Cecilia

Loan description:

Cecilia Quinche sells vegetables from a market stall. She requested a loan in order to use as working capital paying wholesale suppliers in cash. This means she can select from the freshest and best quality produce often at a small discount. Cecilia is from the city of Loja. She was orphaned when she was 12 when both her parents died in a tragedy. She was placed with two siblings in an orphanage. When they were old enough the three of them worked as agricultural labourers in a 'hacienda' or large farm. They were unable to receive a proper education. Doña Cecilia only completed two years of schooling. Cecilia married at the age of 22 to a bricklayer and her life became much easier. She became a full-time housewife and had two daughters. Unfortunately, her husband passed away following a routine dental visit to hospital from a hemorrhage, possibly due to medical malpractice. Doña Cecilia was pregnant with their third daughter at the time. After her daughter was born, and Cecilia no longer had any savings left by her husband, she returned to work to support her three daughters. Initially she started selling vegetables as an itinerant trader through the streets of the city. She managed to earn enough to pay for food and other basic necessities such as shelter and clothing. Eventually Doña Cecilia managed to obtain a permit to open a stall in the public market. Physically this was less demanding than traversing the streets under all types of weather. Thankfully, all her daughters received a good education and are now married with their own families. Cecilia lives alone now.