In her own words... Marina Mejia

The following is the story of the owner of a member business who works with Partners Worldwide through the local affiliate Diaconia Nacional:

I am Elvia Marina Mejia and I was born on May 3, 1958, in San Francisco de la Paz, Olancho, Honduras, but I now live in the Nueva Suyapa neighborhood in Tegucigalpa. As a teenager I immigrated to Tegucigalpa to secure a better future for my family and more specifically for my younger siblings. I worked washing clothes and cleaning homes for other people.

I had seven children but sometimes when you're young you make mistakes. I ended up at the women's prison where I learned to do many productive things like crafts and sewing. I decided that when I got out of there, I would continue doing the activities that I was learning.

I was released for good behavior before completing the time that my sentence stipulated and started saving to buy my first machine. I began work purchasing cloth by the pound to produce bed sheet sets. I sold my work in my community, but life was very difficult because my seven children were still young and there were many expenses. But I always kept going.

I knew I could do my job better but needed working capital to buy better quality fabrics and machinery. I wondered if anyone would trust me in spite of my background. I decided to knock on the door of Diaconia Nacional. They realized that I am a hard working woman and that I have not stopped working since I had the legal problem.

I have involved my family in my business. I elaborate the product with my younger children and my mom sells them in the community where she lives. I also partner with my daughter in the sale of general merchandise. I also have my customers in several communities of Olancho, where I travel every month.

In many of these communities there is lack of money, so I barter and sell my products in exchange for produce like yuca, oranges, and bananas. When I return to Tegucigalpa, I sell the produce. When I am in the communities, I see which fruits and vegetables are in season and I call my daughter who asks around in Tegucigalpa to see where there is demand. When I return to Tegucigalpa we already have orders for the coconuts or whatever I am transporting and we only have to deliver the produce and collect the cash.

I did not know what this was called until I attended the training workshops that Diaconia offers and I learned that this is called VALUE ADDED. I've learned a lot of skills in the workshops that I have attended and I want to continue learning for my business.

I am grateful to Diaconia Nacional for believing in me and training me. I hope that they continue to support me because in the future I want to improve my business and to develop other product lines because I also want to make my house a little safer and more beautiful.

Diaconia Nacional helped me purchase a special sewing machine which had been a dream for me. They also supported me in the purchase of high quality fabrics.