Nancy’s Before & After: A Roof & Floor Program Update from Colombia
Nancy is a participant in the Opportunity International Roof & Floor Program that we support in Cartagena, Colombia. Astrid, the program manager, sent along this story about how Nancy’s business and family have benefitted from their rebuilt kitchen:
Nancy is a hardworking wife and the mother of three children. She is also a leader in her community. Together with her trust group, they have been the pioneers of spreading Opportunity ́s trust group program in Maria La Baja. This zone is characterized by the agriculture products they sell which are fundamental to a typical Colombian diet: yams, yucca, corn, and rice. Nancy and her mother grow and sell these products in their community and also in Cartagena. Through this business, they are able to provide for their family.
In 2010, Nancy decided to participate in the Roof and Loan program to improve her kitchen. The walls were made of mud, and because of the intensity of the rain, they were beginning to collapse, putting her and her family at risk.
Through the program, she was able to take out a loan for $1,500,000 pesos over 15 months to improve her kitchen. This enabled her to rebuild the kitchen utilizing more space and making it safer and more sanitary for her family.
Nancy expresses her gratefulness for this program that has improved her quality of life. Her dream is to finish the rest of the house and continue to grow her business.
Astrid
Watch the first documentary from our trip to Cartagena during the Summer of 2008.
Watch the second documentary from our follow-up trip to Cartagena during the Winter of 2010.
Visit the Affinity Kitchens YouTube Channel
Opportunity International is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping the working poor. They provide small loans that allow poor entrepreneurs to start or expand a business, develop a steady income, provide for their families and create jobs for their neighbors. Opportunity International also offers savings, microinsurance, business training and many more services to 1.1 million working poor in 28 developing nations.