Antonia Reyes, a shop owner and food vendor in Mexico, always found innovative ways to keep her business afloat during challenging times. When a lifechanging accident impacted her family’s income and livelihood, support from Mercy Partnership Fund investee Working Capital for Community Needs (WCCN) provided Antonia financial stability during a difficult time.
Seven years ago, Antonia’s husband was injured in an accident and lost the ability to walk. With the loss of his income, they struggled to feed their family of six. Itaca, a local small business loan provider supported by WCCN helped to make up for lost income and grow her business space and merchandise to provide for her family. Today, Antonia fills her shop with fresh papaya, jicama, cucumbers, drinking gourds, and clothing, and also sells items in front of the local preschool as parents drop their children off. Antonia says, “There’s better economic stability and if I have a need for something, I can get it thanks to my business and credit from Itaca.”
WCCN directs funds to 20 microfinance institutions and cooperatives in 10 Latin American countries, lending mainly to women in rural areas mostly populated by indigenous peoples. Agricultural, housing, water and sanitation, education, and small business loans move individuals and families toward financial independence, small business growth, and necessary resources. WCCN partners also focus on improving equity and access through social services and business training including free health clinics and immunizations, free tuition or school supplies for borrowers’ children, financial counseling, and crisis response supports for women and families.
WCCN is one of more than 60 organizations around the world that has received a loan from Mercy Partnership Fund to support its work. Read more about the work of Mercy Partnership Fund.