Adding to basket
In a certain community of Oaxaca, it is sugar harvest season, when the sugarcane is cut and harvested. The smell of burned sugarcane is in the air and the whole community is in motion by 5 in the morning to carry out its activities. The sugar harvest is a part of the community identity, and so the residents consider themselves privileged to come from a sugar region. The Los Globos group, whose name refers to a local business, was formed In a place surrounded by sugarcane plants and pastureland. The members are: Graciela, who sells tacos and local food, Adriana and Marilu, footwear from catalogs, Odulia, meat, Natalia, taxi service, Dulce and Juan, clothing, Azucena, groceries and food, Nieves M., cosmetics, Nieves B., home goods, and Carolina, lingerie.
Graciela, known to everyone as "Chela", has a friendly character and shares with any person that she knows. She belongs to a family of merchants. Her uncles made a living at a bakery and her mother sold local food in the community for more than 30 years. Following the family example, she started selling local food. In the beginning she only wanted to make an investment of her free time, but later, as the demand from her customers increased, she went from selling out of her kitchen to establishing a business outside of her home. "I started it for fun and now it's my biggest accomplishment," she happily comments. Also, the profits allowed her to build a sheet metal roof to protect herself from the sun and occasionally the rain.
One thing that gives her a lot of joy is being able to provide employment for three people who help her, mostly with the preparation of lunches for students from a nearby primary school. She also makes tacos from various ingredients on the weekend and her children help her deliver the orders to homes. "What I like the most is the fellowship with my customers, to see them happy while they enjoy my food," says Chela, who attributes the success of her business to her distinct seasoning and customer service.
The loan will allow her to buy meat, tortillas, vegetables, chiles, plates, and soft drinks, since her sales go up with the beginning of the sugar harvest season.
*This photo was taken outside of Azucena's store. Chela is wearing a blue shirt.
In this group: Azucena, Juan Carlos, Odulia, Carolina, Nieves Guadalupe, Nieves, Natalia, Adriana, Dulce Maria, Graciela, Marilu
Translated from Spanish by Kiva volunteer anonymized. View original language description.
