Un futuro mejor para Irene | A Better Future for Irene
By Erandi Pérez (Former Promotora)• Read in English
Un futuro mejor para Irene
Mexicana de origen, cocina con mucho cariño y amor para sus clientes. Desde su carrito llamado “Doña” vende antojitos mexicanos como nachos, tacos, quesadillas y gorditas.
Irene es mexicana y madre de tres hijos. Llegó a vivir a Estados Unidos hace 25 años a los 20 años.
“Fue muy difícil al principio porque no hablaba inglés y era madre soltera. Era muy difícil buscar un trabajo. Pero poco a poco salí adelante”, dice.
Hace cuatro años, mientras trabajaba en limpiezas, una amiga le habló de los préstamos de Grameen America. Irene vio en aquella ayuda una oportunidad para hacer crecer su negocio de comida mexicana. Era un trabajo que ejercía en paralelo, pidiendo prestado un carrito de metal a un centro comercial.
“Yo tenía el sueño de hacer crecer mi negocio pero no tenía el suficiente dinero ni el apoyo para hacerlo”, dice.
Con el préstamo, pudo comprarse su propio carrito. Le puso “Doña” de nombre porque así era como sus clientes la llamaban al comprarle. “Doña, deme tal cosa”. “Doña, deme esta otra”.
Irene cocina con mucho cariño y amor para sus clientes. En su carrito vende antojitos mexicanos como nachos, tacos, quesadillas y gorditas, entre otros.
MUJERES CON LA MISMA INQUIETUD
La pandemia del Covid llegó cuando parecía que su negocio solo ganaba clientela. Irene tuvo que cerrar. No había ventas. Además, al escuchar cómo aumentaban los casos de infectados en la ciudad, le dio miedo estar en el exterior. “Con mi familia teníamos miedo a enfermarnos”, dice.
Con Nueva York volviendo a la normalidad y un nuevo préstamo conseguido ha reabierto su negocio por estos días.
Irene dice que desde que se integró a la comunidad de Grameen y comenzó a escuchar las historias de otras mujeres con las mismas inquietudes de ella se ha sentido muy apoyada.
“Me ha ayudado a tener confianza en mí misma”. “Siento la preocupación de las promotoras. Nos impulsan a salir adelante y a ser emprendedoras”, dice. “Además nos dan mucha información (para proteger nuestra salud) y nos recuerdan que tenemos que hacer nuestras citas médicas”, agrega.
NUEVAS HERRAMIENTAS DE TRABAJO
Irene dice que está muy agradecida por la ayuda que ella y también sus padres recibieron para vacunarse. Había tratado de sacar cita para ella y para su familia por su cuenta pero no pudo hacerlo.
De la asistencia que ha recibido del programa en este tiempo también rescata otras cosas, como las reuniones presenciales que pasaron a hacerse por Zoom.
Se ha interesado en aprender de la tecnología que la ha visto como una herramienta para su trabajo.
“Con la paciencia y ayuda de mis compañeras he logrado (aprender a usarla a mi favor). Si bien al principio era difícil, hoy ya me siento más confiada”, dice. “Por toda las ayudas y enseñanzas que (las promotoras y las miembras) me brindan siento que ya son parte de mi familia”.
A Better Future for Irene
Mexican in origin, she cooks with a lot of affection and love for her clients. From her cart called “Doña,” she sells Mexican snacks such as nachos, tacos, quesadillas and gorditas.
Irene is Mexican and mother of three children. She came to live in the United States 25 years ago at the age of 20. It was difficult at first because she did not speak English and she was a single mother. “It was exceedingly difficult to look for a job. But little by little, I got ahead,” she says.
Four years ago, while she was at work cleaning, a friend told her about loans from Grameen America. Irene saw an opportunity to grow her Mexican food business with that help. It was a job she did in parallel, borrowing a metal cart from a shopping mall.
With the loan, she was able to buy her own cart. She named it “Doña” because that was what her clients called her when they bought from her: “Doña, give me such a thing, “Doña, give me this other one.”
Irene cooks with a lot of affection and love for her clients. In her cart she sells Mexican snacks such as nachos, tacos, quesadillas and gorditas, among other things.
WOMEN WITH THE SAME CONCERN
The Covid pandemic came when it seemed like her business was only gaining customers. Irene had to close because there were no sales, and she was afraid to be outside after hearing how the cases of infected people increased in the city. “Me and my family were afraid of getting sick,” she says.
With New York returning to normal and a new loan obtained, she has reopened her business these days. Irene says that since she joined the Grameen community and began to hear the stories of the same concerns, she has felt very supported.
“It has helped me to have confidence in myself. I feel the concern of the promotoras. They drive us to get ahead and be entrepreneurs,” she says. “They also give us a lot of information (to protect our health) and remind us that we have to make our medical appointments,” she adds.
NEW WORK TOOLS
Irene says that she is incredibly grateful for the help to get vaccinated that she and also her parents received. She had tried to make an appointment for herself and her family on her own, but was unable to do so.
From the assistance she has received from the program at this time, she also learned other things, such as joining the meetings that went from being face-to-face to being held on Zoom.
She has become interested in learning about technology that she has seen as a tool for her work. “With the patience and help of my colleagues I have managed to (learn to use it to my advantage). Although at the beginning it was difficult, today I feel more confident,” she says. “For all the help and teachings that (the promotoras and the members) offer to me, I feel that they are part of the family.”
Written by Erandi Perez, GP Promotora - Jackson Heights
Erandi es mexicana y es apasionada por la salud. En su tiempo libre le gusta compartir con su hija y practicar Kick Boxing. Es Promotora de Salud en Jackson Heights.
Erandi is Mexican and is passionate about health. In her free time, she likes to spend time with her daughter and practice Kick Boxing. She works as a Grameen Primacare Promotora in Jackson Heights.
Grameen PrimaCare provides underserved women from low-income immigrant communities with a health promotion and empowerment program utilizing a promotora model to create healthier lives.