​Pastora De Los Santos embodies the definition of an entrepr eneur. While she’s been an associate with Esperanza for eight years, she has understood the value of hard work from a young age. “I always followed my father around and observed how hard he worked, which inspired me to always work hard,” she says. “I used to clean dishes in my neighbors’ homes to make some extra money because I have never liked having to depend on anyone for money, not even my husband.”
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Beginning her career with a small business selling food, she quickly realized that her financial deficiency would be the downfall of her business. Without enough money to make repairs and to buy equipment for a healthy cooking environment, Pastora was forced to close her business. However, her passion for business soon crossed paths with Esperanza, which paved an avenue for opportunity. Pastora began her time with Esperanza in 2007, beginning with a loan of 7,000 Dominican pesos, approximately 185 US dollars at the time. With this small sum of money, Pastora was able to create a small “tienda,” or store, selling shoes. When talking about overcoming the challenge of closing her first business, she shared wise words about perseverance: “We know that the only thing that falls from the sky is the rain, you can’t wait for things to come to you, you need to always work harder than the day before.”

Four years after opening the tienda, she began specializing in selling refrigerator repair equipment. With the unrelenting heat of the Dominican Republic, the prevention of food spoilage is essential, making Pastora’s store fundamental to her pueblo. Pastora’s innovative choice of business combined with a skill for meeting her customer’s needs allow her to prosper in her community. Her latest loan was for 50,000 pesos, and “The King Refrigeracion” is running stronger than ever!

Pastora’s success with Esperanza loans allows her to provide food for her family and purchase health insurance. And while Pastora’s new income allows for what seem like luxuries for her and her family, she insists that she continues to save most of her money to continue to grow her business. Still, it’s not just the loans that she appreciates. Through Esperanza’s complimentary services, Pastora has benefited from dental cleaning, saying that dental care was an opportunity she and many other members of her community would have otherwise never been able to afford. She appreciates the training classes provided by Esperanza as well, saying, “I love the business trainings. If one doesn’t know how to manage their business they will never improve. When the woman works you can’t hold anything against her. I love that I am able to help my husband pay the bills. He loves that I am creative and always wanting to improve my business.” 

One step at a time, Pastora’s business continues to flourish. With her latest loans, she was able to purchase construction materials to build her home on top of the store, rather than living in the back. In her words, “I would like to have them separate to create a more formal business.” Truly an entrepreneur, she is constantly seeking out ways to grow. “I want to expand my business and locale even more! I would love to start selling more household products such as pieces of air conditioning, fans, washing machines, stoves, blenders, etc.”

Pastora graciously thanks Esperanza for helping to “abrir una puerta para trabajar,” or open a door for her to work. Without the doors of opportunity Esperanza has opened for her, Pastora claims she would not have the successful business she that proudly