Entrepreneurship training for disadvantaged women

Dear Difteur-ses,

We'd like to introduce you to Ivonne, a woman of immense courage who runs a small boutique-cafeteria in her neighborhood.

On several occasions, she has almost given up. Difficult month-ends, advice from friends and family to close up store... But Ivonne resisted. And today, she's proud of her little business, which she cherishes a little more every day.

When we met her, accounting was her biggest challenge. She refused to write down her expenses, for fear of facing reality. So, we took the time. We assured her, accompanied her, trained her. We crunched the numbers with her, week after week, and little by little, Ivonne regained her confidence. A month later, her notebook was up to date... and in the black!

But that's not all: to help her attract more customers, we also came up with a new banner for her storefront. And this new lease of life could be seen in her eyes.

Ivonne is all about generosity, offering you a homemade cake at the end of every appointment. That discreet but sincere smile that says thank you without a word.

And it's for women like her that we get involved, it's also thanks to you that it becomes possible! Thank you!

Dear Difteur-ses,

Maria Inés is 46 years old and lives in Lamas, a hilltop town in northern Peru. From the Shipiba community, she grew up in precarious circumstances, but also with a precious heritage: the traditional embroidery skills passed down by her mother.

Today, she is raising her two daughters alone. Since her difficult separation, she has lived with great instability. Her ex-partner continues to exert a form of control over her, both financially and emotionally. To keep her head above water, Maria Inés started making embroidered clothes inspired by her culture. But despite working long hours, her business was not enough to support herself.

The support provided by Impulso volunteers marked a turning point. Together, they imagined new, more accessible products, created a catalog, professional visuals, communication tools, a realistic budget... But above all, they launched Shipiba embroidery workshops with her, which enabled her to share her culture, feel valued, and generate additional income at the same time.

These workshops have also been an opportunity to forge links with other women in the region, such as Carmela, a Tarapoto seamstress with whom she is now developing a new line of accessories.

Gradually, Maria Inés is regaining her place, her strength and her pride. This new lease of life is that of a woman moving forward, surrounded and inspired by a supportive network that gives full meaning to the word "community".