Karla Pineda

Karla has always loved beauty, and we found during her training at Mi Esperanza she has a natural ability in this area.  Karla graduated in the spring of 2010, and after graduation, Karla was working from her home, offering services in her community and beginning to build a salon business.  In 2011 her father became very ill, and Karla went out seeking another job to help buy his medicine.  What she found was a job a Kielsa Pharmacy.  Knowing Karla's skill from Mi Esperanza, her sister wanted to help her realize her dream of owning a salon. In December, with the financial help of her sister Karla opened her salon, Salon de Belleza Andreas, named after her niece. The day we visited the salon was very busy, and the clients loved the service they received at Salon de Belleza Andreas!   Karla continues to work for Kielsa to pay off the start-up costs of the salon and then plans on working full-time in her salon.  When Karla opened her salon, she invited another Mi Esperanza friend to work with her on the days she is at her other job.  The salon is doing well and continuing to build a clientele.  We are very happy for Karla and her success.

Working at her salon, Salon de Belleza Andreas

Our favorite photo of Karla during class @ Mi Esperanza

Manicures @ Casitas Kennedy during her class's service day.

Karla at a glance

• Children: None

• Community: Colonia Carrizal #2

• Mi Esperanza Course: belleza/Beauty & Personal Skills 2009/2010

Karen Trujillo

February 2012

Karen came to Mi Esperanza in 2009 when she was 22 years old.  Karen has one daughter, who is now six years old.  Karen came to Mi Esperanza looking for an opportunity that would help her to support herself and her daughter.  With no skill training or formal advanced education, Karen was finding it difficult to earn a consistent living.  Always interested in beauty, the Mi Esperanza beauty school was a perfect fit for Karen.  Karen was a dedicated student that worked very hard at her studies. After graduation, Karen went to work in the salon where she did her internship and worked there until the salon closed.  Immediately following losing that job opportunity, she found a job at Acyrilica's Salon and has been working there for the past 1 1/2  years.  She is very happy at her job, and her employer is very happy with her.  Her responsibilities at the salon are manicures, pedicures, shampoo, and massage.  Karen continues learning and looks forward to expanding her skills and responsibilities at the salon.  Karen is very happy to be working and supporting her and her daughter.

Karen in front her Salon Millennium!

Co Founder Lori Connell and Karen during our 2013 visit.  

Working during our February 2012 visit

2011 Karen at work @ Acyrilica's Salon

2009 Karen during her social service project while a student at Mi Esperanza

2009 Karen in training at Mi Esperanza

2009 Karen in training at Mi Esperanza

2009 Karen during her social service project while a student at Mi Esperanza

Karen at a Glance

• Children: 2

• Community: Buenos Aries

• Mi Esperanza Course: Belleza/Beauty School

October 2013 Update

When we arrived at Millennium Salon, we found Karen working with a salesman buying products for HER salon.  10 months ago, the salon where Karen worked closed, and she decided to open her own salon.  Millennium has now been open for nine months.  Karen is excited to be her own boss.  She says it is hard work. She works five days a week, 7-5 but loves building her own business.  Since our last visit, Karen has married and had her second child.  Karen simply says, "Mi Esperanza changed my life!!"

Irma Ortega

Irma is happy and excited for the future and she credits Mi Esperanza for her optimism about life.

Irma at a glance

• Children: 1

• Community: Via Nueva

• Mi Esperanza Course: Belleza/Beauty & Personal Skills

irma during service day at a local orphanage

Irma on graduation day with Denia the class instructor and co-founder Lori Connell

Irma's graduating class

New salon location

manicure table

shampoo bowl

cutting station

Irma receiving a box of supplies, she was very grateful for the gift!

Lori receiving a mani on a recent visit

 Irma came to Mi Esperanza in the spring of 2010 with a desire to learn more about beauty. During a recent visit, Irma shared with us that she didn't think she was very good in the beginning, "I kept burning my hand on the blow dryer."  But two things made her realize that her training could have a future beyond personal knowledge...  1.  After beginning school, her family and friends began asking her to do their hair and nails. "I began noticing that with practice, I was getting better." And... 2. Her internship at Afro Style. She began working with clients and realized her training could be a new career.  After graduation, she was hired at Afro Style full-time and worked there until December.  Irma was well-liked by her employer and clients.  During that time, Irma decided she wanted to go out on her own so she could be a more available mother to her daughter Stephanie.  In November 2010, she began looking for a location close to her home to open her salon, and on December 1, she opened Bellas Beauty Salon.  Bella (pronounced bay-ya), means "beautiful" and represents all the beautiful women in her life.

“There are many single mothers out there that need help”

Opened almost two months now, Irma is doing well.  Irma feels Mi Esperanza not only gave her a skill but the confidence it took for her to open her own business.  She also shared, "the confidence Mi Esperanza gave me went far beyond the classroom. It gave me the confidence to leave an abusive relationship, and now my daughter and I are happier and healthier."  Irma goes to a technical high school at night, where she is working on her diploma with a business development track.  She is using this education to improve her business.

She is very grateful to Mi Esperanza for the vision to educate women. "There are many single mothers out there that need help"  Irma hopes to continue her education to the university level, and she hopes to send Stephanie to a private, bilingual school when she is five.  In the meantime, she enjoys bringing her to work on occasion and being financially independent for the first time.

Ely "Oneyda" Oliva Betancourt

in 2009 Onyeda graduated from Mi Esperanza, and since then, her live has taken on a whole new reflection.  Onyeda has been working at the same salon since her graduation.  After graduation, she was hired at Ivonne’s Salon on Blvd. La Hacienda in the capital city of Tegucigalpa.  Yvonne's is one of the leading salons in Tegucigalpa.  Onyeda performs all levels of service within the salon and has built a successful cliental.  When Onyeda graduated, she had no children but now has a daughter who just entered school and is pregnant with her 2nd child.  Oyneda says that her ability to work has lifted a financial burden on her family.  Being able to help her husband financially makes her happy and eliminates a lot of stress for all of them. Onyeda thanks Mi Esperanza for allowing her to gain an education she uses daily.

Onyeda on graduation day.  Pictured with Leo and Gena.

In front of Yvonnes 11-2010

with one of her clients at Yvonne's Salon 11-2010

11-2010

Oneyda at a glance

• Children: 1

• Community: Nueva Oriental

• Mi Esperanza Course: Beauty and Personal Skills

Ledy Martinez

Ledy lives in Nueva Oriental in a "Torch Mission" house.  She has two daughters and is a Mi Esperanza graduate.  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 happy to report that she is doing great and using the skills she learned from her training at Mi Esperanza.  She has a sewing machine in her home and works for private clients making clothes.  Since graduation, she has also worked in a maquila, making 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 with Mi Esperanza has provided stability for her and her family that would not have been possible without the education she received.  She has consistent work that provides her daughter’s daily needs like 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 still works at Mi Esperanza in our sewing maquila because of 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 the home of Ledye Martinez was beyond inspiring and a blessing. All of her children came running when we arrived in the village. You see, their momma was home 2 1/2 hours early because she didn't have 3 hours of bus rides to get home from her work at Mi Esperanza. Ledy and her family are doing amazing, and she is open to sharing that her education with and working for Mi Esperanza continues to move her family out of the cycle of poverty. In Dec., Ledy finally graduated high school, and she is very proud, and her children are proud of her. She would like to go on to nursing school but will have to save to be able to take her entrance exam, but 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 education diplomas of the entire family..a high priority in this home. And as we sat and visited, there was evidence of the life-changing things we know about educating women; All of her children are attending school, her home with each visit improves, and her children are healthy, happy, and well-fed. These markers tell us that the work of Mi Esperanza is on target with our goal to break the cycle of poverty in women's lives and change the future for children.  Ledy continues to work as a production manager for Lizalig and is excited to begin a new assignment with our newest partner in hope Petit Peony.

October 2013

Ledy has become the production manager for our partner in Hope Lizalig.  She oversees all aspects of the bi annually production.  She is known for attention to detail and ethics in her work...we so 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 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.

graduating top of her class at TECH Italy continuing education advance color course 2014

Paola recently received recognition by a professional hair product company as an official salon of sales of their products.  

Paola upgraded her ceiling! 

She is official!  Paola's salon is registered and recognized my the government!

beginning class in our new classroom

Paola's new car she purchased with a micro loan through Mi Esperanza to help her move from her salon to Mi Esperanza for teaching.  

new floor

In front of her new display case

We were able to bring Paola some products she can use in her salon, she was very thankful!

Paola on graduation day

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.

Hilda

Hilda is one of Mi Esperanza's first women.  She came to us as an abused women 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 US dollars and began her business of selling household supplies like 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 completely changed.  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 part of her life and her family's life. Hilda and Luis are still running 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 the family with 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 Maria through the work of Torch Missions when Maria and her family were living with Maria's mother. They had a piece of land but had trouble saving 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 gain a skill she would be able to use to help her family with consistent income. Maria quickly rose to the top of the class as one of our best students. She was eager to learn and was always in class.  Maria graduated with her class and was asked to stay on and take the second level of training because of her skill and ability. Maria is very grateful for the opportunities Mi Esperanza has given her and many women of "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

Learning to make patterns in her level one class.  2005

Level one graduation day with two of her daughters 2005

María at a glance

• Children: 3

• Community: Los Pinos

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

Updates

October 2013

The most recent photo of Maria was taken when she participated in a uniform project Mi Esperanza was hired to do.  Maria and her family are doing well.  Maria continues to support her family, 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 micro-credit loan recipients 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 expand her business ever since. Maria now makes 2500 tortillas a day and has built a room in her home with a large adobe oven to cook her tortillas. She begins at 6 am each morning cooking and then travels during the late morning to stores that buy her tortillas.  Maria now makes $25 a day. Maria applied, received a second loan, and opened a pulperia (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 thru Saturday, 7:00 am - 6:00 pm. I have worked there for three years now, and appreciate my job and believe Mi Esperanza opened the door for 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