Milan's Story

Milan leveraged her success to start a school, utilizing the business skills she learned as the result of the support she received to start a business in her home.

Watching a group of unruly children in the street outside of her home, this enterprising woman invited the children to her home for a drink of water. After reading them a book, she was shocked to learn that none of them could read. Day after day, the children returned to Milan asking for her to read books to them. Months later, over 200 street children were coming to Milan’s home for “classes” in two shifts a day.

With the confidence that she gained as a businesswoman, Milan invited Esperanza international to partner with her to start a school. Today, Milan’s school, serves over 420 children, where they are given either breakfast or lunch – for many their only meal of the day.

The impact of microfinance allowed Milan to dream big by providing resources to help better herself. But the greater return on this investment is the promise for the next generation of San Pedro.

Milan is a microfinance client of Esperanza International - Dominican Republic.