Meet Leticia
Over a decade ago, Leticia left Honduras for the United States. This was a challenging time as she had to leave behind her family, including her only daughter.
Once in Miami, Leticia began selling hot food and fresh fruits at her local park. After working hard to develop her food business, she soon realized she needed additional capital to expand the business but was unable to access a loan from a bank.
When a friend told Leticia about Grameen America, she joined the program and with her first loan of $2000, she purchased a tent to bring structure to her outdoor setup. With her next loan, Leticia hopes to increase her stall’s inventory with sunscreen and other items for the outdoor elements to diversify her income.
Leticia is a conscientious member. She is focused on her attendance at the center meetings and making her loan repayments on time. Leticia’s timely loan repayments are reported to the credit bureaus and she has seen her credit score increase as member. Now, she is passionate about Grameen America and has encouraged her friends to join the program.
Two years after arriving in Miami, Leticia got married and with the help of her husband, she was able to bring her mom, daughter and granddaughters to Miami. In the summer months when business is thriving, Leticia’s daughter and grandchildren help with her business.
With the revenue from her stall, Leticia is now in a position to financially support her family and to purchase medicine for her mother. After repaying her loans each week, Leticia saves money for emergencies and has a safety net for the future.