The alliance signed by Fondo Esperanza (FE) and Fundaci\u00f3n Emplea one year ago has given people living on the streets in Chile access to a comprehensive service to enable them to start up their own businesses and provide them with opportunities for the future.<\/p>\n
The pilot program entitled \u201cFE’s Excluded Segments\u201d clearly meets the bank’s mission of working to support people in vulnerable sectors of society. The program focuses on developing entrepreneurs in penitentiaries and also, since one year ago, people living on the streets.<\/p>\n
Fondo Esperanza joined forces with Fundaci\u00f3n Emplea to work with entrepreneurs through the \u201cCreciendo Juntos\u201d (Growing Together) community bank (BC) and help them develop their enterprises through the comprehensive service offered by FE, which includes microcredits, training and support networks.<\/p>\n
Patricio Asenjo (37) is a founding member of this community bank. He sells items for cars such as paper handkerchiefs, chargers, cellphone holders and air fresheners. \u201cWith FE’s help I’ve been able to make money to pay for a place to live and to eat. But I’ve also learned how to use money responsibly. For example, I’m now trying to save for a house\u201d.<\/p>\n
Jorge Ja\u00f1a (37) is an itinerant vendor on public transport and is currently in his first cycle in this community bank. \u201cI spent a long time living on the streets, and I’ve been able to get ahead thanks to Fundaci\u00f3n Emplea and Fondo Esperanza. Although I can’t read and write, I’ve been able to get ahead and I dream about having my own house, or a at least a fixed abode\u201d, he says.<\/p>\n
Rosa Fuenzalida is a trader from Recoleta who works as an itinerant vendor. She now has an on-street candy stall and recently obtained a municipal sales permit. What she recalls from her experience with Fondo Esperanza is the kindness she was shown. \u201cWe received so much support and that’s given us confidence. That’s good because we feel welcome here, they greet us with a kiss on the cheek, they ask how we are and they don’t look disapprovingly at us. They see us as people just as we are and we’re really grateful for that, because sometimes people don’t see you for what you really are, but judge you for the way you look\u201d, says Rosa.<\/p>\n
On the agreement with Fundaci\u00f3n Emplea, Ver\u00f3nica Toro, head of BC at Fondo Esperanza, highlighted the challenge posed by undertaking this project. \u201cIt has required significant work to adapt to the methodology of the organization to the particular features of the people on the streets, and these are profiles that need a lot of care and support. The group members’ own sense of responsibility has been crucial to this process, as these are people who have to fight against the tide every day of their lives\u201d, she says.<\/p>\n
In terms of the benefits of this alliance, Jenny P\u00e9rez, head of Social Programs at the Fundaci\u00f3n Emplea, highlights the links they have developed with the members of the community bank. \u201cThese are highly participative people, but the most important thing is that they now have a relationship with each other, which gives them the opportunity to share their troubles and achievements. They have shown a strong sense of responsibility to themselves, and are now feeling more empowered as people and as self-employed workers\u201d, she says.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"