Generous donations set up  an Enterpise Zones and currently ECH has these programs for  entrepreneurs in Chiclayo, Trujillo, Piura and Cajamarca Peru.  Programs  are also underway for Bolivia, Ecuador and Colombia, including new  areas in Peru.  See the Action Group page for more information on how  you can become involved in creating new areas for Enterprise Zones to create change exemplified by some of the following stories:

• Ecmma Ignacio Vera,
  FAMILY:  Widow; 2 children
  BUSINESS:  Convenience Store
  LOCATION:  Piura, Peru
  LOAN HISTORY:  First Loan, $800

  ECMMA’S STORY:  When Ecmma´s husband died several  years ago, she was faced with a difficult situation. The family had been  scraping by on the income of her husband and her own income as a vendor  of jewelry and clothes. When he died, she had to give up her job to  care for her children. She decided to open a small store from her home  so that she could both provide for her children financially and be at  home to care for her youngest child. When she began, her store was very  small. She could only afford to purchase a few products for sale, and as  a result her sales were very low. With a loan from Eagle Condor, she  was able to improve her store by adding a large window in the front –  now, she can sell from the window instead of from her front door. This  not only makes her store more secure, but it also allows customers to  see her products more easily. She also added additional goods and  installed a telephone to rent which has provided a low cost way to  attract new customers. Although she is still trying to expand and  increase her income, Ecmma is grateful that she is now better able to  provide for her children while working from home. “Without my loan, none  of this would be possible. Eagle Condor gave me the opportunity that I  needed at a very difficult time.”

• Luis Carvallo Cumpa
  FAMILY:  Married, 11 children, 13 grandchildren
  BUSINESS:  Shoe Repair
  LOCATION:  Chiclayo, Peru
  LOAN HISTORY:  First loan, $250
  JOBS CREATED:  2

  LUIS´S STORY׃  “The first time I set  foot in a bank was to make my loan payment.” At 84-years-old, Luis still goes to  work each day with a smile on his face. He owns a small, outdoor shoe  repair stand that he has operated successfully since 2007. Although Luis  has been working in the shoe repair business for more than fifty-seven  years, due to financial and other difficulties he had to stop for some  time.  With a loan of only $250 from Eagle Condor, Luis was able to  re-open his shop and has once again become self-sufficient, providing  for himself and his wife. Luis used his loan to purchase a  mechanical grinder that is used to shape and refine the soles of the  shoes that he repairs. Before, he had to do all of the filing and  shaping by hand. This was not only very time consuming, but it was  physically demanding. With the machine, however, Luis is able to  complete orders more quickly, and with less strain.      Luis has been faithful in paying his  loan. He proudly reports that in only two months, he will  be debt free. “I am grateful to those who, without even knowing me, had  confidence in me,” he said. “My goal is to keep working hard, and to  keep moving forward.”

• Maria Custodio Burga
  FAMILY׃  Divorced, 4 children
  BUSINESS:  Restaurant
  LOCATION:  Monsefú, Chiclayo, Peru
  LOAN HISTORY:
  FIRST LOAN:  $1600
  JOBS CREATED:  2

  MARIA´S STORY׃  “Before, my life was a  disaster economically.”  In 2005, Maria was left to raise  four young children alone.  Although she had never run her own business,  she had always received compliments on her cooking. With some effort,  her friends and family convinced her that her cooking was tasty enough  to make a business out of it. Maria began slowly: first, she brought  plates of food to employees of the local health center, who enjoyed the  food so much that they asked her to continue.  She found a few other  clients but was unable to grow her small business because she did not  have adequate equipment or a dining area for her patrons.  With a loan  from Eagle Condor, Maria purchased a large freezer, a water tank, and  tables, and turned a large room in her home into a dining area.  Now  that she has a comfortable space for patrons, her business and clientele  has expanded dramatically.  She has even secured a year-long contract  with the police department to provide lunch and dinner for on-duty  police officers. Now, Maria is known for her  delicious, home-cooked meals.  With the help of her daughter who is in  culinary school, she continues to expand her menu and improve the  appearance of her dishes.  Her restaurant keeps her busy from morning  until night, and she is currently looking for additional employees to  help with the increased workload.  She also plans to purchase  tablecloths, tables, and other decorations that will allow her to cater  special events. Maria is very grateful to Eagle  Condor for the training and loan that she received.  “Before,” she said,  “my life was a disaster economically.  Now, I have independence. . .  The loans are helping us achieve success.”

• Patricia Cavero Chapoñan
  FAMILY׃  Married, 1 child (age  2)
  BUSINESS:  Pharmacy
  LOCATION:  Pimentel, Chiclayo, Peru
  LOAN HISTORY:
  FIRST LOAN:  $1300
  JOBS CREATED:  1

  PATRICIA´S STORY׃ “Receiving a  loan…was like being given an opportunity.” Patricia and her husband have always  had the goal of starting their own business, though the young couple  doubted that they would have the opportunity anytime soon. Even after  saving every cent possible from her job as a nurse, they did not have  sufficient money to either start their own business or qualify for a  loan. In the meantime, the one and half hour travel time to work, each  way, was putting a great strain on the family. By the time Patricia  qualified for her loan with Eagle Condor, both she and her husband were  without work. “Receiving a loan at that time was like being given an  opportunity,” she said. Patricia opened a small pharmacy in  January, 2008, where she has been able to draw on her education and  experience as a nurse. However, she had no business experience and  relied heavily on the business training that she received before  qualifying for her loan. “Before the business workshops, I had no idea  where to begin. Eagle Condor helped us develop a business plan that gave  us a focus, and taught us how to budget and manage our money. They  taught me everything that I know about running a business!” she said.  Patricia’s life has changed in  significant ways during this year. Before opening their business,  Patricia and her husband lived with her in-laws because they could not  afford their own housing. “Now, we live independently. We needed to be  able to be self-sufficient and to provide for our own family. The loan  that I received helped not only me, but my entire family,” she said.  “Even though my pharmacy is new and we still have a long way to go, our  vision has changed. Now we can see that there is something better in  store for us in the future.”