“They’re not just my dreams. They’re the dreams of others, too.”
Through her handmade jewelry business, Yaosca is able to follow her dreams and create space for the dreams of the artisan women she collaborates with.
She remembers feeling, from a young age, a pull to do something for herself - to create and to build something meaningful. Today, she’s doing just that. But the path to get there was neither linear nor easy.
Originally from Nicaragua, Yaosca and her husband moved to Colombia shortly after getting married. It was there that Yaosca discovered her passion for handmade jewelry and leaned into her creativity.
“I fell in love with the art of creating unique, handcrafted accessories that help women feel beautiful, confident, and empowered. I learned not only to design but also to value the stories and connection that each piece can carry.”
She started learning how to make jewelry by first studying the foundations, then the wiring techniques, she recounts. Living near the town where palma was made gave Yaosca the chance to learn to work with palm fibers to craft delicate handmade jewelry, experiment freely, and follow her curiosity. She also watched videos to teach herself the skills and techniques of the craft.
The environment helped Yaosca both fall in love with the variety of art and the continuous creative process, and develop confidence in her ability to design and innovate. Seeing firsthand the connection between the pieces and the stories they carried inspired her to do more.
But she wasn’t able to start her business then and there. In 2023, Yaosca and her family moved to the United States in search of better opportunities. The journey has not been without challenges, she reflects.
“[Challenges such as] language barriers, cultural differences, long work hours, and the difficulty of balancing time between work and family. I also experienced harassment at one of the companies I worked for, which was a painful and discouraging experience.”
Stepping away from that required sacrifice, uncertainty, and a great deal of courage. Pursuing her own business meant leaving behind the security of employment and facing the unknown, and Yaosca knew she would need support to move forward.
Accessing both community and capital
Connecting with Centro Community Partners, an organization that provides equal access to entrepreneurship training, capital, financial literacy programs, and one-on-one business advisory services, marked the start of Yaosca’s entrepreneurial journey in the U.S.
Through the Centro Capital Hub, she was building a strong foundation, from registering her business and setting up accounts to securing necessary documentation. She was meeting people, networking, and finding community. And it was through this community that she first learned about Kiva.
“Kiva truly arrived at the perfect time. I wasn’t researching at the time… but someone recommended [Kiva] to me. Despite the fact that it was zero interest, no fee, no minimum credit score - I believed it, I checked it out, I created my Kiva account, I took my classes through Centro, where I received the necessary help and training. Everything went smoothly, the application and requirements were straightforward.”
Centro’s endorsement further strengthened Yaosca’s application. Endorsements made by Kiva U.S. Trustees, organizations invested in economic development in their communities, represent one way in which Kiva assesses the creditworthiness of applicants via its unique social underwriting. While banks and most other financial institutions use a purely quantitative system based on data such as credit scores, cash flow, and collateral value, at Kiva, creditworthiness is determined by the strength of one’s character and standing in the community.
Yaosca could not believe how fast and seamless the process was. “I think it was just under two months, the time that passed between the first class and the approval and collection of funds. It was super fast. It went well, it was easy.”
Fast it was. Only ten days after submitting the application, Yaosca was notified that she had qualified for a $15,000 Kiva loan. In May 2025, less than a month later, she successfully crowdfunded the loan, supported by more than 230 lenders near and far who resonated with her story.
Yaosca was overwhelmed with emotions, feeling gratitude, awe, relief, and excitement all at once. One of the lessons she carried from the process? Many banks are hesitant to approve loans for minorities, women, and BIPOC business-owners. Those without a bank account, collateral, or a strong credit history often don’t meet traditional financial requirements. But there are organizations committed to making finance accessible, giving entrepreneurs the fair and equitable access they need to thrive.
“There are companies, foundations that believe in Latino-owned businesses. This is really nice, it’s motivating.”
Another key takeaway from the process, Yaosca shares, is the deep appreciation and respect she feels for the trust placed in her, and the recognition that this is community-backed capital, a character-based loan. “This money is from people who believe in us, and we need to give them value in return and use the loan funds correctly. It needs to be a good investment,” she says.
The name of her business, Origo, Latin for “origin” or “beginning”, was fitting in more ways than one. She had only launched it six months earlier, and now, with the Kiva loan in hand, she was ready to begin the next phase of her business.
How the Kiva loan fueled her business growth
There are many things that Yaosca enjoys about running her business, such as being the owner of her time, providing local jobs for Latinos, tapping into her creativity, and stretching herself. “Just like you all blessed me, I want to bless others. This is what I like to do - collaborate, contribute in this way to others”, she says.
Origo isn’t even a year old yet, but Yaosca says her brand exists for authentic, daring young women who own their own story. Yaosca has identified a local women’s economic empowerment foundation she plans to support by donating a percentage of all her sales. She also aims to help provide skills training so more women can learn the craft, build confidence, and create their own income.
In the meantime, she’s focused on strengthening the foundation of her business and setting it up for sustainable growth. Her Kiva loan enabled her to invest in essential tools, materials, and marketing. This has helped her increase production, improve product quality, and reach more customers.
She’s also proud that she sources products in a way that supports the income of women artisans. Working hand in hand with them, learning from them, and watching them design these modern, unique pieces that both honor cultural roots and carry stories has been deeply fulfilling.
Final thoughts
Yaosca is optimistic about what lies ahead for Origo and thankful that her business gives her a way to pay it forward. She reflects on how serendipitous connections, a caring support network, and personal sacrifices brought her to this point. “Any business idea can work if you pour love and dedication into it,” she says.
When asked what advice she would offer to those considering Kiva, or starting their own entrepreneurial journey, she emphasizes authenticity, intuition, and commitment.
“I truly believe every person is born with a purpose. My advice to anyone thinking about coming to Kiva: be yourself. Listen to your own heart. If there’s a desire—a yearning—to start a business, whether it’s a product, a service, or something else, follow your own voice above all. That’s what brings true happiness, a sense of peace, and alignment with your values and goals. This is priceless.”
By taking the leap, stepping out of her comfort zone, and overcoming imposter syndrome, Yaosca embraced a growth mindset, focusing on what could go right instead of what could go wrong. This allowed her to move her business in the direction she envisioned and build a better financial future for her family.
