If anyone had told Cristian \u00c1guila a few years ago that his life could be changed by some stones, he wouldn\u2019t have believed it. This Chilean entrepreneur and client of BBVA Microfinance Foundation began making jewelry from minerals he found near his home. Earrings, necklaces, bracelets\u2026 all of them are hand-carved and carefully painted by Cristian and his wife, who helps him run the business.<\/p>\n
What started out as a small project slowly turned into the family\u2019s livelihood\u2013 a change that came about when Fondo Esperanza<\/a> came into their lives. With the institution\u2019s support, he was able to boost his project, increasing his clientele, and consequently, his net income.<\/strong> All of these became possible through a tool he started investing on: the \u2018online selling\u2019.<\/p>\n After receiving the first loan, he decided to innovate by developing a website to sell his jewelry. Thanks to technology, he was able to reach a broader audience of potential buyers.<\/p>\n\n\t\t