Against all odds, a farm prevails: a pandemic story
“Life for me was never easy,” says Angelita. “It is true that it is complicated and much more so when the person you chose to be with as a couple decides to leave your home with the only family asset - a bus -and additionaly the great responsibility of raising four children. However, I decided not to have to suffer, and started from scratch, even though it was not the kind of home I wanted for my children. I had to get by and find a way.”
“When the lack of support and amount of work is frequent in your environment you have two paths: you let yourself be absorbed by the difficult cycle or you head towards a new future. So, twelve years ago I had the opportunity to meet FODEMI (VisionFund Ecuador) through a Solidarity Group called "San Manuel" and it was there that I got my first credit of $250 that served me to invest in my first calf.”
With time, her experience in the business grew, and she was always able to make the payments on time. The credit amounts she took also grew, with her most recent being an individual loan of $6,000, without a guarantor.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic the main challenge she experienced was the death of seven new-born cattle and the decrease in the sale of milk due to the overproduction that existed in the region and the low demand for it. “This was undoubtedly one of the most critical seasons that the family went through, because we had to sell all the pigs that we had raised until that moment at a very low cost in order to cover the house expenses and the outstanding fees in the bank,” she said, knowing that being up-to-date would allow her to be able in the future to access new credit and start strong again.
“Today, more than ever, I am grateful to life for providing me with health to continue working and with the bank (VisionFund) for constantly supporting me, because when I needed them most, they helped me with more time in the payment of my credit fees. They trusted my word and it is thanks to VisionFund that I have been able to grow my business and improve my living conditions. Currently there are many dreams that with a lot of effort I have achieved - my house, my truck, to have provided an education to my children who currently no longer live with me because they formed their own homes and finally my little animals,” she says, adding “I'm 69 years old and my life has really changed. I thank VisionFund Ecuador and believe in what they do for people. When you need them, they are there to support you."
Photo and story by Merci Maliza – VisionFund Ecuador