Antonia Ordoñez of Guatemala can barely keep up with the demand for her delicious fried chicken – especially on weekends when families flock to her little restaurant in the recreation park of Los Aposentos. Two employees serve steaming platters to eager customers while her two-year-old daughter, Nena, keeps close to her mother at the open-fire grill.
Two years ago Antonia's restaurant was just a dream. She knew she could make it work; she was a great cook and a hard worker. But she needed seed capital to transform her dream into reality. Then a friend told her about the Bootstrap Banking program, and Antonia applied for her first loan of $140. Recently she received her fifth loan of $280 and is repaying it on time, with interest – just as she did her previous ones.
When asked what motivates her, Antonia smiles and points to her young daughter. "I want her to have a good life. My parents were so poor that I could only stay in school until third grade. I want something better for Nena. I want her to have an education so she can find good work. That's why I don't mind working hard. I know it's for her future."
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