You have to do it with enthusiasm and joy!

A few days ago, I went to visit Mrs. Francisca at her Cevicheria accompanied by Karla and Ninoska, Kiva Coordinators at Asociación Arariwa . For those wondering, a Cevicheria is where cheviche is served – a traditional Latin American dish typically made of fresh raw fish and/or seafood marinated in lime, with chopped onions and chili peppers, additional seasoning may be added. If it is not “picante” (hot) it is not cheviche! So they say.

Francisca’s place is simple. From her house, near Cusco’s airport, Francisca prepares the ceviche and sells at the front door, setting up a few tables, or selling to go. Francisca works from Monday to Sunday serving only at lunch time. Meals cost from 7 to 9 nuevos soles (aprox. 2-3 usd), and include rice, sweet potato, corn and chicha morada (a sweet Peruvian beverage made from purple corn). Serving 30 meals a day is a good day, but during weekends, Francisca doubles this amount. At weekends she gets help from her son and daughter, it’s a busy place!

Francisca received us with a shy smile, and invited us to try her ceviche… it was delicious!




We talk for more than half hour about business, family and food, while I was doing a “borrower verification”, something Kiva Fellows do, so we can all keep on relying in field partners and in this amazing Kiva network.

I could not resist asking Francisca about the secret of her great ceviche. I love the answer: “You have to do it with enthusiasm and joy!”.

It was also with enthusiasm and joy that Francisca spoke about how well her business is going and about her gratitude to all lenders, to Arariwa and to Kiva. She has been working with Kiva field partner Asociación Arariwa for a few years now, always paying back on time, and investing in her business (e.g. a bigger fridge, more plates, buying more quantity of products and supplies) and in the education of her children. Her older son is studying Biopharma at the university and the younger daughter is in high school.



Before joining Arariwa and the communal bank “Qorichuspas”, Francisca was selling beverages on the street, but friends always told her how such a good cook she was. With these small loans she was able to start her Cevicheria. Not only the loans made her start a profitable business, as well as being a client of Arariwa, she was taught to save money, to run a business, to be financial responsible and to be supportive to other communal bank members. Savings and solidarity are at the core of communal banks.

It is with inspiring people like Francisca that Arariwa deals every day.

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