Empower women through financial access & service

With help from VisionFund, Danilda has grown a successful business in the slums of northern Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Danilda was 18 years old when her father was killed. That was 15 years ago, and she is understandably still sad when she thinks about it. At the time, she didn’t have much time to grieve. Her brother was 8 years old, so it fell to Danilda to run their father’s upholstery business in the slums of northern Santo Domingo. “I was always in the workshop with my dad and he taught me all that he knew, especially how to be disciplined. That is how I developed the strength and skill to take over his business,” she said. “One week after my father’s death, there was work to do, orders to deliver. I remember people telling me that I should be home helping with the chores and doing school work. But thankfully I didn’t listen. I kept working and learning more. “I studied interior design. I learned how to deal with the customers according to their personality. I took sewing lessons. I learned about creating spaces. I like decoration more than anything else.”

Five years ago, Danilda learned about VisionFund from her sister-in-law, who was a client. She is currently paying off her fourth loan of $566. The loans have helped her expand her business. She now rents a workshop instead of working out of her home. She also is able to buy materials in advance. Before VisionFund, she had to wait until an order came in to start a project. She also bought a generator. The generator allows her to fill orders from furniture stores on time, in spite of many local power outages. Danilda is married to Joel, and they have two children, Robeld Joel, 14, and Genny, 7. Joel works for a construction company and helps Danilda with her business in his spare time. “It is hard work; you have to be tough and do difficult things,” Danilda said. “I feel proud when I take my electric saw and make a piece of furniture. It is wonderful when women can show that we are capable of doing things. “My son feels proud when his  friends admire me, and I like to be an example to my children. I’m proud that they are growing up like I did, not with abundance, but having what they need,” 

My vision for the future is to own my workshop and only employ women workers to help me produce my furniture in bulk. I have faith.”
—Danilda