Stories of Transformed Lives

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After Joy’s husband died of malaria, she found herself alone, taking care of six children in the Kabale District of Uganda, near the Rwanda border. Instead of giving up in despair, she started a brick-making business.

With a small loan of $150 and some savings she was able to purchase a small piece of land and employ eight people to make bricks. In just four months, she sold $150 worth of bricks with an inventory worth $400 available for sale.

Since 2003, she has gotten several additional loans to enlarge her brick-making business. She also has expanded into growing potatoes and operating a small store. The profits from her business allow her to provide for her children's education and to hire 13 employees who now can support theirs families as well.

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Mary lives in Manila with her three children. Following the tragic death of her husband, she became an independent seamstress to support her family. Her business was a success for five years until a fire ripped through the building destroying everything. Undaunted by this setback, Mary opened a general store and received two micro-loans from Five Talents to help her expand the shop and take classes to start a soap making business.

In 2005, she attended a Five Talents business training seminar to help her struggling new business. From the seminar she gained valuable knowledge of business management. Mary has shared her blessings with those around her. She used the profits from her business to send her two sons to college! Mary is now an active participant in her community and is a business and spiritual counselor to other entrepreneurs.

“I have learned to understand God,s ways through the ups and downs in both my personal and business life. I have been able to thrive, rise and survive because of the Greater Glory of the Risen Lord!”

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One of those who have benefited tremendously is Renee Pacheco who is a member of Las Tres Marias group. She sells breakfast to the people who work what is called the “Market of God,” in Pamplona Alta, Peru.

She took the loan to increase her capacity to sell sandwiches and juices. With the profits, she buys medicines to treat one of her five children who has a skin infection.

Several in her group hold regular prayer meetings to bolster their faith. They also share parenting ideas with the community, and follow-up with them, to help reduce child abuse and neglect. Because of her participation in the group, Renee describes herself as “a person of love, of faith and of devotion to Christ."

Click here to read more Success Stories from our Latin American entrepreneurs.