Kaelyn Castillo, her husband, and their two daughters, Aracely, 15, and Genesis, 6, live in Tecomapa, a small rural town in Nicaragua with a population of less than 100 families. For a long time, there was only one small store where the community purchased their basic goods. Now a welcome addition to this community is the catering business that Kaelyn recently started.

Through World Renew and its local partner, Kaelyn had the opportunity to join a Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA), locally referred to as a Savings and Internal Lending Bank. Through the VSLA, members come together to save small amounts of money, often less than $1 a week, and then provide small low-interest loans to each other. Kaelyn says, “Thanks to this project, I was able to start my business. I never thought I would have my own business.”

Prior to joining the VSLA, the catering business had only been a dream that Kaelyn never thought would become a reality because she and her husband, both farmers, did not earn enough to meet their family’s basic needs.

Kaelyn explains, “I was able to get two different loans from the [VSLA] which made it possible for me to buy the plates, silverware, and cooking utensils I needed to be able to start my catering business.”

Now the growth of her business has made it possible for Kaelyn’s dream for her daughters to attend secondary school to begin becoming reality too. Kaelyn shares, “My daughter Aracely would never have gone on after elementary school without this opportunity. Now she is in her second year of high school.”