Gladys is a young single mother who is fighting to give his 4-year-old son a better future. The father of the child left her and used to provide intermittent help, but it was not enough. "I was not ready. I did not have anything going for a living. I was depending on family, friends." She was forced to step up, and she did. This young lady has transformed into a resourceful business woman that has grown her initial capital exponentially since 2016.
Even though she has made a lot of improvement and fed herself and her child trading bananas, Gladys is still at risk of going back to extreme poverty in a very volatile economy. Prices change all the time and she knows she needs to be more ambitious if she wants her family to be self-sufficient. She lately tried something different: A shop for motorbike riders. It's showing promising profits, but lacks a lot of the inventory.
Gladys saw that many of the riders of her community would complain about having to go out to buy simple pieces and tools for their bikes. Motorbike riders are the only way in and out of the village and one of the main economic sectors there. She was not afraid of being seen as a woman doing "a man's business": "They talk, but I concentrate, business is business." This micro project will make sure she receives orientation, business grants and a line of credit to make her dream a reality
Gladys had the bravery to come up with a different idea. She is also living under extreme poverty, and if we don't help her, her idea might be doomed to failure when any slight economic shock comes(such as sickness, family problems or robbery). We want to give her stability so that in 2 years she is completely out of poverty and with no chance of getting back there. She will be able to employ, help and inspire many others. Her child will be whatever he wants to be.
