Meet Yarely

Yarely owns a bakery in Miami and sells traditional Honduran bread and pastries. She moved to the United States over nineteen years ago and became a member of Grameen America in 2018. With her first loan of $2,000, Yarely purchased key inventory for her commercial kitchen.

By having access to loan capital, Yarely has funds available when unexpected expenses arise like repairs or for larger orders. As she has progressed through the program, Yarley’s loans have increased and her current loan is for $3,000. As a member of Grameen America, Yarely’s timely loan repayments are reported to the credit bureaus and she has improved her credit score.

Before opening the bakery, Yarely did not have experience as a professional baker. But with her drive and the backing of a supportive family, she felt empowered to become a baker and share Honduran culture with her community.

Yarely has coined the term “warrior entrepreneurs” to describe the women in her loan group. Each week, Yarely and her group of five attend a Grameen America center meeting to repay their loans. Yarely is the leader of her group, and she is eager for the center to grow from its current 25 members to 30 women and beyond.

Yarely is pleased with the affordable loans available to her as a member of Grameen America. Prior to Grameen America, her only alternative to access capital was through high-interest payday loans. For Yarely, the Grameen America model is an equitable alternative for women business owners.

Looking to the future, Yarely plans to grow her business nationally, and is even researching the idea of expanding her business through online sales. Yarely is proud of the support she continues to receive from her family.