Ledy Martinez

Ledy lives in Nueva Oriental in a "Torch Mission" house. She has two daughters and is a graduate of Mi Esperanza. Ledy graduated from our sewing program in 2007. On Saturday, we visited with Ledy to see how she was doing and get an update on her life. We are pleased to report that she is doing well and applying the skills she learned during her training at Mi Esperanza. She has a sewing machine at home and works with private clients, creating custom clothing. Since graduation, she has also worked in a maquila, creating t-shirts and blouses. She has been able to add a room to her home, put in a concrete floor, and add a large pila to her house. Her daughters are healthy, happy, and in school. Ledy shared with us how her education at Mi Esperanza has provided stability for her and her family, which would not have been possible without the education she received. She has consistent work that provides her daughter with daily necessities, including food, water, shelter, medical care, and education. Another Mi Esperanza success story!

Ledy at a glance

• Children: 4

• Community: Nueva Oriental

• Mi Esperanza Course: Sewing

Updates

October 2021

Ledy graduated from nursing school! In addition to her nursing career, she continues to work at Mi Esperanza in our sewing maquila due to the good pay, health benefits, and positive environment. Ledy is grateful for the opportunities working at Mi Esperanza has given her, and she has been able to pass them on to her children.

July 2015

Ledy is in nursing school! This is a dream she has had since she was a girl.  The opportunities she has/had with Mi Esperanza, education, and employment are making this dream come true.

October 2014

Yesterday's visit to Ledye Martinez's home was beyond inspiring and a blessing. All of her children came running when we arrived in the village. You see, their mom was home two and a half hours early because she didn't have three hours of bus rides to get home from her work at Mi Esperanza. Ledy and her family are doing amazingly well, and working for Mi Esperanza continues to help her family break the cycle of poverty. In December, Ledy finally graduated from high school, and she is very proud; her children are also proud of her. She would like to attend nursing school, but will need to save to take her entrance exam. It is her next goal to be reached. As she said, "university is very expensive for someone like me, but little by little, it will be done."

As we looked around, we couldn't help but notice the wall displaying all the educational diplomas of the entire family, a high priority in this home. As we sat and visited, there was evidence of the life-changing impact of the things we know about educating women: all of her children are attending school, her home improves with each visit, and her children are healthy, happy, and well-nourished. These markers indicate that the work of Mi Esperanza is on track with our goal of breaking the cycle of poverty in women's lives and changing the future for children.  Ledy continues to work as a production manager for Lizalig and is excited to begin a new assignment with our latest partner, Hope Petit Peony.

October 2013

Ledy has become the production manager for our partner in Hope Lizalig.  She oversees all aspects of the biannual production.  She is known for attention to detail and ethics in her work. We are beyond happy for her to be recognized in this way.    

Paola Martinez

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 get the operating permit to open a "salon officially"; her salon's name will be PAHO-PAHO. In the meantime, friends, family, and neighbors call her for her services, including haircuts, manicures, and Pedicures. 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

July 2025

Paola continues to succeed as she creates the life she has always dreamed of. Since our last update, Paola had purchased a beautiful apartment in a safer area of the city and moved her salon to the same location. She now owns Pao Pao salon and offers in-home services to clients. Her son attends a private bilingual school and is thriving.

This year, the Cosmetology school opened an advanced chemicals course to Mi Esperanza graduates. Paola continues to inspire her students to be their best and reach for their dreams.

October 2021

In 2019, Paola opened her second Pao Pao Salon location. She is very busy, splitting her time between teaching, her two salon locations, and her roles as 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 as the top student in the class.  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 a visa for the USA to pursue further education and purchase supplies for her business.  This summer, Paola offered spa nights to TORCH volunteers to raise the funds for the visa processing costs. 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 well, and she schedules her teaching job to accommodate her salon hours.  She recently purchased a car with a microloan from Mi Esperanza, allowing her to move more efficiently between her two jobs and travel to clients’ homes for her salon business.  She paid back her loan in full within 6 months!  

May 2011

Paola is doing fantastic!  Her business is growing, and she is meeting all the goals she has set for herself!  During our recent visit, Paola was excited to show us her new tile floor.  As you may recall from our previous update, she was saving for her floor...SHE DID IT!   Her next goal is to complete all the legal paperwork for the salon and officially register her business. 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 internships.  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 remaining materials and labor costs so that 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 express her gratitude to Mi Esperanza for helping her achieve a significant life goal.  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 at her newly established salon located 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 remains actively involved with the Mi Esperanza program, as she hopes to inspire others and give back to the program that has helped her.

Hilda

Hilda is one of Mi Esperanza's first women.  She came to us as an abused woman of an alcoholic husband. Hilda's husband spent nearly everything he made on alcohol.   She requested a micro-loan to start a business that would enable her to support herself and her children and be able to leave her abusive situation.  Hilda received a loan of $180.00 and started her business, which sells household supplies, including trash bags, toilet paper, and cleaners.  Hilda traveled in and around her community to sell her items and began to create an income for her family.  When Hilda repaid her loan, her life had undergone a complete transformation.  Hilda found that HOPE CHANGES THINGS.  With the hope for a different future, Luis (Hilda's husband) also saw reason to change.  Luis brought a bicycle with a crate attached and began operating the business.  Soon after, Luis purchased a small motorcycle and continued to work for his family.  Luis has stopped drinking, and he and Hilda are very happy.

Hilda and co-founder Lori Connell February 2014

Hilda with her family in front of her house

Hilda....November 11, 2010

Hilda and Luis November 2010

Hilda at a glance

• Children: 3

• Community: Sector Ocho

• Mi Esperanza Course: Micro-credit recipient

Updates

February 2014

The micro-loan Hilda received over a decade ago has been a life-changing experience for her and her family. Hilda and Luis continue to run the family sales business.  Although what they sell has changed over the years, the business has maintained their family. With a stable source of income, they have had consistent food, water, shelter, medical care, and education for their children. All these things break the cycle of extreme poverty. 

November 2010

Visiting Hilda and Luis is always a joy!  Luis has been able to buy a new motorcycle to work the family business, which is a big step up from walking when we first met them.  They have begun a second business...Hilda sells cooking wood at the house for those in the village.    The children are great. Jimmy and Yulissa are in school, and their oldest son works to help support the family's expenses.  Luis and Hilda have become community leaders and greatly help when volunteers come to serve the community.  

María Rafaela Salazar

 Maria Rafaela Espinal lives in the village of Los Pinos.  Maria is happily married with three daughters.  Her husband works hard but has an illness that has kept him from consistent work over the years. Maria is a local church member, and we first met her through the work of Torch Missions when she and her family were living with her mother. They had a piece of land but struggled to save money to build their own homes.  Mark Connell's Torch group was able to build them a concrete block house. Maria began training at the Mi Esperanza house as part of our sewing class. Maria wanted to acquire a skill that would enable her to provide a consistent income for her family. Maria quickly rose to the top of the class as one of our best students. She was eager to learn and consistently attended class.  Maria graduated with her class and was asked to stay on and take the second level of training due to her exceptional skill and ability. Maria is very grateful for the opportunities Mi Esperanza has given her, as well as to many women from "low levels of opportunity." She is particularly grateful for what these opportunities will mean to her girls.

Participatiing in a Mi Esperanza uniform project.  2013 

All smiles in class.   2004

Second level graduation day 2006

Level one graduation day with two of her daughters 2005

Learning to make patterns in her level one class.  2005

María at a glance

• Children: 3

• Community: Los Pinos

• Mi Esperanza Course: Sewing levels 1 and 2, Personal Skills

The most recent photo of Maria was taken during a uniform project that Mi Esperanza was hired to undertake.  Maria and her family are doing well.  Maria continues to support her family, and her husband is disabled.  Her daughters are continuing their education, and the walls of poverty continue to break down.  

Maria "The Tortilla Lady"

Maria “The Tortilla Lady” is a story of hope. Maria was one of the first six recipients of micro-credit loans in 2002. When she came to us, she had a small tortilla business she wanted to expand. She made 200 tortillas daily and sold them for one or two dollars daily. With her first loan from the Mi Esperanza program, she expanded her business and has continued to do so ever since. Maria now produces 2,500 tortillas a day and has built a room in her home with a large adobe oven to cook them. She begins at 6 am each morning, cooking, and then travels to stores that buy her tortillas during the late morning. Maria now makes $25 a day. Maria applied, received a second loan, and opened a pulperia (a small village store) in her home. With two sources of income, she built a concrete duplex on her property and now has rental income in addition to her tortilla business and store. The financial opportunities she received from Mi Esperanza changed her financial future and brought stability to her family.

Maria at a glance

• Children: 3

• Community: Sector Ocho

• Mi Esperanza Course: Micro-credit recipient

Maria signing her loan contract

Maria leaving her village to sell her tortillas

Maria in her store

Emelina Alvarez

"After participating in Mi Esperanza's Beauty Class, I started working at a Beauty Salon called "Salon de Belleza Maine", at Barrio La Ronda (Downtown). My schedule is from Monday through Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. I have worked there for three years now, and I appreciate my job; I believe Mi Esperanza opened the door to this job opportunity.

Co-founder Lori Connell visiting with Emelina at Maine Salon. 2013

2013..Emelina at work

Emelina at her station at Maine Salon 2012

Emelina and Lori during our 2012 visit

Emelina recently came for a visit to the Mi Esperanza center. 11-2010

Emelina cutting hair during her training at Mi Esperanza

“This has not only helped me economically, but emotionally. It has built my self-esteem, by discovering I am capable of being productive and independent. ”

I am grateful to have an excellent boss that has taught me new things and has been very supportive and trusts me."

Emelina at a glance

• Children: 1

• Community: Santa Cecilia

• Mi Esperanza Course: Belleza/Beauty Class 2006 & Personal Skills 2006