Borrower Profile: Karla Torres Salguera

by Susan Frisbie
Development & Marketing Director

Karla Torres Salguera runs a small general store in Managua that specializes in products for women. Before receiving her first microcredit loan, Karla says she had to walk around her neighborhood selling goods out of the large bag she carried. Despite the fact that she had received a university education, there were few professional work opportunities. However, by accessing microcredit loans Karla says she was able to establish her business, which has allowed her to travel to other Central American countries like Panama and Honduras to buy inventory. “I never dreamed I would be able to travel and see other countries,” she says.

Karla Torres in her shop. Photo by Michael Kienitz.

The microcredit loans she has obtained from NICA Fund partner FODEM particularly helped her when her husband was out of work. Karla says the income her business brings in was able to sustain them during that difficult time. Now with her husband back at work and her business thriving, her two oldest children will be able to attend university.

Karla explains that without microcredit she would probably still be out in the street selling goods out of a bag. Despite the economic hardships faced by many Nicaraguan women, Karla believes microcredit is a tool to help their families move forward. “We women are warriors for the family,” she says.