Paola Martinez
Lori Connell
Jensy Paola Espinal Martínez was one of the top students in her class, excelling in all areas of training. Since graduation, she has begun a beauty project in a small section of her house. Her goal this year is to officially get the operating permit to open a "salon" her salon's name will be PAHO-PAHO. In the meantime, friends, family, and neighbors call her for her services, haircuts, Manis, and Pedis. Paola has big visions for her future, she would like to someday own and run a salon in the capital city. She would feel very proud if her story could serve as an inspiration for other girls. We are excited to watch Paola's progress with her beauty salon.
Paola at a glance
Children: one
Community: Los Torres
Mi Esperanza Course: Belleza.Beauty Class 2009, Personal Skills & Micro Finance
Updates
October 2021
In 2019 Paola opened her second location of Pao Pao salons. She is very busy and splits her time between teaching and her two salon locations and being a wife and mother. We couldn’t be prouder and so grateful for her success.
October 2014
In 2014 Paola attended an advanced color course with TECH ITALY. Paola received 100% on her exam and was recognized at the top of the course. Paola continues to run her salon Paho- Paho and teaches at Mi Esperanza.
October 2013
On a recent visit to Pao-Pao salon Paola was proud to show us she had updated the ceiling in her salon with new tiles. She was also recently recognized by "Tech Italy" as an official selling site of their products.
August 2013
Congratulations Paola! Paola has successfully registered her salon Pao-Pao with the government. She continues to make upgrades and improvements to her business. She is now working on obtaining her visa to the USA to travel for further education and purchase supplies for her business. This summer, Paola provided spa nights to TORCH volunteers to earn the funds for the cost of processing her visa. We are so proud of Paola and her hard work!
February 2012
Paola has joined the Mi Esperanza staff! Paola is now our beauty instructor, she just began her second session of classes in our new salon classroom. Her salon is doing great and she schedules her teaching job around her salon hours. She recently bought a car with a Micro-loan from Mi Esperanza so that she can move more effectively between the two jobs and travel to clients’ homes with her salon business. She paid her loan back in full in 6 months!
May 2011
Paola is doing fantastic! Her business is growing, and she meeting all the goals she has set for herself! During our recent visit Paola was excited to show us her new tile floor. If you remember from our last update, she was saving for her floor...SHE DID IT! Her next goal is to complete all of the legal paperwork on the salon and officially name her salon. PAO PAO (Pow Pow) We love the name, don't you? Paola is always gracious in providing services while we are visiting..this time, she gave Lori and Gina a "hair cocktail," a conditioning treatment. Lori also got a much-needed trim, she did a great job! Visiting Paola is always a joy. She is positive, upbeat, and optimistic about the future. Paola also agreed to offer her salon as the location for Mi Esperanza students to fulfill their internship. We cannot think of a better example for our students!
January 2011
We got a call from Paola this week because she wanted to share her most recent success with us. After the busy Christmas season in her salon, she could buy the tile for her salon floor. She was very excited and proud and wanted us to know. She is now saving for the rest of the materials and labor costs so she can have the floor installed.
November 2010
Celebrating the one-year anniversary of her salon, "Paho Paho," Paola invited Lori and Gina in for a celapon hair treatment to say thank you to Mi Esperanza for helping her reach a very big dream in her life. Lori and Gina had a wonderful time catching up with Paola and seeing how she has grown her business in the past year. It was easy to see that she had been busy. Since our last visit, Paola has added a hair-washing sink, shelving, and a product display case and painted her salon. She now offers color services to her clients. This past year she helped eight brides with their big day and now travels to 3 communities for clients in different areas of the city.
February 2010
Gina and Lori visited Paola in her newly established salon in the garage of her family home. When they arrived, she was servicing a regular client with a manicure. Paola says weekends are her busiest days of the week, and she is building a consistent client base. Her salon is small, but she says this is only the beginning! She is grateful for the education that Mi Esperanza provided her and the opportunity it offered her. Paola is staying actively involved with the Mi Esperanza program as she hopes to be an inspiration to others and wants to give back to the program that helped her.