Micro-Loan Program

Maria "The Tortilla Lady"  One of our first micro-loan recipients in 2002. You can read her story in our "Real Stories" section.

Mi Esperanza began as a micro-loan organization in 2002.  Since then our model has changed, but 14 years later we still make financial opportunity available to women in poverty.  

Currently we offer our micro-loan bank to Mi Esperanza graduates.  After completing a Mi Esperanza skills training course our women can apply for a micro-loan to begin her own business. This may take the form of a small barrio beauty salon, sewing business, or a village store.  

The cost of funding a micro-loan is $250.00.  You can make a donation specifically to this program in the donate area of this website.

To read about women who have benefited from our program visit out "real stories" section of our website.

Computer School

2024 Graduates

Our computer school is a 5-month program that is offered twice annually. The course teaches the Micro Soft office package. The women learn all the programs and must give a report or presentation on all sections. The women participating in our computer school vary from teens to seniors, and their desire for the course is just as varied.  We love that our program can be an educational bridge for girls still participating in public education but not receiving the computer training they need to continue to university.  

Ximena Lago, a university student studying graphic design, teaches our computer program.

The cost to fund a computer student is $300.00.  You can make a donation specific to this program in the donate area of this website.

To read about women who have benefited from this program, visit our website's "real stories" section.

Cosmetology School

The Mi Esperanza Cosmetology School is a ten-month program that teaches entry-level skills in hair cutting, hair color, washing and styling, traditional and shellac manicures, acrylic nails, facials, and massage. Each student must secure a six-week internship in a local salon to complete her coursework. Upon completion, many students are offered jobs by their salon owners.  

In 2025, we added an advanced course, a more in-depth study of specialized hair treatments and chemical techniques. This course is offered to women who have graduated from our Cosmetology course.

2024 graduates

Our cosmetology course is taught by Paola Martinez, a 2009 Mi Esperanza graduate.  She joined the Mi Esperanza team in 2011.  Since her graduation Paola has opened 2 salons and employs Mi Esperanza graduates at both locations.  You can read Paola's full bio in our staff section.  

The cost to fund a cosmetology student is $500.00.  You can make a donation specific to this program in the donate area of this website. 

To read about women who have benefited from our program visit out "real stories" section of our website.

Jewelry School

The Mi Esperanza jewelry school began in 2012 when Julie Lawson, an Orlando based jewelry designer began designing jewelry for the Mi Esperanza brand.  Julie brought on 3 women that she taught skills specific to the pieces of jewelry she designing for Mi Esperanza.  This has continued to be the model for our jewelry program.  Currently there are 8 full time jewelry artisans that are growing their skills through work in our Jewelry studio.  

In the summer of 2016 we held our first Jewelry 101 for a group of young girls from a girls home in Tegucigalpa and one young women who is from a street ministry with the goal to give them a trade skill they can use to obtain work or start a small business.  We plan to continue jewelry 101 with more advanced skills and offer it to more women.  

The cost of education a women through the jewelry program is $250.00.  You can make a donation specific to this program in the donate area  of this website.

To read about women who have benefited from our program visit out "real stories" section of our website.

Sewing School

Pattern making

 Our sewing school offers multiple training skill levels, and the women can decide how many levels they would like to complete. They will be with us for between one and two years, depending on the number of levels they choose. They learn to operate manual and electric machines, as well as sergers. They also learn to make patterns and all varieties of clothing, including uniforms, which greatly benefits families.  

The women who graduate from our program do various things, from sewing in their homes, working in maquilas, working in tailor shops, and some working for Mi Esperanza. Our graduates can apply to our micro-loan program to start their businesses.  

The cost to fund a sewing student is $500.00. You can make a donation specific to this program in the donate area of this website.

Visit our website's "real stories" section to read about women who have benefited from our program.

ESL

2024 graduating class

The ESL program is our newest course offering at Mi Esperanza. It is a ten-month course that teaches and uses the Side by Side Plus Textbooks and a workbook by Pearson. In addition, an English/Spanish dictionary and workbook by Oxford.

The course is a grammar-based English language program for adult and young adult learners. The program builds students' general language proficiency and prepares them for life-skill communication in their community, family, school, and work.

We are excited to offer this ESL program to past graduates, staff, artisan makers, and new students. Learning a second language is typically for those with access to higher education. Like our others, this course is free of charge and an enormous opportunity for the women we serve. Learning a second language builds self-confidence and will open employment and educational doors that once remained closed.

We thank the Lake City, Florida Altrusa women's group for purchasing the class books and workbooks.

Aurora Romero is the course instructor. Aurora is bilingual and is also Mi Esperanza's production manager. You can read more about Aurora in our "staff" section.