Dominican Republic

Fenezia

Fenezia was living in the Dominican Republic (DR) with few visible prospects for her future. She was 18 years old and she did not have a job or any opportunities for further education. She was willing to learn and to work hard at any job, yet there were no jobs available in her community.

Through Esperanza, HOPE’s partner in the DR, Fenezia received a loan of $50 to start a small business. She used the money to purchase a stove and the ingredients to make donuts. After only four months of cooking and selling donuts, Fenezia now supplies her donuts to six neighborhood convenience stores. Each week, she has nearly $50 in sales from her product. Fenezia spends $10 in weekly expenses, giving her a profit of nearly $40. She recalls that this is the first time in her life that she has had more than $20 of savings.

In the future, Fenezia would like to expand her business even further and save money to buy her own home.

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