Women's Stories

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WE Supports The Women of Fundación Adelante

WE is supporting poor rural women starting businesses in Honduras.

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With Adelante's help, Maria Bowtista has reached her dream of becoming a businesswoman.

Seeds, dirt and a small loan produce a flourishing business

“I am way too young to have a husband!” proclaims 30-year-old Maria Isidora Bowtista. This is a rare statement for a rural woman living in Honduras, where women often have children by age 14. Maria's independence sets her apart from many, but not the entrepreneurial women who receive business loans.

Maria had heard about microcredit for a long time, but the first lenders she approached only provided large amounts of money for big endeavors. Only Adelante offers first-time, small loans to women in the mountainous and remote area of Intibucá.

With her first $50 loan, Maria bought dirt, seeds, and plastic bags to use as planters for her flower-growing business. Because of the unyielding land, Maria has planted an above-ground garden, slowly filling the empty spaces of the family lot.

Now Maria makes regular trips to the market and has customers who come to her house to buy her flowers on non-market days. Her future plans include putting in a sprinkler system and buying more land. When asked about her personal goal, she says with pride that it has already come true: With Adelante's help, she has become a businesswoman.