan, her first through the Fundación Mario Santo Domingo. With the loan she will buy perfumes and other cosmetics, clothes, sandals and other items. She is taking advantage of an important opportunity to respond to Mother's Day, the date on which she hopes to make her best sales of the year.

Maria Del Carmen : Colombia

Fri, 18 May 2012 11:30:03 PDT

$50 of $650 raised.

Started raising funds on May 18, 2012

María is a woman who defines herself as Christian-Catholic, home-loving and a merchant by birth. She’s from Santander Department but considers herself to be an adopted daughter of Barranquilla. She lives with her two children who are 30 and 34 years old and she is involved in commercial activities like selling varied merchandise via catalogue. The main kinds of merchandise se sells are women’s clothing and underwear as well as accessories for women and for the home. Because María is an enterprising, restless woman – characteristics she gets from the culture of Santander- she also sells dairy products like yoghurt by the liter, mozzarella cheese and coastal whey among her customers. She has noticed that her clientele is growing every day so her hopes of growth grow too and her working capital turns out to be insufficient to attain them. This is the reason for turning to a Kiva loan, the first financing she’s gotten from Fundación Mario Santo Domingo by means of which she will buy mainly women’s underwear and clothes for Mother’s Day to take advantage of the celebrations that take place in families on account of this day, a season when her sales and her income increase. She also needs to buy dairy products in larger amounts because she can only get these items paying cash for them and María must have cash available to pay her invoices that are about to come due and getting her accounts receivable pain in due time is sometimes slower than she’d like. Her capacity for work, her growth attitude and her experience will make this investment successful for the good development of María’s business which is precisely what Kiva intends with its loans.

Ana : Colombia

Thu, 17 May 2012 04:00:07 PDT

$0 of $925 raised.

Started raising funds on May 17, 2012

Ana is 63 years old and lives in the city of Barranquilla. She dedicates herself to sewing, an activity she has carried out since 1986, when she worked at various workshops where she gained the majority of her experience. In the year 2002, she decided to embark on her own business adventure, making all types of clothing for friends and neighbors who were her first market. She gradually became known because her small clientele recommended her and her production grew until she built a stable customer base. Although there is a great deal of competition, she responds to her customers with competitive prices, keeping in mind the potential of her market and the necessity to generate income. Her future goal is to have her own house, for which she is saving. Her biggest challenge is not having enough working capital to become a little more technical, augment her production and offer an unequaled finished product. This is the reason why she turns to Kiva credit, and the first financing with Fundación Mario Santo Domingo, with which she will buy an industrial sewing machine to replace the one she has now. With this machine, she will reach her goal and the success of this investment as it concerns the improvement of her productivity and competitiveness.

Eimy Cecilia : Colombia

Fri, 18 May 2012 15:30:02 PDT

$0 of $625 raised.

Started raising funds on May 18, 2012

Eimy, 32, lives in the south of the city with her spouse and two children who are 6 and 8 years old. She sells assorted merchandise there too, a business she started six years ago with her own savings in order to support her home’s wellbeing. Her main business is selling t-shirts that she prints university logos on to students; she has contacts there that support her enterprise. She also sells assorted merchandise to her customers on credit. She collects an initial payment of 50% and when she delivers the item they pay the remainder in three installments. Her goal for later on is to have a locale with employees and to make and print the t-shirts herself as well as to extend her market to other educational institutions to generate more additional income possibilities. Her main challenge is working capital which is insufficient to meet her goals. This is the reason for calling on her Kiva loan, the first financing she gets from Fundación Mario Santo Domingo that she’ll use to buy t-shirts in larger amounts; she will also invest in merchandise appropriate for Mother’s Day gifts since it’s approaching and sales as well as income generally increase with it.

Iris : Colombia

Fri, 18 May 2012 15:30:03 PDT

$75 of $650 raised.

Started raising funds on May 18, 2012

Iris, 48 years old, lives with her partner and her two children, aged 17 and 22, in a neighborhood south of the city, where she has a business selling cold drinks and fried food. She also sells merchandise through specialized catalogues. Her business experience dates back 16 years, when she started selling beer, ice, and corn chicha (a fermented drink) with a small amount of capital her partner gave her. Later, with her own earnings, she acquired a fryer and bought more bottles, and also began to sell very cold and pleasant drinks, adjusted to Colombia's hot Caribbean climate. Gradually she has made very good use of her captive customer base in order to diversify what she offers and thus be able to offer her customers credit for the items they need, especially cosmetics. Currently she is applying for a Kiva loan, the first financing she has had with Fundación Mario Santo Domingo. She will use it to buy new cases of beer in order to sell them to nearby businesses when they run out of inventory, a situation that usually happens. With her Kiva loan she will also buy a variety of merchandise that her customers have ordered, in order to meet the requirements of Mother's Day, since it is coming soon and it is one of the times when she moves the most merchandise. Her goal in the future is to finish adapting her house and to continue her business growth, increasing her profit margin even more.

Martha : Colombia

Sat, 19 May 2012 10:10:02 PDT

$0 of $1,150 raised.

Started raising funds on May 19, 2012

Martha, age 38, lives with her husband and two children, ages 9 and 12. She is the proprietor of a store that sells snacks, groceries, and soft drinks. She undertook this business through her husband’s initiative. He worked at running a store. This experience paved their way to develop their own business adventure. The business now generates the main income for the household. This happened 12 years ago, when they decided to rent a house. This is where they now live, and they have adapted the house for their business. Thanks to their joint work, their efforts, and their dedication to their business, it has become a robust business. It has generated fixed clientele, and it is very well-known in her neighborhood and in surrounding areas. She makes her sales for cash, and her main customers are housewives who buy retail stapes they need for their households. Her goals for the growth of her business are faced with the challenge of not having enough working capital to expand her business. That is the reason she turns to a Kiva loan, her first loan with the Fundación Mario Santo Domingo. She will use the loan to buy a display case and varied merchandise to stock it. She will do this because May is one of the times that her sales increase. The increase is due to the family festivities and religious holidays that the families celebrate. These festivities and holidays generate a good volume of customers, and that is exactly what increases her income.

Mireya : Colombia

Sat, 19 May 2012 10:40:02 PDT

$0 of $650 raised.

Started raising funds on May 19, 2012

Mireya used her previous loan with Kiva to buy items such as perfumes, clothing, jewelry, beauty products, and also to buy natural medicines. She sold all these items and had a rapid turnover, slightly increasing her working capital. With this new loan that she is seeking, Mireya will buy clothing and beauty products in greater volume. She will also buy a cell phone plan so that she can continue serving her customers well. She wants to have for sale everything they need and thus increasing the amount of money she earns. Her message to Kiva donors is as follows: “Blessings on the whole of the Kiva group, and may you continue helping our brothers and sisters in Colombia so they can reach their dreams.”

Alberto : Colombia

Sat, 19 May 2012 11:10:03 PDT

$75 of $475 raised.

Started raising funds on May 19, 2012

Alberto leases washing machines and provides telecommunication services by the minute; he also sells general merchandise. He generates income to support his family, composed of his wife and two children who are 14 and 18 years old, with these three businesses. He started his business when he returned from Venezuela, a bordering country where he used to live. He brought some savings with him that served as seed capital to start his own business venture that will help him support his home because he didn’t find employment opportunities. He bought six washing machines, a public service taxi and two mobile phones together with his brother with which he was able to sustain his business. He’s added more services, mobile phone recharges, which is very profitable. He’s also improved the business’ infrastructure with new washing machines because his clientele has grown. His goal for later on is to position himself in the mobile phone technology commercial marketplace; they want to sell accessories and more modern equipment. His greatest challenge is lacking sufficient working capital to make the investment immediately and this is why he’s calling on a Kiva loan, his first financing with Fundación Mario Santo Domingo by means of which he will buy mobile phone recharges and repair his washing machines so that they will not wear away and with this he’ll strengthen his business making it more successful each time.

Bernardo : Colombia

Sat, 19 May 2012 11:10:03 PDT

$0 of $850 raised.

Started raising funds on May 19, 2012

Bernardo, 64, lives in the south of the city; he’s the father of two children who are 42 and 31 years old. He sells groceries and dairy products, especially cheese, a business he started a little more than 30 years ago when he became unemployed; he used to work for an important firm in the country. He started off selling rice, oil and basic staple items in general and later on added selling cheese by the kilo to stores, commercial points and among regular customers that place orders with him because they are aware of the good quality Bernardo handles. His market expands more each time but Bernardo does not have enough working capital to inject into his business to grow more quickly which is why he’s calling on a Kiva loan, the first financing from Fundación Mario Santo Domingo, to buy groceries in larger amounts because he has several accounts receivable that prevent him from collecting in the short term and new customers placing orders that he finds difficult to fill in a timely way. His investment will be successful because he’ll manage to finance his credit portfolio and respond rapidly to new customers which will strengthen his sales and his customer base even more. His goal for later on is to have a commercial point and a vehicle to transport his orders. We [FMSD] are sure that with persistent work and discipline, Bernardo will surely reach all his goals attaining more wellbeing each time.

Nallivis : Colombia

Sun, 20 May 2012 13:10:03 PDT

$75 of $575 raised.

Started raising funds on May 20, 2012

Nallivis did very well with her previous Kiva loan, she bought groceries at wholesale that she sold quickly making money along the way. Now she will invest her Kiva loan in groceries, meat and other food itesm to sell even more and increase working capital. She will also buy a washing machine for her other business where she rents washers, business that is also growing. This investment will be succesful because she knows the market and she is investing at a time with lots of commercial activitiy especially with the amount of potential customers that each day come to use one of her services. Her message to Kiva lenders is as follows: "Thank you for continuing to support people like me who have no resources but are getting ahead with the support of people like you".

Luis Enrique : Colombia

Mon, 21 May 2012 14:30:02 PDT

$25 of $1,425 raised.

Started raising funds on May 21, 2012

With his last Kiva loan, Luis bought sports equipment and general merchandise like t-shirts, shorts, hats, socks, flags, posters, blouses, skirts and various other items in both bulk and with cash. With his new Kiva loan he plans to stock up his 2 new businesses with a larger quantity of sports equipment and seasonal items for the times of the year when his sales tend to increase like mother's day, father's day etc. His message to Kiva's lenders is as follows: "Thank you very much for the financial support you have given me, I hope to keep expanding my business and improving the level of life for myself and my family, with you and with the Fundacion Mario Santo Domingo."

Meivy : Colombia

Mon, 21 May 2012 16:50:03 PDT

$25 of $875 raised.

Started raising funds on May 21, 2012

Meivy, age 47, lives with her husband and their two children, ages 19 and 21. She lives in the Soledad municipality, which is where she sells cold drinks. She also sells merchandise on credit and by order. She started her business in 2002, when she found her niche in the market so that she could generate income. She discovered that the businesses close to her home did not have beer on the week-ends because the distributers only came two times a week. She decided to have what these businesses needed. She initially started with two baskets of beer in order to test the market. As she was very well-received, she was interested in investing in this business. Now, it is one of the most important income generators that she has. She couples this with her retail distribution of merchandise, an alternative income through which she takes advantage of her captive clientele. She currently does not have enough working capital to respond to her growing clientele. That is exactly the reason that she turns to a Kiva loan, her first loan with the Fundación Mario Santo Domingo. She will use the loan to buy cases of beer in order to increase her potential sales. She will also be prepared with varied merchandise in order to respond to the seasons when there is the greatest commercial movement like family and religious holidays. She will buy clothes and lingerie to give her customers on credit, which is to be paid in a time period of no greater than 60 days. Her goal for later on is to expand her business in order to get greater income. She works hard every day to reach this goal.

Yasmith : Colombia

Mon, 21 May 2012 17:00:09 PDT

$25 of $625 raised.

Started raising funds on May 21, 2012

Yasmith is 23 years old and lives in the town of Soledad. She lives with her husband and her two children who are 5 years and 9 months old respectively. Yasmith has a general store where she sells gifts for the home, costume jewelry, decorations, school supplies and jeans. She started her business on the suggestion of her husband who works for a company that produces sports clothing. He suggested that she sell this merchandise in order to make additional income. Yasmith has done very well in her business and she has regular customers who order items from her. She also sells blouses and has an existing market for her products. Her dream is to have her own commercial premises where she can display her merchandise and to become an important wholesaler, providing products to retailers. At the beginning of this year, when the owner of some business premises offered to rent them to her at a good price because she was moving away from the city, Yasmith became interested in the offer and took advantage of it. This is where her general store is now located and she would like to grow her business. However, she does not have enough working capital. For this reason, she is applying for a Kiva loan (the first loan she has taken out from Fundación Mario Santo Domingo). She will use the loan to buy school supplies, decorations, gifts and clothing. Her investment will be successful because her business is located in a commercial area that is very busy with passersby. She will also make the most of the demand for merchandise which she generally experiences in May and June, as a result of the family and religious celebrations that take place during those months.

Alirio De Jesus : Colombia

Mon, 21 May 2012 18:50:02 PDT

$0 of $350 raised.

Started raising funds on May 21, 2012

Alirio is 54 years old and lives in the southwestern portion of the city, where he performs many productive activities. On one hand, he distributes bakery products, sells hens and pigs, and he also sells candy. His cultural traditions are those of the Cauca Valley where he comes from. And from there, he arrived in the city of Barranquilla 15 years ago. Alirio graduated from secondary school and began studying aviation, but only for 1 year, since his family's income would not permit more. For that reason, he has dedicated the greater part of his life to raising small farm animals and cultivating the earth. In Barranquilla at present, he has succeeded in establishing himself in commerce and food distribution, including baked goods and candy. He distributes these, store to store, on his own motorcycle everyday -- cookies, Swiss rolls, and other products derived from wheat flour -- while on weekends, he sells pigs and 'criolla' hens, and has lately added fish. Alirio's distant goal is to have a fish-raising enterprise and then, to acquire his own house. Meanwhile, his dreams are fulfilled through his own work. He has obtained a rotation of customer accounts each 9 days, an inventory rotation of 2 days, and a profitability over sales of no less than 30%, indicators that promise a successful investment of his Kiva loan, his first financing with the Fundacion Mario Santo Domingo. Alirio will buy bakery and candy products for his expanding market, where demand is growing daily. His working capital is insufficient to restock his business and this is precisely what his Kiva loan will do.

Libardo : Colombia

Tue, 22 May 2012 16:10:02 PDT

$25 of $1,700 raised.

Started raising funds on May 22, 2012

Libardo has reinvested since he received his loan. He bought a freezer and has improved the appearance of the facade of his business. For this reason he distributes more meat in more stores. Currently he is applying for another Kiva loan, with which he will buy more wholesale meat. He plans to lower the price of his product and be more competitive. His goal is to continue expanding his clientele and reach more places, generate more income, and manage to get a display freezer. He anticipates that his children's well-being will increase with all this investment and with his work. His message to the Kiva lenders is the following: "Thank you very, very much for all the support you have given me to get ahead in my business. I hope you continue helping me to prosper, and may God bless you."

Amparo Cecilia : Colombia

Wed, 23 May 2012 05:50:03 PDT

$25 of $700 raised.

Started raising funds on May 23, 2012

Amparo is 51 years old and lives in the Puerto Colombia municipality, situated on the shore of the Caribbean Ocean. She has 3 children from 22 to 24 years of age, and dedicates herself to making women’s shoes from a workshop located in her small house. In her enterprise, she makes shoes for women, men and children, an activity she learned at the National Training Service SENA two years ago. Prior to starting her small shoe workshop, she dedicated herself to selling merchandise such as perfumes and accessories. Her needs motivated her to look for business opportunities and, through these, she has developed many of her skills as a negotiator. Recently, her eldest son supported her in the purchase of a popcorn machine. She positions it in the town’s plaza every weekend, which has generated excellent results for her and therefore she is thinking about buying another one. Currently, she is planning a Kiva loan that would be her second financing through the Fundación Mario Santo Domingo. She will use the funds to buy raw materials and supplies to make popcorn and shoes in greater volume so she can increase her sales. With her previous loan with the Fundación, she managed to augment her production and shoe sales considerably. Looking ahead, her goals are to hire employees to increase production and to buy a popcorn machine. With these two businesses, she plans to earn much more money and succeed in obtaining her own, as well has her family’s, well being.

Rocio De Jesus : Colombia

Wed, 23 May 2012 08:10:02 PDT

$25 of $1,150 raised.

Started raising funds on May 23, 2012

With her last loan Rocio bought discounted products from catalogs as well as cold drinks to sell, and also she invested some of the money in the purchase of natural products ordered by her customers. Now she is applying for another loan to buy beer in large volumes, washing machines, laptop computers, and small appliances to sell. She has orders for them, and since she started selling these items five months ago, sales have gone well. Rocio says thank you to Kiva donors for the help she has received. They should always keep in mind that they are helping people who need a hand to help their businesses grow.

Luis : Colombia

Thu, 24 May 2012 22:10:02 PDT

$25 of $650 raised.

Started raising funds on May 24, 2012

Luis has had his business for 19 years, and has thus been able to support his family, consisting of his wife and their three children ages 16 to 18. He sells handbags, briefcases, hats, frames, lenses and a varied merchandise. Luis takes advantage of special holidays and seasons to diversify his products, so when mothers day, parents day, teachers day, childrens day etc. are approaching, he purchases goods which match the requirements of the season to achieved the best sales. In his early days he worked for a company, but in order to generate additional income he decided to simultaneously start trading and now has his own shop south of the city. Luis works from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 pm, and even though competition is high, he survives through his prices, timely service and friendly treatment of customers. His goal is to strengthen and grow his business, and to leave his children with a legacy of work and entrepreneurship. Luis' biggest challenge is the lack of working capital to do this in the short term, so he has applied for a loan with which he will buy handbags, briefcases, and accessories for women and men in bulk and with cash, so that he can respond to his customers' orders and maintain an inventory. He will make his products attractive for his customers to buy, to celebrate father's Day and all the holiday festivities that come each semester when customers have received work bonuses and premiums, which would make his investment very successful.

José Luis : Colombia

Fri, 25 May 2012 03:00:10 PDT

$0 of $625 raised.

Started raising funds on May 25, 2012

José is 29 years of age and lives in the south-west of the city. He lives with his spouse and three children, aged between 9 and 12. For just over 12 years he has worked selling items such as chairs, closets, chests of drawers and sideboards. He sells these on credit to his customers, and collects weekly, twice-monthly or monthly installments from them, depending on the terms agreed with each. He also manufactures antennae to receive telecommunication signals, and he is happy with this product as it is well-accepted in the city market. José’s goal is to ensure the sustained growth of his micro-business and to remain in the market. His biggest challenge is a lack of working capital to expand his business. This is precisely what he wants to do with his Kiva loan, his first financing from the Mario Santo Domingo foundation. He plans to use the loan to buy various items such as rocking chairs, electrical items, small household appliances and materials to make TV antennae, a product for which he has many orders. He thinks his investment has potential for success due to his business experience in the market in which he wants to make an impact, as well as his work ethic. He will also be able to increase his purchasing power, allowing him to offer goods to a new market, which is just what he needs.

Erika Maria : Colombia

Fri, 25 May 2012 03:40:02 PDT

$0 of $575 raised.

Started raising funds on May 25, 2012

Erika is 31 years of age and lives in the south-west of the city, along with her spouse and two children aged seven years and five months. She works in her neighborhood selling perfumes, cosmetics, sweets, clothing and catalog products, which she sells on credit in accordance with the terms agreed with each customer. She collects a weekly payment from them, up to a maximum of three installments. In the future she wants to change her business to start selling and supplying varied merchandise to small establishments. Her biggest challenge is the lack of working capital to make larger purchases. This is why she has requested a Kiva loan, her first financing from the Mario Santo Domingo Foundation. She plans to use the money to buy products ordered from her, such as perfumes, cosmetics and sweets. While she works to meet her goals her accounts receivable period stands at 18 days, and she generates profit on sales within a period of no less than 18 days. These financial indicators have been used to project her business growth, along with application of the Kiva loan.

Heroina : Colombia

Sat, 26 May 2012 07:50:02 PDT

$0 of $575 raised.

Started raising funds on May 26, 2012

Heroína, 41, lives in the town of Malambo with her husband and 5 children, who range in age from 4 to 23. In her store, she sells food, supplies, and general household items to the neighboring families for their daily consumption. She started the business in her house 13 years ago in order to help her husband, who works as an independent plumber, support their household. While she was building her business, Heroína had to confront serious family issues and had to close the business and return to her town. For the past 5 years, she has been in Malambo, where she opened her store again. Everyone in the family knows the tasks associated with the business. Therefore, when she must go to other homes to offer her services and generate more income, she can leave her children in charge of the store because they are qualified. Heroína is a hardworking person who is always involved in productive activities. Previously, she sold a variety of goods such as corn sweet drinks and pens. To further establish her business, she is seeking a Kiva loan and coming to Fundación Mario Santo Domingo for her first financing . With this loan, she will buy a freezer at a good price and purchase supplies in higher volume than she normally does so that she can buy at substantial discounts and continue being competitive by taking advantage of market opportunities to support herself and make each day more successful.

Orlando Enrique : Colombia

Sat, 26 May 2012 12:30:03 PDT

$0 of $650 raised.

Started raising funds on May 26, 2012

Thanks to his first Kiva loan, Orlando purchased four washing machines. Now he is offering more timely and effective service, which makes him very happy. At the moment, he is applying for a new loan to buy one more washing machine. Demand has increased and sometimes his customers leave his business because they cannot access service when all of his machines are being used. The reason why is Kiva loan was successful is because he used it to invest in machinery, thus allowing him to satisfy the unmet demand in the marketplace.

Orlando is well-known and plans to move forward with each opportunity. His message to the Kiva lenders is as follows: "Thank you for the previous loan. I hope that you will continue to support my business so that it become more profitable in order for me to continue growing and moving ahead with my family."

Dayulis : Colombia

Sat, 26 May 2012 12:00:07 PDT

$0 of $450 raised.

Started raising funds on May 26, 2012

Dayulis is 22 years old and sells beverages, cool drinks and finger food. She lives in the municipality of Salgar, located on the seashore, where the beach, the soft breeze, the sea and the nice and happy people make up a unique culture. She started her business three years ago selling soft drinks, ice, chicha (a cold drink made from maize or fruit), bolis (a traditional form of ice cream found in Colombia), and others out of a cooler. She gradually started offering other products such as bread or finger food. Her business has been growing steadily, allowing her to buy a second cooler, because one was not enough. The majority of her customers are people from the neighbourhood or tourists who, on their way to the beach, choose to stop for refreshments in order to quench the thirst caused by the sun beating down on the earth; thus they happily sip their beverages under the welcome shade of the mango tree that stands on the terrace of Dayulis's house. Since she buys from her supplier only when he comes round in his lorry and her clientele has grown, Dayulis often lacks products to sell, and she has to resort to buying from intermediaries, which makes for a steep mark-up in price. This is why she asks for a Kiva loan, which is her first loan with field partner Fundación Mario Santo Domingo. She will use the funds to buy beer and soft drinks to stock so as not to have to tell clients that she is out of refreshments or be forced to sell at a higher price. Her investment will pay off because she will have enough beverages to meet demand, as long as her customers continue to enjoy their cool drinks under the shade of the mango tree, in the warm, healthy air of the seashore.