Grecia | El Salvador

Nov 12, 2025 | El Salvador, News, Women Stories

Meet Grecia from El Salvador

Grecia Mancias is a 36 years old women, who live at Colonia Rodríguez, at Usulután. Her family is constituted by her husband and 2 children who are 9 and 15 years old, respectively. All family members and Grecia are blind, but they all together deal with daily challenges with courage. Grecia began a small business providing massage services, 14 years ago. She use to provide the service at customers home, which just let her to serve a maximum of 4 customers a day, besides the risks of moving from one place to another and require someone else to take care of their children. She looked for financial support at different financial entities, which did not consider Grecia as a customer. OEF community facilitator was able to know Grecia and offer her an inclusive loan, which was approved for USD$350.00. Grecia invested the money on developing a space inside her house to receive customers, buy a cooler and a vibrating device to improve provision of massages.

Since she was able to open the space at her house, she is able to take care of her children at the same time that she works. Also, she promote her small business on social media and currently she is able to serve between 6 and 8 patients every day, which has improve her income to support her family. Grecia’s husband also provides for family support since he is also a entrepreneur who practices street vending of different product.

“Together we can make dreams come true and build a fair and inclusive society!!” Grecia comments.

Rosa | Honduras

Apr 30, 2025 | Honduras, News, Women Stories

Meet Rosa from Honduras
A Story of Determination and Growth

In the heart of Tela, Atlántida, Honduras, Rosa has built a thriving business making handmade corn and flour tortillas. Recently, several Women’s Empowerment board members and their families joined Adelante staff on an impact tour and had the opportunity to meet Rosa, a new Adelante client who had just received her first microloan, with the support of a WE grant. With warmth and enthusiasm, she welcomed the group into her home—which also serves as her place of business—to show the improvements she has already made.

Rosa’s day begins early in the morning to ensure her customers have fresh tortillas for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Her dedication keeps her working until 8:00 PM, with only a few short breaks throughout the long day. Her commitment to quality has earned her a loyal customer base, with most of her tortillas now sold through standing orders, leaving only a few available for passersby.

As a single mother, Rosa proudly supports not only herself but also her two daughters and her elderly parents through her tortilla business. Before receiving her loan, she struggled with excessive heat and direct sunlight while working in front of her home, which affected both her comfort and productivity. With her first loan of $200 from Adelante, she made a strategic improvement by extending her roof to create better protection from the elements. She also purchased additional ingredients to increase her production capacity and meet growing demand.

In Honduras, qualifying for a traditional loan without excessive interest rates is challenging for women—especially a single mother with limited means—regardless of her business skills or work ethic. Rosa expressed sincere gratitude for providing her the opportunity to grow her business, improve her workspace, maintain her home, increase her income, and enhance her family’s quality of life. With a determined smile, she shared, “This won’t be my last loan. Thank you!”

Adelante has been a WE partner since 2007, with our grant funds supporting this vital microfinance program for women in Honduras, aiming to alleviate poverty especially in rural communities.

Through Rosa’s story, we see how targeted microfinance can transform not just individual businesses but entire family trajectories, creating sustainable paths out of poverty through entrepreneurship and hard work.

Evelyn and Michelle | San Diego

Apr 30, 2025 | California, News, Women Stories

Meet Evelyn and Michelle

Recently, with the support of a WE grant, Urban Corps of San Diego County had the privilege of assisting two dedicated Corpsmembers, Evelyn and Michelle, in purchasing their own vehicles, a transformative step for each of them as they overcame significant barriers to success. Despite coming from different backgrounds, these Corpsmembers share common challenges—particularly in accessing reliable transportation—which previously hindered their ability to fully engage in their education and work at Urban Corps.

Evelyn and Michelle had both been facing the daily struggle of waking up at 4:00 a.m. to catch the earliest trolley to arrive at Urban Corps on time. With the down payment assistance provided by the WE grant, they were each able to purchase their own car. Their new vehicles now allow them to commute comfortably, safely, and promptly, ensuring they can contribute fully to their work and education. They have even begun carpooling with other female Corpsmembers, understanding the challenges of early-morning commutes and helping others get to work on time. This act of solidarity not only strengthens the community within Urban Corps but also reflects their commitment to giving back and supporting their peers.

Having safe and reliable transportation has been a critical factor in their continued participation and success at Urban Corps. As Evelyn and Michelle near graduation, they have already expressed plans to further their education and pursue their professional development. With the independence afforded by their vehicles, they are now able to focus on their academic and career aspirations without the burden of unreliable public transportation. They are no longer limited by this barrier to success in San Diego County.

This vehicle assistance program has played a pivotal role in helping women overcome significant obstacles, enabling them to achieve their goals both at Urban Corps and beyond. We are proud to support them in their journey toward independence and success, and we look forward to hearing about their future endeavors and accomplishments!

Mariat | Uganda

Apr 29, 2025 | News, Uganda, Women Stories

From Struggle to Success Through Microfinance

Meet Ahimbisibwe Mariat, a 60-year-old grandmother from the Rukungiri District in Uganda. Mariat’s journey from financial struggle to successful, small business owner demonstrates the profound impact that financial inclusion and training can have on families experiencing poverty.

“Before joining the Kigiro granny group, I struggled to meet the basic needs of my family such as paying for my two grandchildren’s primary school fees, aged 5 and 10. I had no stable sources of income and lacked business skills and knowledge.”

The turning point came when she joined Nyaka’s grandmother support program, which receives funding from a WE grant. Through this initiative, Mariat received comprehensive training in financial literacy and business management. She also received a UGX 500,000 loan (approximately $139 USD) from WE funds. Applying the financial knowledge and skills gained from the Nyaka grandmother team training, Mariat established a small retail shop in Ikuniro Trading Centre in Rukungiri district.

The results have been remarkable. Through diligent application of her savings and bookkeeping knowledge, Mariat’s business has flourished. She now earns a monthly profit of UGX 100,000 (approximately $28 USD) and has increased her savings to UGX 2,000,000 in capital (approximately $545 USD).

“Thanks to Women’s Empowerment funds, my dreams have become a reality, and I can now pay school fees for my two grandchildren and provide for basic needs, while repaying my business loan. I am deeply grateful to Nyaka and Women’s Empowerment for this opportunity.”

About Nyaka:
Nyaka, WE partner since 2014, works with communities to nurture and protect children so they can learn, grow, and thrive. WE supports Nyaka’s Grandmother program, which recognizes the critical role grandmothers play in caregiving, while addressing issues including gender-based violence and poverty through microloans and comprehensive training.

With WE’s support, the number of grandmothers accessing microfinancing, training, and ongoing support increases each year. These remarkable women have significantly improved household incomes and their grandchildren’s wellbeing, maintained children’s school attendance, and developed valuable financial literacy skills.

The program demonstrates exceptional impact: for every $40 invested in a grandmother-led household through this program, there is a 285% return within just 36 months—proof that supporting grandmothers like Mariat creates sustainable, multi-generational change.

Firoza | San Diego

Apr 29, 2025 | California, News, Women Stories

Meet Firoza from San Diego

A WE grant partner since 2022, Urban Corps of San Diego County is a nonprofit and certified local conservation corps, providing opportunities for underserved, low-income young adults ages 18-26. The unique work-learn program allows youth to finish high school while earning a paycheck, learning real-world job skills, and giving back to the community through professional services. Barriers to Corpsmembers’ success are addressed with emergency food, clothing and shelter, job training, certifications, drivers’ licenses, and one-on-one case management and trauma counseling. Corpsmembers also receive support toward their goals when they graduate through career and college readiness activities.

Not having a personal vehicle is often cited as a barrier to successful and sustained employment for Corpsmembers in San Diego County. WE grant funding helped launch a successful pilot program to provide vehicle down payment assistance for female Corpsmembers to support their success in and out of the program, setting them up for financial success and self-sufficiency after graduation.

Firoza, who has successfully completed the Urban Corps program, is preparing to welcome a baby and continue her studies in medical school after graduation. The acquisition of her own vehicle has been life-changing. It not only provides her with the means to attend medical appointments but also allows her to pursue her education uninterrupted. Prior to receiving this vehicle, Firoza faced the possibility of having to pause her studies due to transportation limitations. Now, she enjoys greater independence and is confident that she can achieve her educational and career goals. This has had a ripple effect on her family, where she is seen as a role model for her siblings, demonstrating that perseverance and determination lead to success.

Hanna | San Diego

Nov 12, 2024 | California, Featured News/ Events, Our Impact Page, Women Stories

Meet Hanna B.

When Hanna Borysiuk arrived in San Diego from Ukraine, she felt the weight of uncertainty pressing down on her. The war with Russia forced her to leave her homeland, and she arrived in the United States unprepared for the challenges of starting over in a foreign country. Life was confusing as she tried to figure out how to support her family in this new environment.

Hanna’s eldest daughter, understanding the depth of her mother’s skill and passion for sewing, managed to bring Hanna’s beloved Singer sewing machine from Ukraine.

Sewing had always been a constant in Hanna’s life; she couldn’t live without it. She had always altered and repaired clothes for her husband, two daughters, and two granddaughters. This act of love sparked a glimmer of hope.

Hanna learned about the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in San Diego and enrolled in several programs, including the TVESL driving lessons cohort and the employment capabilities program. Through these programs, she was referred to those funded by WE grants within the IRC’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC), which became essential for her to start, develop, and grow her business. With the support of the IRC SBDC, Hanna completed the Business Women in Action (BWIA) training course. This cohort was designed for newly-arrived Ukrainian women aspiring to start businesses.

Hanna was considering turning her sewing skills into a viable business to support her livelihood in her new country. She describes her business advisor as a compassionate and encouraging counselor who helped her pivot her loving hobby of sewing into an entrepreneurial one. Her advisor has been with her business every step of the way to formalize her business with the City of San Diego, fulfilling her goal to alter and sew clothing for others besides her immediate family members.

Hanna advertised her services to her community and started getting orders for clothing alterations. However, she quickly realized that her single sewing machine wasn’t enough to meet the growing demand. Although Hanna could sell her services, she was not making enough to afford a new sewing machine to meet her customers’ needs. So, she returned to IRC to discuss her problem and strategize with her business advisor, who informed her that she could qualify for a women entrepreneur microgrant to purchase another machine. Hanna was overjoyed with this news. She asked her business advisor about the requirements and wasted no time, diligently working to submit all the required documents. Hanna received a $1,000 microgrant from IRC SBDC, which allowed her to purchase another sewing machine and the necessary supplies.

Hanna says, “When I received my new sewing machine, I was very happy! I could do almost everything that was brought to me for repair and make people happy because I was giving a new life to their favorite things. I am grateful to [IRC and my business advisor] for supporting me in achieving my dreams and giving me the opportunity to make a living in my new country.”

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