Meet Mary

From the time she arrived in Miami over twenty years ago, Mary always knew she wanted to be an entrepreneur. She left her native Honduras with her brother in 1999, and the two opened up a small cheese shop that would mark the humble beginning of Mary’s entrepreneurial journey. Today, Mary is the sole owner of a bustling convenience store specializing in products from across Latin America.

“Being your own boss is not easy, but now I have time for everything that is important to me, especially my family.”

As was the case with many entrepreneurs and their businesses, COVID-19 took its toll on Mary and her convenience store. While her family remained relatively healthy, Mary found herself ill for extended periods of time forcing her to temporarily close her doors twice. Missing out on vital revenue, she could no longer afford to pay other employees or adequately stock her shelves. It was during this time that she was most grateful for the stability offered to her by Grameen America.

“I felt a sense of peace regarding my financial situation because, with Grameen America, I did not have to worry about when or if I would have access to another loan to rebuild my business.”

Now on her fifth loan, Mary especially appreciates the sense of community she feels in her thriving Miami center. She notes that her fellow members are oftentimes her most loyal customers, further solidifying the bond they share as Grameen America members. It’s for this reason that she strongly encourages that more women like her join the program.

“It has been a fantastic experience, and I one hundred percent recommend Grameen America to those who need it. I always tell my friends about the program and have invited them to my meetings.”

Mary is pleased with how well her business has been growing steadily as her community recovers from the pandemic. In the future, Mary hopes to continue to grow her customer base in Miami and to eventually hire an employee.