Mrs. Laura Marina Cardoza, from Olanchito, Yoro, is a single mother that raised her children doing laundry and ironing other people’s clothing. Today, thanks to her non-stop effort making her way through, in addition to her work in a public hospital kitchen, she provides catering services. This year, after finding herself a little troubled with another financial institution, FUNDEVI provided her the opportunity of having her own home. She happily lives with one of her daughters and a sister, who has a disability and whom she considers another daughter of hers; they inspire her to continue moving on.

With a feeling of resentment, Mrs. Laura says that: “more than 12 years ago, I subscribed to a leasing contract with purchase option with a bank, and even though the property had the conditions to live in, it was missing ceiling panels, balconies, a stack of water and several repairs. With the illusion that someday the house would be mine, I started to fix it, investing everything I could at that time. By the time I was able to buy it, I was informed that the house had been sold to another person at a higher price than the one agreed with me and, from one day to another, they evicted me”.

Mrs. Cardoza continued saying that: “I cried because I had nowhere to go. I was desperately praying to God to guide me, and at that moment, a cousin gave me shelter with my family. But I knew it was temporal, so I started to search where I could move, and that’s how, through a neighbor, I found out of a house that was for sale, and it was from FUNDEVI”.

“Mario, the person who attended me at FUNDEVI, was like an angel fallen from heaven as an answer to my prayers”, describes Mrs. Cardoza. She also explained that “the credit advisor didn’t just give me the information, he advised me and tried to help me. With my last experience at a financial institution, I had a lot of fear but, he made me feel confident about making a commitment to the loan and he encouraged me to ask for it. Thanks to his guidance, I now have my house”.

“My life has been hard, with rainy days, moments of uncertainty, and crying, but I start to see the sun. My daughters are older, and they support me. Thanks to the opportunity that FUNDEVI gave me, I am paying for my own house where I feel safe and happy”, she said.

Finally, she concluded by saying that: “Thanks to the positive experience with FUNDEVI, I overcame my fears of committing to a loan and I understood that, if I could pay rent, I could also pay for my own house. That’s why I recommend FUNDEVI because they gave me back hope and the opportunity of having my own home”.