“Soy la Jefa” - “I’m the boss”

With 40 years of experience behind her apron, Maria Dolores used a Kiva loan to transform a small artisanal breadmaking business into an ever-growing enterprise. Maria continues to use traditional methods, including a wood-fired stove, to produce each high quality loaf just as her mother once taught her. This traditional method, although time consuming, yields a tasty product favored by Maria’s customers in and around La Union, El Salvador.

With her bread sales, Maria can take in up to $125 per day netting 40% after subtracting her costs. To expand her reach, Maria has enlisted partners in 5 additional communities, who are paid a commission to sell her bread. Maria’s daughter and friend have also joined the business to help her bake more bread, keeping up with local demand. But to avoid any confusion about who’s in charge she explained smiling, “Soy la jefa”, which means “I’m the boss.”


Maria bakes three days a week, and spends the remainder of her working hours on the farm. In 2014, this area of El Salvador was hit with an extreme drought; Maria and her husband Rosali were among the 65% of farmers who lost their harvest. Maria’s artisanal bread business has allowed her the opportunity to diversify her income beyond farming, contributing to her household’s resilience.


With her earnings, Maria hopes to further grow the business by expanding into additional communities. This is her third loan with Kiva’s local field partner Credicampo. Maria said, “I work hard everyday to pay back my loan.” Maria dreams of opening her own small bread store and using the earnings to continue to support her growing family of four children and thirteen grandchildren.


You can support hardworking entrepreneurs like Maria by funding loans like these in El Salvador!

https://www.kiva.org/lend?partner=199